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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

Note: This week’s New Every Morning reflections are structured differently to follow the format of our featured title, Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice, which addresses issues of social justice through reflection and over 50 call-and-response prayers known as litanies.

On that same day, right before I picked up my kids from school, I opened a bill and shuddered at the amount owed. I flipped through a new issue of a literary journal, frustrated with myself for having not contributed the piece I’d intended to send in months ago. Then I scanned the pages of the newspaper but soon was disgusted at the refugee detention camps, the teacher who molested girls, and the nasty way politicians play the “I’m not your best friend anymore” game over and over.
Lord, have mercy. Take these weights.

—Erin F. Wasinger with Britney Winn Lee, Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

As you move through your day thinking about family, finances, work, and the news, what prayer arises? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Don’t fear, because I am with you;
don’t be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
I will surely help you;
I will hold you
with my righteous strong hand.

—Isaiah 41:10 (CEB)

Today’s Litany

ONE: When stress accumulates in a clenched jaw or an apathetic heart,
CHILDREN: When I feel like nothing I do is good enough,
ALL: Spirit, renew our energy for being courageous peacemakers.
ONE: When I feel outmatched by the depths of need at home and in the world,
CHILDREN: When the world is scary and confusing,
ALL: Spirit, walk with us when we don’t feel brave.
ONE: When I’m humbled by my privilege or overlooked because of privilege
I lack,
CHILDREN: When I know something’s not fair, but I don’t know how to fix it,
ALL: Spirit, guide our choices so we courageously bend toward each other.

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The final litany from Rally was written by Britney Winn Lee in the beginning days of the global pandemic. This prayer reminds us that hope endures; goodness prevails; people surprise us; and love cannot, has not, will not fail. Watch and listen.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

5 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted May 14, 2021 7:18 am

    Thank You, Lord! While not every problem is solved, and there will always be problems in this life, good progress is being made. Sunshine, blue skies and warmer temps. looks like a nice day. Hope to see a second counselor who perhaps can meet me more than once a month. Have a ticket for July to go see my daughter. Parts being installed on the Brill car. Memories of Erich’s life being written and
    shared with him. Pearl’s teeth cleaning, possible extraction of a rear molar coming up. Breakfast with the pastor soon. Prayers for all of you. Thank You, Lord.

  • Lou Posted May 14, 2021 8:20 am

    Yes- thank you Lord – good news in the news regarding vaccine effectiveness and the impact it is having in our world. Thank you Lord. I cling to today’s scripture- I leave tomorrow to visit my daughter. Thank you all for your prayers- the good news about the vaccines lightens my load so to speak. I am very happy to be able to see her and happy to be taking a full week off of work. I haven’t done that for two years. Prayers for all of you here at the UR – good to hear from Gail especially- I really miss some of the old posters and wonder how they are- Connie and Rusty especially come to mind- prayers for health and peace for all. Anothe beautiful day in the Midwest. Thank you God.

  • Julie Posted May 14, 2021 8:40 am

    Many thoughts go through my mind depending on the news. Lately, it is often “be with them Lord” and “reduce their suffering.” Sometimes it is a prayers for widom and clarity for our leaders. For myself it is simply “help!”
    Prayers for Robert and Erich as Robert share memories may they grow together through the sharing. Prayers for Lou, for sfe travel and a good visit with her daughter. Prayers for Jill’s health, both physical and mental as tennis begins and school winds down.Prayers for Ally’s job prospects and her and David’s health. Prayers for the UR.
    I am getting more anxious regarding the hearing, etc. I have a meeting with my lawyer next week, hopefully she can lend some insight. A nice day here as well with warming temps each day and no rain in sight til Sunday.

    • Lou Posted May 14, 2021 9:49 am

      Julie- write today’s scripture down (I just did) and keep it near- read and re-read – the Lord will guide you and be with you.

  • Jill Posted May 14, 2021 1:55 pm

    My thoughts these days often go to my best friend and the uncertainty which exists around her – as far as her daughter leaving for college, having to change addresses, having to throw a graduation party – all of these things adding to her anxiety. She also hopes to visit her dad in Florida this summer, her son will be playing travel baseball and basketball. She and her daughter, so much alike, are butting heads at times. It will be both good and bad when she heads off to college in August. I pray for my friend quite often. My impromptu prayers are also often merely gratitude pauses.
    This week just flew by and it finally feels like the end of the school year.
    I am stopping by the doctor’s office on the way home to get my blood drawn to check and see if the medication change has improved my thyroid levels. Additionally I am getting a pneumonia shot and shingles shot. Depending on the time and my energy, I may stop at a local garden center to scope out flowers.

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