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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

People will know who we are by our love. Every church should be known by the way its members care for one another and for the whole creation. Some churches are known for their worship, preaching, and music; others are known for their great youth and children’s ministries; while still others are known by their great location, beautiful building, and spacious parking lot. These characteristics are useful if your objective is to get the attention of people to come and visit your church. However, if your church’s goal is to keep people growing in faith and continuing their participation in the life and ministry of your congregation, it is important that your whole effort is driven by love—your love of God and love of others.

—Bener Agtarap, Curtis Brown, Ready, Set, Plant: The Why and How of Starting New Churches (Discipleship Resources, 2021)

Today’s Question

What can your faith community do to be more fully known for demonstrating God’s love? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
—1 John 4:7 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Each day this week, add a different person or group of people to this simple prayer:

Lord,
Help me plant seeds of faith so _________ will get a chance to experience the fullness and unfailing love of God through Jesus and see the glory of God’s children at work in the world.
Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

2021 still has a long way to go. Visit The Upper Room Online Store and save 45% on The Upper Room Disciplines 2021 with the promo code DISC45. Includes both regular print and enlarged print, while supplies last.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted April 14, 2021 6:19 am

    Thank you for the prayers of thanksgiving as a new pastor comes. i’m thankful for the wonderful get togethers that occurred for Jill, Larry, and Becky in Florida and Lou’s family in Chicago., a peaceful week for Julie and Megan, Ally’s healing thumb, and Marcy’s continued progress. Safe travels for Jill.
    The new couch arrived, Erich had his first shot, i voted in the local election, and participated in Bible study. The Book of Hebrews is our study. May there be equal liberty and justice for all in this country. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted April 14, 2021 8:54 am

    There is alot the church I have been going to for years could do to be seen as more loving. I did not ever feel truly accepted and valued and loved. People were insulated within their family groups and friends they had know a lifetime. This church is in a truly economically impoverished area but the church is beautiful and the members are solidly middle class. They do little to reach out to the area other than faceless handouts of food and items at various holidays. I felt we should do more outreach and be more inclusive and inviting to those in the area.
    Megan and I spent the day in the area where I received my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. We had a lovely day shopping and selling bookds at the used book store. It is nice to know upon returning home we would continue to enjoy time that was h free.
    Prayers of thankfulness that Erich is on the way to getting vaccinated and that a new couch is delivered and Robert is well
    Praaayers for Ally’s thumb and David’s extended therapy.
    Prayers for Jill’s upcoming travel to be safe and rewarding. Prayers for poor Roger who will be left alone again.
    Prayers for Lou and her family, April and her family, and Marcy and Lucy, may all be well.
    Prayers for the UR

  • Jill Posted April 14, 2021 11:37 am

    Of the three churches I have attended in my lifetime, my current church is the one who best demonstrates love for its members as well as its community. We are heavily invested in an inner city elementary school. We are also present in many ways in our local community. The care I was shown and continue to realize is unmatched. I am so grateful to God to leading me to this church.
    It is good to hear of more vaccinations occurring and know that we are slowly moving back towards activities which feed our souls.
    Little Roger is highly suspicious – with a duffle bag out on my floor being packed. He continues to stick close by. I grilled up mahi-mahi for dinner last night – and he loves it. He is always hopeful when I get done grilling to get some nibbles. His two favorites are mahi-mahi and pork chops. Guess I was buttering him up/easing my guilty conscience. We also spent about a half hour on the recliner – he on his favorite blanket. He will no doubt be very unhappy. I just hope he trusts me when I return home and is pouting and ignoring me. I have never gone so close back to back.
    I continue to be excited about these next few days. First of all, I have never been to California and I hear San Diego is beautiful. We have received information on our matches on Friday – we will play three. Based on those results – we will see what happens on Saturday. Of course we want to do well, but have things in our mind to do should we be done early. My doubles partner really wants to take an excursion to see whales in the ocean. We will need a big chunk of time to do that – so we will see if it becomes a reality. We head out very early tomorrow morning – she and her husband are picking me up at 4:15.

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