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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

Our identification with this God implies a risk that we take for the sake of others. We open our baskets and share the bread and the fish; we open our homes and welcome the stranger; we open our table to welcome all who hunger and thirst for justice and righteousness. As followers of Jesus, we take our web of advantages and inheritances and extend them, as the great theologian, educator, and civil rights leader Howard Thurman would insist, to the “disinherited.”

—Kenneth H. Carter Jr., A Beginner’s Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

What risk might God be inviting you to take for the sake of others? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, “A youth here has five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread. When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, each getting as much as they wanted.

—John 6:8-11 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth. Amen.
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.

2 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted March 15, 2020 6:06 am

    Until the day I am with the Lord I do all I am able to help all I can with the resources I have. I’m thankful God has enabled me to do so.

    No church today or next week due to the coronavirus. Only will go out for needed supplies. Communication is still very much possible.

    Prayers for everyone across the globe affected in any way by this illness. Here in NH the flu, both strains, and colds are widespread. I suspect that increases people’s fears. Thankful my cold is getting better.

    Prayers to for the other concerns of the UR family: well-being, other health issues, safety, comfort, reconciliation, mission trips, studies, finding a home, and new beginnings. God is with us always. Thank
    You, Lord.

  • Jill Posted March 15, 2020 6:07 am

    I am not sure – but I will try to listen and discern well. I am not sure this is a risk as intended by the author above, but I am trusting Him in this…I received an email from an organization I used to volunteer with. They serve females who are trafficked in our area. I used to be part of their jail ministry – but had stepped aside when things began to go poorly with mom. They are looking for volunteers to take food and toiletries to women during this time of social distancing. Being at a heightened risk for susceptibility – maybe I should not have offered to do this. But I have a wealth of time and will trust God to keep me safe. It will be good to use my time well these next few weeks. We will see what comes of it.
    I am thrilled to say I can see and feel progress only 12 hours after my first injection. I thank all of you for your diligent and faithful prayers. When I woke up this morning I could make a fist – joy #1, and mostly without pain – joy #2. I am typing right now without pain and with regular tempo. The swelling is down significantly, I can see one of my knuckles which I had not been able to see in over two weeks. It is really quite incredible. Cautiously, but readily, looking for more improvement as the day progresses.
    Will “watch” church this morning as a sermon will be “live-streamed”. Not sure if there will be worship music.

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