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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

Most mental health problems intensify in the face of social isolation, so the social nature of the small-group experience can be both spiritually and emotionally transformative. When we avoid relationships, we can only imagine and guess at what people in our lives think and feel. To know relational truths, we have to go beyond imagining and guessing. We need to interact with people. Groups give us the opportunity to check out our assumptions and to hear that we are not perceived as negatively as we sometimes feel. We are not as undesirable as our inner critics would determine. Groups also help us keep our ego in check as we engage with others’ concerns and needs.

—Angela D. Schaffner, Gather Us In: Leading Transformational Small Groups (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

How could you benefit from participating in a group with others? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.
—Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Abba,
You have given me life.
You have filled me with your Spirit.
I am your child, not a slave to fear.
I am your child; light my path and guide my steps.
I am your child; hold me.
Hold me tight.
Amen.

(Adapted from Romans 8.)
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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted June 16, 2021 8:42 am

    This group, committees at church, worship, Bible study, and breakfast with the pastor, railroad hobby groups, and Face Time are my daily to weekly visited social groups. They have sustained me before, during, and now as we exit the pandemic. Caring for others through activism, donations, greetings, and cards is another way.
    I pray that NEM servers as an important social interaction for all who come. Only a few years ago we had many more posters, but even visitors, readers can and do benefit from coming here.
    Pastor Sue ends her ministry at CCUMC on the 27th and Pastor Carol begins the following Sunday, July 4th. Prayers for both pastors during this transition.
    Blessings to all, wonderful weather here today. Thank You, Lord.

  • Larry Eugene Dyer Posted June 16, 2021 8:43 am

    My favorite area of spiritual well-being…….so here we go. How can we /I not benefit from participating in a group. Actually as cocreators with God it is our calling to be engaged with all creation. That includes social interaction as well as stewardship of all creation. So as we engage with all humanity we grow in the Love of God. I am the first to admit that this is hard work and contrary to our human nature. However, if we are to grow spiritually we must go beyond that protective nature and be what God created . Thus as we share life with others we grow in GOD’S LOVE .

  • Julie Posted June 16, 2021 9:07 am

    Lately I have interacted with many people I don’t on a normal basis. My brother and ex husband and even my mother, who I call several times a month. I need to remember that there are churches that do accept all who come to them and try attending another church. But so far I have been to several in my area and am batting a zero.
    My mom called this morning to relate that she is going to the same rehab facility as last time which makes her happy. Because insurance takes awhile she may not go until tomorrow. in response to Jill’s comment, the relationship with my mom has not changed, mostly I was just her means of alerting my brother to her issues. She seems to be doing well and continues to be in good spirits. My brother emailed me and said that mom needs to take it easy. He does not realize that mom is aging and she fell trying to open her door. Not exactly risky behavior.
    Megan comes home tonight. Her other grandmother is no longer in distress. She had been gasping to breathe even with the oxygen but with the morphine she is resting peacfully. My ex continues to deal with this situation as well as the house. My heart and prays go out to him. I agree with Jill’s assessment rgarding him and his thoughts of me. I think time and distance have revealed to him that I am not the monster he had to think of me as in order to accept the divorce.
    Prayers for healing for Ally, David and Marcy. Prayers for patience for Jill and safety for Lou. Welcome to Larry Dryer. Prayers for Robert, the congregation and pastors Sue and Carol.
    Thank you for your prayers and Glod bless all of you.

  • Jill Posted June 16, 2021 3:02 pm

    I have benefited from being in a small group – in numerous ways. I have been welcomed, intensely listened to, fervently prayed for, and consistently encouraged in my walk with God as well as care of my parents. Group members have pointed me in the right direction – cancer support group, Biblical counseling, pertinent reading material. I have been prayed with individually, passionately. They were a presence during mom’s darkest days and time following her passing. God has been so gracious, nudging me and surrounding me with His Church. I wish for you, Julie, to be able to experience this. My words don’t do my experience justice.
    What bliss to sleep in (for me), to be unconcerned about what time I get out for a run, to take a morning nap, to go grocery shopping whenever I please. Beautiful sunshine with such comfortable temps. Hit with my doubles partner this afternoon, and have small group this evening.

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