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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

God speaks to us whether we are listening or not. God tries to reassure us whether we understand it or not. The more we practice stillness, the greater our ability to listen for and recognize God’s voice of reassurance and deep love in our lives. The more we recognize God’s naming us as beloved, the greater our ability to serve.

—Kristen E. Vincent, We Are Beloved: A Lenten Journey with Protestant Prayer Beads (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today’s Question

When you practice stillness, what do you notice about God, yourself, or others?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Open my eyes, so that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
—Psalm 119:18 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

God of love, who invites me to this journey with your Beloved Son, open my heart to accept your invitation. Hear my concerns about this journey. Help me to learn the way of the beloved. Let me know I am beloved. In the name of Jesus, who reveals the way to your heart. Amen.
Kristen E. Vincent, We Are Beloved
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

As we walk with Jesus through this Holy Week, join us at 11 a.m. (CST) on Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday for special times of prayer and worship in The Upper Room Chapel. You can find us on Facebook Live and YouTube.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Good Friday

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted April 15, 2022 7:00 am

    Stillness makes it easier to feel the presence of God, to be aware God is there. Thankful for a zoom Maundy Thursday service and communion. In recent years I have considered this Passover with feet washing and communion to be a day of change from Jewish to Christian.
    The car gets its rear suspension checked, furniture is donated, and more details on the trip to the Poconos have developed.
    Fellowship time this morning, Facebook Good Friday service tonight. A very different Holy Week with moving plans included. Hope to read NEM posts this morning, without them I can only imagine how you are doing. Thank You, Lord for technology that aids communication.

  • Julie Posted April 15, 2022 8:30 am

    I continue to struggle with this exercise. When I am still I think I try too hard rather than just being receptive.
    Still in a lot of pain and trying to be patient. I am enjoying the fact that the kitties are sleeping with me and hope the new ones follow suit.
    Prayers for Ally and David as they await the biopsy results. Prayers for Jill and Becky as they spend time together today. Prayers for safe travel and a smooth move for Robert. May this trip prove fruitful and beneficial.

  • Jill Posted April 15, 2022 6:15 pm

    I notice things in each of these areas – where ever the Spirit wants to work in that moment. It is a challenge to get near to complete stillness. Sometimes my mind just remains unreined. But – when my mind is near stillness, the Word permeates much better, my prayers slant more towards listening than speaking and I feel more open to movement of the Spirit.
    It is hard to explain the near 180 things have gone with my sister and I. I am utterly relaxed and enjoying myself, not on egg shells, not trying to be a certain way. We had such an enjoyable time. I was able to find a rug for under my kitchen table at the specific store we built the trip around. We had a nice Italian meal for lunch and the timing was perfect to get home for Roger and my sister to church with dad. The weather was warmer than anticipated, although incredibly windy.
    My heart is full, full of pleasantness and gratitude.

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