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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

I had a great idea. I would host a Saturday birthday expedition for my friend Meg, born in late March. I’d pack a breakfast for five—the party including her husband and mutual friends. We’d beat the crowds at Washington’s Tidal Basin along the Potomac and enjoy a 6:30 picnic among the famed cherry trees, blossoming early that year. Who wouldn’t want to?

I can very quickly jump to the end of this story. The picnic never materialized. …

Meg considered the proposal and then called back to thank me for my thoughtfulness. “But that’s just not what I want to do on my birthday.”

—Evelyn Bence, Room at My Table: Preparing Heart and Home for Christian Hospitality (Upper Room Books, 2014)

Today’s Question

How can you show “kindly affection” to someone else while considering what they might want?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.
—Romans 12:10 (KJV)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, you serve as a model for any host: you accept us as we are, even as you call us to be our best selves. As we serve others, give us a vision for anticipating the banquet we will someday, in some way, enjoy in your kingdom.
—Evelyn Bence, Room at My Table
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

8 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted October 26, 2023 7:13 am

    Great ideas for someone else depend on knowing that person well. Our ideas of what someone would like are not always in line with them. I was taught to do know what the person needed, wanted.
    My memory is a bit “rusty “ but the more I read of Rusty’s posts my memory is jogged. Yes, I’m very glad to have you return and be able to read your posts. Welcome! Also the idea of welcoming people to the NEM is decidedly being hospitable. There are so many ways to be hospitable! I very much like this “the need to feel welcome, listened to, and valued for who they are, not what we can do for them” is what hospitality is all about, thanks Julie. “Hippies home to dinner” is great too, thanks Ally. This summer we had a similar experience at church. At family gatherings children were often seated together. Lots of cousins. Not all of us have the “gift of gab” but we still can be hospitable. Read posts from the 20th to today to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Was glad to discover that there were posts from most of us each day. That’s a blessing. I’m glad our gathering is enlarged. Thank You, Lord.

    • Rusty Posted October 26, 2023 9:40 am

      Thank you, Robert!

  • Rusty Posted October 26, 2023 10:38 am

    This question and the Romans passage in Today’s Scripture reminds me of monastic hospitality. While there are many references to hospitality in the Rule of St. Benedict (the guidelines for living adopted by Benedictine monks and nuns), there is a delightful short “chapter” – really only a few sentences – that I think bears on today’s question, as well. Chapter 72 of Rule of St. Benedict pertains to “good zeal” and urges monastic brothers and sisters (and possibly the rest of us, too!) to “be spurred on by fervent love” and “be ready to outdo each other in mutual obedience.”
    I certainly recognize, that “obedience” can seem like a harsh term on our world today and this might not resonate with everybody. But when obedience is made mutual between people, I believe in my heart that it does become kindly affection and a sincere act of love. Maybe even hospitality!
    If anyone is interested, the short Chapter 72 in its entirety can be found at https://christdesert.org/rule-of-st-benedict/chapter-72-the-good-zeal-of-monks/

  • Ally Posted October 26, 2023 10:51 am

    I can show kindly affection by considering the other person’s needs and wants, and by treating the other person the way I want to be treated. I would ask, how can I be Christ to that person so that they feel the love of Christ?
    My heart is broken this morning for those suffering in Maine, in Israel, in Gaza, and in Ukraine. Lord in Your Mercy, hear our prayers for those who suffer. Help us find ways to help.

    • Rusty Posted October 26, 2023 11:58 am

      Amen.

  • Ally Posted October 26, 2023 10:55 am

    Thanks to all for your insights today. And welcome back, Rusty! I have been visiting and commenting since spring 2020. Blessings to all my friends here.

    • Rusty Posted October 26, 2023 11:54 am

      Thank you, Ally. Very nice to meet you. I was a “regular” about 8 to 10 years ago, but dropped out for quite a long time. I’m delighted this community is still going and that there are still folks here I knew through the website all those years ago. Really good to connect with you and the whole group. 😀

      • Ally Posted October 26, 2023 2:36 pm

        This group has been a great support in tough times. Glad you are back.

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