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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

The mandalas [circular designs] in this book have become a refreshing way for me to focus my prayer time. When coloring, the distractions that often derail my prayers stay at bay, allowing me the space to be with God on purpose. I can more easily leave behind my Martha-like worries and embrace the opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus with a colored pencil in my hand. Through the spiritual practice of contemplative coloring, I have found a renewed sense of spiritual joy and relationship with God. My prayers are more focused, more enjoyable, and more meaningful.

—Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Praying with Mandalas: A Colorful, Contemplative Practice (Upper Room Books, 2016)

Today’s Question

What spiritual practice(s) has helped you develop a closer relationship with God? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Come near to God, and he will come near to you.
—James 4:8 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Gracious God
whose love encircles all,
You are the one in whom I live
and move and have my being.
Thank you for the moments
when I see you most clearly.
I am sorry for the times I have turned away
from your loving presence.
With hope I look toward the new day to come,
heart aflame with your love and grace.
I am grateful that you are with me
every moment of every day.
Amen.
Prayer by Sharon Seyfarth Garner
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Join the conversation on how to make our churches safer places for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Participate in the Safer Sanctuaries webinar series each Thursday during the month of October. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted October 3, 2022 6:27 am

    I haven’t tried beads or mandalas. I just talk to God. Well some quite unexpected but good news. CCUMC has a coordinating pastor. She will be some one we can connect with as the laity continues to lead CCUMC and our candidate for certified lay ministry undertakes and completes her training. Our first impression is good so hopefully it works out. She will be introduced to the community of faith this coming Sunday. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted October 3, 2022 9:30 am

    Reading the Bible and devotionals and reading the comments and commenting myself here on NEM.
    Church yesterday was enjoyable. Usually I do not enjoy the hymns but yesterday’s were uplifting. I had many good and productive conversations following worship and signed up for various upcoming tasks such as Thanksgiving.
    Prayers for Ally and David, for pain relief and financial resources. Prayers for Ally’s friend with spinal cancer, may God ease her pain and suffering. Prayers for Jill and her family and Lou and her family. Prayers for Robert and prayers of thanksgiving for the wonderful news of a coordinatiing pastor for the CCUMC.

  • Jill Posted October 3, 2022 3:51 pm

    Praying out loud and praying through a Psalm have helped me with focus recently. Also – a short podcast which comes out each Monday – helps me focus my morning. It is called “Prayers of Rest”.
    A good day at school. I continue to see what occurred last year – the difference between my two levels of classes is striking. My “stronger”, more conceptual students are very bright and get right to a task and utilize their time efficiently in my class. They enjoy working together, but also independently. However – my kids which are in the more straight forward class – their skills – so diminished by the time we were online during the pandemic need a lot of structure, a lot of repetition and practice and tutoring. I will be tutoring most mornings before school and likely at least one day after school. I need to remind myself to be patient…to be repetitive…clearly stating questions they should be asking themselves in the midst of the problem and encouraging them to be detailed in all they do. I am committing to slowing down and building some confidence in them.
    A beautiful Fall day, the wind which was present all weekend has died down. I hope to take a walk after dinner.

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