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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

After my Army reservist dad visited a Maine church one summer Sunday during a two-week reserve hitch, he was followed to the parking lot by several church trustees who warned him never to return. Yes, to a church. Their worry? My dad was a Black man. Never mind that he was a decorated World War II hero.

—Patricia Raybon, “Summer Epiphanies,” The Upper Room Disciplines 2022: A Book of Daily Devotions (Upper Room Books, 2021)

Today’s Question

What actions can you take to encourage your church to practice unity in Christ? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus.
—Galatians 3:26 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Dear God, inspire us to always seek you. Help us to fight racism and to demonstrate your love for all people. Amen. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Participate in our next eCourse based on J. Dana Trent’s book One Breath at a Time: A Skeptics Guide to Christian Meditation. This eCourse will offer basic instruction in five approaches to meditation: breath meditation, lectio divina, centering meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and devotional meditation. Receive a discount of 15% off the original price if you register before June 30, 2022. Register today!

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted June 18, 2022 5:50 am

    It is quite true that racism exists everywhere in the US. What we say and what we do are not the same. My freedom and unity, first government in the Americas to abolish slavery home state also made it rough on duly elected Black legislators . Thankfully one has remained and is making progress.
    Diversity is strength, the US on a whole is one of the most diverse countries, yet there are areas where the population is 99% white.
    I didn’t set out to establish a new trend or standard, but marrying someone not of my race never seemed wrong, objectionable. I loved her as a human being. Thankful that I met her and shared my life with her.
    It is an enormous task to end racism, progress has been made, but we have a ways to go. Keep at it America.
    Every human being is precious in God’s sight, we are EQUAL in God’s sight. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted June 18, 2022 8:50 am

    The recent upheaval in the Methodist church exemplifies the truth that not all are welcome in all of God’s houses. The faction that split off did so because they do not believe homosexuals should be allowed in God’s house. I am proud that the church I now attend is very inclusive. We had a guess preacher who is African American one Sunday. His sermon was amazing!
    The plumber was due to come today after postponing yesterday and …may not be here today either. It is a company, not a single person, so the dispatcher is working to find someone to fill in. As I have a small river under my toilet I sure hope she is successful. I will not be home tomorrow of course as it is Sunday and my one day free of h and his dementia issues.
    Prayers for Ally and David, may God provide for them as they need. Prayers for April and her loved one, may April have all she needs to continue her caregiving duties. Prayers for Jill as she continues to walk beside Larry into his future. Prayers for Lou, may her health improve and may she find a doctor with a timely appointment . Prayers for Rick and Scott. Prayers for Robert and his church laity as each does their part to maintain their church body.

  • Ally Posted June 18, 2022 2:05 pm

    My church is pretty good at this. we went through hard times and strife several Years ago and all though we are smaller in number due to that crisis, we are stronger. We are inclusive, welcoming people of co!or and LGBTQ persons. Not perfect, but missional and centered on bringing Christ’s message of love to our world. Please pray for St. Stephen’s church and their community in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. This is the church which had a mass shooting in which 3 people died. I have several family members who live nearby. The whole community is devastated. Thanks to all for your continuing prayers for David and me.
    I’m a cradle Methodist and this split has torn my heart in two. There are forces at work who are manipulative and have mislead churches. Not only do these forces want to be exclusive, they want to hurt the United Methodist Church. I have seen their duplicity and manipulation first-hand. I am having a very hard time feeling charitable toward the churches who are leaving.
    I pray for the willingness to not be bitter.
    Know that all your joys, concerns and sorrows are close to my heart. Love to all.

  • Jill Posted June 18, 2022 4:05 pm

    I feel like my church is very welcoming and united in just loving others. See a need, meet a need. A few weeks back we had a guest pastor – a black man – from a church very close to ours. He did a very nice job. I believe his title is pastor of outreach. He is at the church where my friend and god children attend.
    So much cooler today. I heard the wind often over night and when I took Bo – the dog I was sitting with overnight – outside this morning, it was chilly!
    My friend and I had a nice lunch out and ran a few errands. Now having a lazy remainder of the afternoon in my recliner, watching the US Open golf. Roger has made up with me.
    Dad, Becky and Don are coming over after church tomorrow for Father’s Day. I am grilling out. I will also be testing Roger’s blood sugar levels tomorrow – to see if the minor adjustment in his meds did the trick.
    Happy Father’s Day – Robert.

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