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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

For Thurman, all things connect as part of one another. Despite our differences, our common humanity as children of God unites us with one another and the nonhuman world. . . .

We can see God in the face of a stranger or refugee. We can find God’s presence in the realm of nature. We can hear the cries of the poor and listen to the pain of vanishing species. All life is connected.

—Bruce G. Epperly, The Mystic in You: Discovering a God-Filled World (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question

Who or what makes you feel connected to God?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together.
—Ephesians 4:2-3 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

God who guides us in the quest for justice, awaken my heart to growing edges in my life and in the healing of the world. Amen.
—Prayer excerpted from Bruce G. Epperly, “Prayer of Awareness and Transformation,” The Mystic in You
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

This Independence Day, give back to our servicemen and servicewomen who sacrifice so much for our freedom. Support The Upper Room Chaplains’ Ministry.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

2 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted July 3, 2022 6:00 am

    The Who’s helped connect me as scripture and Jesus said they should. That’s the easy part of today’s question. I find the What much harder to identify, if at all. I think this is where the Spirit comes into play. Unseen, like the wind, but felt and acknowledged, it sometimes feels as if it is part of my DNA, who I’ve been made to be. I’m an introvert, but a smile is very often on my face.
    People tell me so.
    Prep for this morning’s worship is down to Extended Table with a conference pastor ,getting to church, assembling Communion elements, and making sure I have and can see what I need at the right time. Thankful for the help of a friend.
    As ready as we’ll ever be for 4th of July Strawberry Shortcake after a helpful group washed, hulled, sliced or quartered the berries, then sugared and packed them away in the refrigerators. Biscuits baked, cooled, and packed, ready to go. Monday it’s off to Schouler Park and the big day.
    Be thankful that while all is not as we wish in America , there is freedom to try and make changes for the better. It will be a struggle, may God’s wisdom and the Holy Spirit guide us. Thank You, Lord!

  • Jill Posted July 3, 2022 1:10 pm

    There are a few, whom following an intimate conversation, I know we were speaking in the presence of God. Holy moments – they mean so much to me, and I find myself savoring them for quite a while.
    Also, the cancer support group meetings are deeply moving, heavily connected – these, too, are a gift. God is in the room, in the words of others, in the tears shared.
    Embraces are treasured. I tend to lean in a bit longer now, post pandemic. Human touch is meaningful.
    It has been a long time since Roger has crawled up in my lap in the morning – the heated blanket is not as much of a draw in the summer. But, when he was just sit there contented, rubbing his nose on my chin – I tried to imagine it being me in God’s lap, content as all get out.
    I have fallen into a new pattern – attending the early service at the church who used to have a cancer support group, and then driving directly to my church for the service. It’s a double whammy – and I enjoy it very much. The first service was about doubt, and what do/should we do when doubt sets in. We must trace back through our history and find the faithfulness of God. At my church, I caught a glimpse of my friend, back in town after being away with her daughter. The daughter’s graduation party is next Sunday in the evening at the church.

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