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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

When I began interacting with scripture though writing, a new relationship unfolded. I copied scripture word for word, questioning it, prodding the text to uncover what had not been said, speaking back to it about what I found confusing, too good to be true, too hard, too easy, and sometimes trying to rewrite it with details from contemporary life. In this way, I entered into a relationship with scripture. Faith and the Spirit—both mysterious—sustained me through early adulthood, reason opened the door to the Bible, and now imagination exercised through creative writing forged a living relationship to the Bible.

—Jane Herring, One Day I Wrote Back: Interacting with Scripture Through Creative Writing (Upper Room Books, 2015)

Today’s Question

How would you describe your relationship with scripture? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.
—1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Creator God, I am listening. I am listening.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Come pray with us! Post—or respond to—prayer requests and praise reports on The Upper Room Prayer Wall.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

5 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted June 1, 2020 5:39 am

    Have read all the Bible, attend Bible study, it has value, am learning more about how to approach, use it.

    Slow typing, need to have my computer checked, Still praying for UR family,

  • Jill Posted June 1, 2020 5:44 am

    Honestly – I wish I hungered for Scripture more. I have been asking God to enhance that desire within me. It has been good to memorize Psalms this year. I have committed to memory Psalms 103, 121 and 27. I was just thinking this morning, with it being June 1, it is time to choose another one.
    This past month I purchased a chronological study Bible. I find much of the Old Testament a struggle to read and need to be diligent and continually asking His help as I attempt to work my way through it. I find New Testament yearly reading plans very doable.
    Attended my god son’s first baseball game yesterday. It was a little chilly as the wind seemed constant. Following that, was able to play tennis again. Got confirmation that our summer team’s tennis season will begin in two weeks. That is something to look forward to.
    I have decided to run out to the store this morning, early. I look in my refrigerator and pantry and am out of many staples. So, I’ve got my list and will quickly go in and gather lots of things. I don’t plan on making this a regular thing. Dad and I are golfing later this afternoon as the temperatures are supposed to rise quite nicely. It is chilly now – I turned on my furnace this morning.
    Julie – may God continue to protect you and provide you with wisdom in these days ahead.

  • Andrea Posted June 1, 2020 8:40 am

    Thank you, Jill and Julie, for your prayers. Prayers for your safe shopping this morning and for an enjoyable golf outing with your father. Julie, I pray you will soon, as soon as possible, be out of this abusive situation with h. You are strong and very sane. Prayers for Marcy, Robert and Erich, Ally and David, Rick and his husband, Lou and her children, Bj, and all UR friends. May you be healthy and safe. Prayers for calm to be restored to our cities. Wishing all a blessed day.

  • Julie Posted June 1, 2020 9:00 am

    I enjoy reading scriture with Study Bibles. I have several. One is especially good about giving the context of the time in which the verses were written, so things that have previously puzzled me clicked when explained from ancient perspectives. I have severla other reference books that I need to start using, as they also give an account of the civilization in which the Bible was written and the surrounding circumstances.
    Chai has been constipated through the weekend, so I spent over half an hour on hold but finally Megan is on her way to the vet. She will leave Chai at the vet for evaluation and treatment throughout the day as no appointments were availble.
    Prayers for Jill as she shops, may God protect her. I, too, turned on the heat this morning which seems strange in June.
    Prayers for Robert and his computer and keyboard, may Robert remain safe and healthy and find a new keyboard.
    Prayers for Andrea and her family especially during this time of civil unrest so near to their homes. Please recogize that there could be COVID 19 spikes due to the lack of safety measures observed during riots. Thank you for your kind words.
    Prayers for Marcy, may she be receiving needed medical care.
    Prayers for Ally and David, may David recover completely and may Ally meet all of her many responsibilities with renewed strength.
    Prayers, thank you and good health dear UR

  • Ally Posted June 1, 2020 2:22 pm

    Hello to all; late in the day. The weekend was quite busy and I think, too much for both David and me. More about that in a moment…Today’s meditation put in mind 2 Timothy 1:16-17:
    All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
    I revere scripture and read it daily. It often frustrates me when I think it is vague. I find scripture most meaningful by using it to pray. I wrote Psalm 118:24 on a sticky note and put it my work computer screen as a reminder thank God for each new day. I try to ponder each day’s scripture reading in my heart.
    Please lift up David, as he is dealing with his feet swelling, some shortness of breath, and lower O2 levels not dangerously low). The latest COVID research suggest that recovery is even longer than originally thought and may cause chronic health issues. My case was mild, but I am dealing with extreme fatigue, which is another after-effect. We had a pretty busy weekend, as we spend Saturday with David’s daughter and her family. I met his grandsons for the first time. So there is much to be thankful for.
    Know that I love my UR family and thank you so much for taking me in. I lift up each of you by name and those “in the balcony” as well. I was in the balcony for a long time. I pray everyone stays safe in these uncertain times. I pray those who are seeking justice find it. Lord, help us to be change agents in our world. Amen.

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