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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

Note: This week’s New Every Morning is structured differently to follow the format of our featured title, Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice, which addresses issues of social justice through a compilation of reflections and call-and-response prayers known as litanies.

I am a person of strong conviction and intense moral righteousness. I have a lot of ideas about how I think a “true Christian” should live in this world, and none of them is fainthearted. I don’t think Christians should make much money, so they can ally with the marginalized. I believe we must live very simply to care for the earth—leave fossil fuels behind, grow our food, try not to produce trash. I don’t think we should perpetuate war, and I feel racism and the love of money are major demons in this world. By now you get what I mean. Maybe you don’t want to meet me at a party. God’s little joke is that many of the beautiful Christians I love deeply don’t share any of these convictions.

—Dee Dee Risher, “Ears to Hear: A Litany for Listening One to the Other,” Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice, edited and compiled by Britney Winn Lee (Fresh Air Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

How do you manage your relationships with other Christians who don’t share your convictions?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

You must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.
—2 Peter 1:5-7 (NRSV)

Today’s Litany

ONE: O moving Spirit, displace us from our convictions

ALL: Into prayer.

ONE: Move us from our certainty

ALL: Into all we do not know.

ONE: Change us from warriors of righteousness

ALL: To people who know brokenness in ourselves and others.

ONE: Crack open our certain hearts,

ALL: Until we can whisper in the hollow spaces, “We may not be right.”

Dee Dee Risher, “Ears to Hear: A Litany for Listening One to the Other”
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The final litany from Rally was written by Britney Winn Lee in the beginning days of the global pandemic. This prayer reminds us that hope endures; goodness prevails; people surprise us; and love cannot, has not, will not fail. Watch and listen.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Transfiguration Sunday

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

4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted February 21, 2022 5:50 am

    I do what I think I am called to do. So far that has not been problematic. Had a good worship service yesterday, need to read the last section of the book we are using on Proverbs. Some decisions about our future being made. Helpful in many ways. Now to put them in motion. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted February 21, 2022 8:33 am

    I am not a confrontational person. i believe we all have the right to think what we want.
    Watched Zoom worship yesterday. there was a very dynamic guest minister who is making the transition from Baptist to Methodist.
    Prayers for Ally’s health, finances and legal struggles. Prayers for Robert’s plans for his future. Prayer’s for Jill’s friend, may her ribs heal quickly and for Roger’s sugar numbers to come down. Thank you for your prayers and may God bless all who visit here.

  • Ally Posted February 21, 2022 1:34 pm

    Hello all, I would lime to answer and give this the thought and attention it deserves, but David was served today to appear tomorrow in court regarding pay of attorney fees to his ex over child support hearing. I really can’t think about anything else. This came out of nowhere, as attorney advised to pay as we could. I’m so angry. The ex’s husband is driving this and is a bully. Please pray for us. Love you all.

  • Jill Posted February 21, 2022 4:45 pm

    Today’s litany is beautiful. The lines which really struck me are “change us from warriors of righteousness to people who know brokenness is ourselves and others.” Oh if that could be the sincere heart cry of people, what chasms we could bridge, what hurts we could salve, what longings could be comforted.
    This would be the attitude which would need to be present when conversations reach intense levels where opinions and stances diverge. A willingness to listen, with the intent to hear and understand, to – as much as possible – walk a while and a mile in another’s shoes.
    Little Roger’s numbers were poor again today, with two readings in the 600’s. We had never eclipsed that mark previously. It is disappointing and as much as he hates each draw, he still rubs against my legs, jumps up into the recliner with me and nose nuzzles throughout the day. Treasuring these unconditional loving moments. He is a gift from God. Maybe the vet will suggest that we switch types of insulin, as this just isn’t having an impact and the disease seems to be progressing.
    Beautiful Spring-like day here. I cleaned out/up my garage some this afternoon, as well as taking a walk. When dad moves in a few weeks, I am getting three of his storage cabinets for my garage, so took the opportunity today – with time and warm temps – to do some rearranging and throwing out. Didn’t get as much school work done as I had hoped. Must write a letter of recommendation this evening.

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