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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

Howard Thurman recalls being caught in a summer thunderstorm as a young boy. As he filled his bucket and mouth with delicious berries and plunged deeper into the forest, he neglected to notice the storm forming on the horizon. He heard crashes of thunder. Suddenly he realized he was lost. With darkness enveloping him, he panicked and began to run. Then he remembered a bit of family wisdom: When you’re lost, stop and be still, then look around and listen. Young Thurman stood still, observing the lightning strikes illuminating the landscape—looking left then right, backward then forward. At last he saw something familiar. With each new lightning strike, he walked a few paces closer to his destination until he found his way home, guided by the storm that initially had terrified him.

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

Today’s Question

When have you felt God’s presence in nature?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

When I look up at your skies,
at what your fingers made—
the moon and the stars
that you set firmly in place—
what are human beings
that you think about them;
what are human beings
that you pay attention to them?
—Psalm 8:3-4 (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.

4 Comments

  • Lou Posted June 27, 2022 5:12 am

    I feel God’s presence early this morning as the sky is becoming a beautiful pink as the sun is making its way up and the birds are chirping and greeting the day. Prayers for all on this Monday- may you all have a peace and love filled week ahead. God bless you all.

  • robert moeller Posted June 27, 2022 7:03 am

    In quiet walks in the woods, where barely a sound that is not God created is heard. Only the wind, a babbling brook or stream. birds singing, leaves and branches rustling, something stirring in the underbrush, that’s where I feel God’s presence in nature the most.
    Worship plan is done, now to finish the message.
    I’m still reeling from two decisions by the Supreme Court, thankful for at least some progress with gun control and mental health help. May God grant us wisdom and may the people have the final say in our government which is supposed to be OF, BY, and FOR the majority of people.
    Progress too with prep for the strawberry shortcake event on the Fourth of July in North Conway, NH’s Schouler Park. It’s the return of this event after two years of Covid interruption.
    Cooler today, high 77, expecting rain, lawn mowing rushing to be done before the rain starts.
    Diversity is an important word. I’m a native of one of the four “whitest” states in the Union, married an Asian, loved her dearly, have biracial children. One of the reasons for wanting to move to PA is the higher rate of people with two or more race ancestry. More that a quarter million people claim that in PA. In NH it’s only 4000. In different ways and forms racism exists everywhere. Sad, but true
    God made everyone of us different, if God did that who are we to discriminate in hateful ways? My faith grew in a Korean Methodist church , thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted June 27, 2022 9:28 am

    Walked in the Botanic Gardens yesterday and was surrounded with the beauty and simplicity of God’s creation.
    However, while I was spending my one day of the week away from home, h had fallen on the floor in my bathroom in the morning and was still there when I got home in the early evening. I am quite small and he is six feet so I had a very difficult time getting him back on his feet. I was afraid I would have to call an ambulance this morning but he is up and with my help showered and dressed and eating. This is a total change in his condition in a very short timeframe as he was driving on Saturday.
    Prayers for Ally and David, for David’s hip to heal quickly and well and for Ally’s stress, ,may the Lord be with her through this and support her. Prayers for April and Lou and Rick and Scott. Prayers for Jill’s friend who lost her mother, may God and her friends and family comfort her. Prayers for Robert and Erich as they continue to set their sights on the Poconos and prayers for Robert as he leads worship this coming weekend.

  • Jill Posted June 27, 2022 3:54 pm

    At the beach, the sounds, the scents, the overwhelming array of visuals, I am consumed with the awesomeness of God and His magnificent creation. Usually, the night before we head home, I will take my beach chair down to the beach, one last time, and soak it all in.
    Ally – I am very sorry to hear of David’s fall and injury. May God be with both of you in the days ahead.
    Dad and I played golf this morning, on a comfortably cool summer morning. We had lunch nearby and ice cream to boot. Dad played well, had a chance to shoot his age, which is always his goal. The last hole was his undoing. For me, the first hole and each subsequent hole were my undoing!
    Did some yardwork this afternoon – since it was so cool. I wore clothing that covered me from head to toe, as I have this invasive vine that I think may be poisonous sumac, and I worked on untangling it, chopping it and ridding it as best I could.
    A tennis match this evening. Tough competition. Should have friendly foes on our court – we have been playing each other for literally decades. Looking forward to it.
    Julie, you continue to honor God as you serve h.

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