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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

Ministries that make space to eat and volunteer with people who need material resources make it possible to see Jesus in people in need. Once I recognize Jesus in the person before me, I find myself better equipped to listen to and appreciate his or her story. I trust that Jesus has much to teach me through other people.

—Elizabeth Mae Magill, Five Loaves, Two Fish, Twelve Volunteers: Growing a Relational Food Ministry (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

What have you learned from listening to someone’s story? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
—Philippians 4:9 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

God is great!
God is good!
Let us thank God for our food.
Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Join our global prayer community on The Upper Room Prayer Wall. Leave your sorrows, worries, or praises, and they will be seen and responded to by hundreds of people around the world. Visit the Prayer Wall at UpperRoom.org/prayer.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted September 22, 2022 5:37 am

    I testify to the truth of this reflection . Listening to others’ stories brings us closer, we learn of the situations they have faced and are facing. Often they are more difficult than the ones we face. Compassion comes from listening, we grow closer and become more helpful to each other..
    Rain and thunder last night, overcast and cool now. Pearl got me up and I fed her. She wants to play. We experience God in many different ways.
    An important way is through pets. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted September 22, 2022 9:13 am

    The stories of others are many and varied. We learn of their unique circumstances and the people in their lives. This helps us view them and the world with new perspective.
    Yes, I agree, we can experience God and his love through our pets. We can also express God’s fatherly love and care to our pets.
    Prayers for Ally and David, for healing and financial relief. Prayers for Jill and her school moving forward without the founder of the program. Prayers for Robert and his fellow church members as they begin lay leader training.

  • Jill Posted September 22, 2022 4:35 pm

    I have learned how people persevere under duress. I have witnessed steely determination and tender compassion. I (hopefully) have become a better person through these conversations and experiences. It is humbling.
    A very Fall-like day here…the sky looked angry with dark clouds most of the day. The sun would break out, but the clouds remained dark. It was good to leave school at the end of the school day and come home to just relax. One more day of this week. Tomorrow we are having a pep assembly. We have not had one of these since before the pandemic. It will be interesting to see how the kids act.
    No gumption to take a walk this evening…too chilly and I am too tired. Well – I am too comfortable here on my couch.

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