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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

WE OFTEN TREAT Holy Communion as if it were an other-worldly moment disconnected from the rest of life. The scriptures and the ritual for Holy Communion make it clear that those who eat and drink with Jesus are witnesses in all of life—even where there is tension, exclusion, anger, and hurt. We bear witness that all of our conflict, both in the church and in the larger arenas of human struggle, is canopied by the compassionate and forgiving Lord. (Gayle Carlton Felton)

—Thomas Porter, Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table (Discipleship Resources, 2006)

Today’s Question

What helps you notice God’s compassion even in the midst of conflict? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
—Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.
(From the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis)
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • Jill Posted January 28, 2020 3:38 am

    A sense of His peace as the still undercurrent. When I am unable to tap into that sense – there is dissonance and I must seek the Spirit’s help in assessing what is wrong on my part, in my thinking – and attempt to re-calibrate. A desire to be aligned with His will and His work – this must be something I don’t assume will be my auto-pilot…but, rather, I must declare it anew each morning. At times, moment to moment.
    Grateful and relieved to find out this morning that my school district has come to an agreement on a new contract. We were down to almost the last stage, a federal mediator. But on Sunday night our union accepted the fact-finder’s assessment, and last night the school board accepted as well. This is the closest we have ever been to a strike in the 25 years I have been with the system.

  • robert moeller Posted January 28, 2020 7:03 am

    Great news Jill, a contract seems to be forthcoming. Have been in a similar situation and was relieved that no strike came about. Without teacher’s unions, teachers can be in very tenuous positions often.
    Thank You, Lord.

    My much needed model railroad running boards arrived yesterday and fitting of the major components is
    well underway. Federal tax return completed, sent, and accepted! Helpful information to deal with a change in VT tax return was supplied by a CPA . Am confident that return can be completed successfully.

    The first communion was given in a tense tough time. Such times are with us now. Remembering that Jesus is with us now as well is heartening. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Thank You, Lord.

    Heard from Meesook, still having a very tough time after spinal surgery, a brain MRI is coming soon. Hope to hear about Mikie soon. Blessings to all the UR family, I keep praying for needs, concerns, joys, and thanksgiving.

  • Julie Posted January 28, 2020 8:38 am

    This question is something I never considered befre. But building on answers to other quesries, by seeing the divine in each individaul and recognizing that they are my brother or sister in Christ, it is easier to see God’s compassion at work in bth of us.
    Prayers of thanksgiving with Jill for a new contract agreement. When I worked I was on the other side of the equation. One time the union members came close to striking and I would have been locked in at the plant so that electricity could still be prvided using nonunion personnel only.
    Prayers of thanks for Robert’s railroad parts arriving, completed taxes and hearing from Meesook. Prayers for relief for Meesook and health for Mikey.
    Prayers for Andrea’s health, April’s Bible study, Betsy’s family, BJ and her mom, Connie’s health, Edy and her son, Lou’s heart, Mary’s safety, Marcy’s finances, and Rick’s health and schoolwork.
    Will try to renew license and change it t new federal id today. Went to driver’s license facility yesterday and was told that department is closed on Monday. Sigh….
    Prayers and thank you UR

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