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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

While Jesus spent a great deal of his ministry healing bodies, he also ministered to people whose bodies had been violated or whose physical conditions caused them to be shunned. . . . I believe that God is a tender God—acquainted with pain and understanding of our fears. If bringing the body into your practice of faith is a subject of deep anxiety for you, find a person with whom you feel secure and safe and ask for help. The journey to receiving the gift of your body will take time and requires the support of trusted companions along the way.

—L. Roger Owens, What We Need Is Here: Practicing the Heart of Christian Spirituality (Upper Room Books, 2015)

Today’s Question

What came to mind as you read today’s reflection? Do you or someone you love need to be reminded of the tenderness of God today? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.
—John 4:50 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
“A Liturgy for Morning Prayer,” Upper Room Worshipbook
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Pause and notice God’s comforting presence by reflecting on the songs of Advent. Good News of Great Joy: Advent Reflections on the Songs of Luke offers 24 daily readings that explore the context, content, and spirituality of the four canticles (“little songs”) in Luke 1–2. Learn more.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Reign of Christ

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

4 Comments

  • Julie Posted November 20, 2021 7:40 am

    I thought of myself. When I married h he started to control my food intake. He told me what I was allowed to eat, how much and when I could eat. He was afraid that I would become “a contented cow.” I currently weigh 67 pounds. I have not shared this with anyone. I did not know how much I weighed until the surgery. I definitely need to bring my body to God and allow his tenderness to heal me.
    Many errands today and tomorrow. The comedy show was funny at times and we got out earlier than I had anticipated, which was nice and greatly appreciated by me. Megan is going with some friends to Pittsburgh’s Lightup Night which is a big deal. They have two rounds of fireworks and the Holiday Market will be open. There is a skating rink in the middle of town and many large trees. The Holiday Market is fashioned after the one in Germany and has many international vendors as well as local artisans. There is entertainment throughout the festivities. Megan and I usually go to the market sometime during the day as they are open daily through December.
    Prayers for Ally and David, may God lead Ally’s decision on teachiing online and may he heal David’s body. Prayers for safe travel for Jill and may God heal Roger’s body. Prayers for God to lead the laity of Robert’s church so they are good stewards to the flock of church members. Prayers for Marti and her staff.
    Thank you for your prayers and may God bless all who visit here.

    • Larry Dyer Posted November 20, 2021 8:17 am

      Julie, Thank you for the prayer for me for resolving tinnitus. I do have a bit from work environments before ear plugs, but am puzzled how you associated tinnitus with me. Please take good care of that 67 pounds ! I have some extra pounds I will give you…….blessings and prayers plus LOVE ! AMEN 🙏

  • robert moeller Posted November 20, 2021 1:59 pm

    I can’t imagine Julie weighing 67 pounds, hope your doctors not only resolve the hernia, but help you, as they used to say on the army, “be all you can be”. If that is a healthy weight for you, so be it, if not, be positive and do your part to improve. I’m so glad you made it through surgery and hope recovery continues to go well. Prayers for Larry’s tinnitus, Jill’s time away, safe travel, Roger’s diabetes care, Ally’s successful disability paperwork., Davi’d’s PSA results.. Blessings to all as we approach Thanksgiving, may you have a God-filled time with friends and family, stay safe, and be well. Thankful a big financial goal is on track to be met, only the car end glass is yet to be installed on my model. Wonderful meals, food shopping done, ready for the last full week of November, and the beginning of Advent. Snow crowns the peaks of Mount Washington and other mountains nearby.
    Thank You, Lord, for many blessings.

  • Ally Posted November 20, 2021 3:51 pm

    A friend once said to me that God’s lovingkindness and tenderness are what she wants to convey to others. I felt God’s tenderness envelop me as I cried out to God in sorrow over the deaths this week of 2 high school classmates. I felt God’s love envelop me . God reminded me that my friends are in the joyful presence of Jesus and are free from pain and suffering. May it be so.
    Julie, thank you for trusting us enough to share this knowledge with us. Praying you experience God’s tenderness in a special way. Robert, I’m giving joyful thanks over your meeting your financial goal. Prayers continue for your church and for Erich. I would like to see those snowy capped peaks! Larry, thank you for the lovely prayer. Touched me deeply. Prayers for Jill’s safety in travel and for liitle Roger while she is away.
    Looking forward to Thanksgiving with friends and the big southern dinner we will enjoy. Thankful that our finances enable me to contribute some things to the meal. I’m most thankful for the fellowship with our dear friends. Praying we all stay safe and love our neighbors. Blessings to all.

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