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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

Once we have selected our word (and a few colored pencils), we allow ourselves to sit comfortably in sacred silence. As we gently let all thoughts and distractions fade away, we still our hearts and minds, breathe deeply, color slowly, and leave our worries behind. … When the inevitable distractions wiggle their way back into our consciousness, we needn’t feel discouraged. We can simply return our mind to our sacred word—that point of stillness amidst the movement of our mind that gently guides us back to our center. I sometimes find writing my sacred word at the center of my mandala or whispering it as I color and pray to be helpful.

—Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Praying with Mandalas: A Colorful, Contemplative Practice (Upper Room Books, 2016)

Today’s Question

How long were you able to focus on your word as you colored? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
—Psalm 62:5 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Gracious God
whose love encircles all,
You are the one in whom I live
and move and have my being.
Thank you for the moments
when I see you most clearly.
I am sorry for the times I have turned away
from your loving presence.
With hope I look toward the new day to come,
heart aflame with your love and grace.
I am grateful that you are with me
every moment of every day.
Amen.
Prayer by Sharon Seyfarth Garner
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Join the conversation on how to make our churches safer places for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Participate in the Safer Sanctuaries webinar series each Thursday during the month of October. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted October 8, 2022 5:34 am

    I suspect I would be too focused on the coloring and that would be a distraction despite the word chosen to focus on. Glad Julie wasn’t scammed with the boat sale, Jill’s students are responding to the attention they are receiving. Prayers that we all make progress praying for others, friend and foe alike. Not an easy task for us, just imagine how God cares for every one, That’s very hard to imagine, but through faith we believe it to be true. Went to the nature conservatory I found with Erich, had a nice walk to the beaver pond, searched for some Braeburn apples at a nearby orchard, without success. Honeycrisp, a substitute, are available at two grocery stores. Successfully avoided traffic from the Fryeburg Fair and saw absolutely awesome fall foliage. Despite growing up in leaf peeper country, it never gets old. Ready for worship, waiting for the announcement to give about the coordinating pastor. Thew community of faith is having a tough time understanding, accepting this idea, but it is the future. Hopefully once we have a certified lay pastor there will be growth. That too will be tough with fewer young people here, but have to carry on. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted October 8, 2022 8:41 am

    I haven’t tried this exercise but I have colored in the past. I concentrate on the coloring and it in itself is meditative.
    Megan looked deeper into the website we have the boat listed on and apparently it used to be reputable but no longer. The only people that offer to buy are scam artists. We have listed it on Craigslist and if it does not sell within a week or two we will use a boat sales establishment who takes boats on consignment. The only problem is that we have to take the boat to them and we have no means of doing this.
    Prayers for Ally and David as they struggle with health and finances. Prayers for JIll and her family and Lou and her family. Prayers for Robert, may the CCUMC membership accept the coordinating pastor and may it flourish under her guidance.

  • Jill Posted October 8, 2022 11:59 am

    I have not tried this practice. Don’t know that coloring would help me focus on God and be prayerful.
    The colors are starting to pop around here. I was thinking about if my dad was missing seeing the seasons change here. But – he is having such a good time in Florida, I doubt he minds missing the colors of foliage up here. I will try to be more mindful in the days ahead to be aware. I think being observant and falling into praise that moment would be more impactful than the exercise of coloring.
    Enjoying Fall playoff baseball, as well as a lot of college football today. Going to do some grading and then heading over to my friend’s house for an early dinner while watching more football. We are also going to spend some time in the book we are going through.
    Very much looking forward to golf tomorrow with a teammate from my new tennis team this summer. The colors should be excellent and the sunshine is to be abundant.

  • Ally Posted October 9, 2022 12:27 am

    Coloring is my go-to relaxation exercise. Haven’t tried this exercise yet, but I plan to on Sunday afternoon. I would like to have this book.
    No fall color here yet. We are too far south to get spectacular color. North Georgia does. I miss living there. But we’ve had some lovely days. We are going to try to get to church tomorrow. Pray we can get it together to do so.
    I’m thankful for my NEM friends. I love you all.

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