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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 needed to ask what certain words meant to me, words I had taken for granted but that now had to bear real definitions for me. I felt compelled to understand them in order to make better sense of my faith: baptism, hospitality, witness, and a slew of others. While becoming theologically educated, new words like beauty, creativity, and delight had seeped into my language of faith, and I needed to think through their compatibility with the more traditional words. In a bizarre way, these spiritual mind games pushed out the stained-glass walls I’d built around God and offered me a bigger and broader sense of who God might be and who exactly could fill out an application to join that royal priesthood that Saint Peter talks about in 1 Peter 2:9.

—Enuma Okoro, Reluctant Pilgrim: A Moody, Somewhat Self-Indulgent Introvert’s Search for Spiritual Community (Fresh Air Books, 2010)

Today’s Question

How has your understanding of God expanded over time? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light.
—1 Peter 2:9 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Lord,
Forgive me when I am reluctant to engage as you call me to do. Surround me with a faith community that encourages and challenges me to participate in God’s unfolding drama.
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.

6 Comments

  • Jill Posted September 24, 2020 5:22 am

    My understanding has evolved to the critical point of knowing that He desires relationship with me. He desires a submitted heart, a willingness to be led, and faithful obedience. There is vertical relationship with Him, which must impact horizontal relationships here on Earth. And perhaps the biggest, still evolving recognition and understanding of – His Sovereignty.
    Thank You, Father – for opening my eyes, for giving me the ability to grasp You, to desire your continued transformation.
    As I step outside between classes – and just bask in the warmth of the sun – yesterday I thought – what am I going to do when the weather turns? When November and “the gray” sits in…
    There are rumblings that our school board is engaging in talks regarding returning to the classroom in some fashion. We are committed to on-line through November 9. While part of me longs to return to the classroom – I would find it very hard to teach while my students are masked…not be able to see their facial expressions. But, how much can I really tell now as I see their faces about the size of a postage stamp on my screen?
    Just today, Father – help me to focus on only today and what it holds. Glorifying You in the moment.

  • Marcy Posted September 24, 2020 6:41 am

    Hymns for today’s scripture reading:
    1 Peter 2:9

    Chosen in Jesus

    Refrain:
    Chosen in Jesus!
    Chosen, we are set apart,
    Children of the Father,
    The treasure of His loving heart.

    By the Father’s deep desire,
    We are chosen in Jesus.
    His through darkness, flood, and fire,
    We walk secure in Jesus Christ.

    Driven by our Father’s love,
    We are servants of Jesus.
    Drawing needy hearts above,
    We live and die in Jesus Christ.

    Ken Bible

    =================================

    Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

    1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
    No light in the darkness you see?
    There’s light for a look at the Savior,
    And life more abundant and free!

    Refrain:
    Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
    Look full in His wonderful face,
    And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
    In the light of His glory and grace.

    2. Thro’ death into life everlasting,
    He passed, and we follow Him there;
    O’er us sin no more hath dominion–
    For more than conqu’rors we are!

    3. His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
    Believe Him, and all will be well:
    Then go to a world that is dying,
    His perfect salvation to tell!

    Helen Howarth Lemmel

  • robert moeller Posted September 24, 2020 8:06 am

    Despite knowing more about God, I am quite aware that I know little. What I do know is quite sufficient. Here on earth because of God, supported, loved, and cared for by God, saved from my mistakes by God’s blessed Son, Jesus Christ, I am alive here and now, trying to help others as God guides.

    Thanks, Jill, for the news on how things are going at school. Safety first!

    Grateful for Marcy and the new to me hymn lyrics. Wish we had the music to accompany them.

    Deck work done, Hope I can get back to modeling, starting and finishing are always the toughest.

    Yes, we are all ministers. I believe that, am not as good at it, need to try harder.

    Thank You, Lord, for the blessings of the day with all that is going on around us.

  • Julie Posted September 24, 2020 8:48 am

    I have learned much from everyone here. Both those here now and others that we hear from no longer. Many things about God, faith, peace etc. But I have also learned the power of prayer, peace, faithfulness, Christian love, forebearance and love for others.
    Prayers for Jill and her school board, may they proceed with caution and listen to the health experts.
    Prayers for Marcy, may she continue to feel well enough to share such beautiful words here for all to enjoy.
    Prayers for Robert and his completed task and his reward of time spent on his model trains and landscape.
    Prayers for Ally and her business partner as they make decisions regarding their future. Prayers for David’s health.
    Megan is home as of late last night. I had her take Tazzie into the bathroom with her when she showered so the steam would help open his nasal passages. He looked much better today and ate well. Thank you for your prayers and please continue as he continues to have secretions from eyes and nose and didn’t keep down his entire breakfast.
    Prayers, thank you, and stay well UR

    • Ally Posted September 24, 2020 9:36 am

      Julie, prayers for Tazzie and the little babies continue,

  • Ally Posted September 24, 2020 9:32 am

    I used to say that though I have changed since saying “yes” to following Jesus at age 13, my view of God has not changed. But of course it has. As I matured, I began to see God not as the county sheriff hoping to catch me doing something wrong , but as a God of grace who applies mercy. I began to see that God loves the unlovable and the people I did not see as worthy. Our God is so much bigger than the box I put God in. Knowing how God loves has helped me to love others and be thankful that God’s love is inclusive and made us all to be God’s children. Not that I don’t struggle when I encounter people who may be hard for me to love. I ask God each day to help me extend grace to others .
    David’s sniffles seem to have cleared up and he is not coughing now. So thankful! My dear friend Hope asked me to send her thanks for your prayers for her daddy, Mr. Pete. Please continue to pray for regarding career decisions. When we were called back to work, our duties increased three-fold. Yesterday, more duties were added to our workload. We are not sure how we can accomplish all that is asked of us. Time management can only do so much. Bless you for praying.
    Jill, lifting up what your schoolyear will look like after 11/9. Online learning in our area has been fraught with technology glitches at several levels. Praying your process has smoothed. Marcy, thank you for the beautiful hymns, The second is an old favorite. I pray you continue to have migraine-free days. Julie, Robert, April, Andrea, BJ, Rick, other regulars, lifting you up to the Lord, To our “gallery:”, I pray you find ways to connect with God and others through this forum. Praying all stay well in these difficult times.

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