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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

Waiting for God to deliver on God’s word is not easy by any means. As we wait, we may question the belief that God has given us a word upon which to wait. Our faith dances back and forth, and we need a believing community to remind us that God is trustworthy. All we can do to determine the accuracy of our hearing is wait and see what comes to pass. Faith, hope, and trust can be contagious within a faith community.

—Enuma Okoro, Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent (Upper Room Books, 2012)

Today's Question

When have you needed a reminder that God is trustworthy? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
—Psalm 62:8 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

As we wait, Transforming God, prepare our hearts to receive you. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation invites you to embark on a transformative journey of faith. Over the course of two years, you’ll gather each quarter for five-day sessions of retreat-style learning, worship, and reflection. Guided by world-class faculty and nurtured within a community of seekers, you’ll explore practices that nourish your spirit and that help you live a more God-focused life. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Micah 5:2-5a
  • Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7
  • Hebrews 10:5-10
  • Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

3 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

The power of a believing community can do wonders in how we wait in hope. A community helps us discern how God calls us and speaks into our lives, keeping us accountable to spiritual integrity and affirming or challenging our discernment as necessary. It is important to have people with whom we can prayerfully share our spiritual journeys and who can help us name the new realities that God might be birthing in our lives. A community can support us as we name these new realities and learn to live into our expanding or changing sense of identity as flourishing children of God.

—Enuma Okoro, Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent (Upper Room Books, 2012)

Today's Question

How does your community support your spiritual journey? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
—Psalm 33:20 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

As we wait, Transforming God, prepare our hearts to receive you. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation invites you to embark on a transformative journey of faith. Over the course of two years, you’ll gather each quarter for five-day sessions of retreat-style learning, worship, and reflection. Guided by world-class faculty and nurtured within a community of seekers, you’ll explore practices that nourish your spirit and that help you live a more God-focused life. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Micah 5:2-5a
  • Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7
  • Hebrews 10:5-10
  • Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

4 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Though journeying together is rich and powerful in its ability to sustain us in faith, belief, and hope, there is something to be said about discerning whom we invite to walk alongside us. Mary and Elizabeth were fitting for each other because they truly believed in God’s ability to move beyond their understanding. They shared a similar faith imagination that could hold mystery and divine possibility in the face of what the world would call impossible.

—Enuma Okoro, Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent (Upper Room Books, 2012)

Today's Question

Who helps you imagine divine possibility? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

"Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
—Luke 1:36-38 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

As we wait, Transforming God, prepare our hearts to receive you. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation invites you to embark on a transformative journey of faith. Over the course of two years, you’ll gather each quarter for five-day sessions of retreat-style learning, worship, and reflection. Guided by world-class faculty and nurtured within a community of seekers, you’ll explore practices that nourish your spirit and that help you live a more God-focused life. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Micah 5:2-5a
  • Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7
  • Hebrews 10:5-10
  • Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

5 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

God exists within a holy community, the Trinity. God’s self is a thriving community, and God created us to flourish in our interconnectedness and mutual support of one another. We need one another to remind us that all things are possible with God and to help us trust the narrative that God’s reign is both at hand and still to come. In the midst of uncomfortable waiting, we need voices that also speak to our blessedness. Sharing our stories adds perspectives that can bolster our faith when life overwhelms, frightens, or takes us by surprise.

—Enuma Okoro, Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent (Upper Room Books, 2012)

Today's Question

What bolsters your faith in the midst of uncomfortable waiting? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

I hope, LORD.
My whole being hopes,
and I wait for God’s promise.
—Psalm 130:5 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

As we wait, Transforming God, prepare our hearts to receive you. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation invites you to embark on a transformative journey of faith. Over the course of two years, you'll gather each quarter for five-day sessions of retreat-style learning, worship, and reflection. Guided by world-class faculty and nurtured within a community of seekers, you’ll explore practices that nourish your spirit and that help you live a more God-focused life. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Micah 5:2-5a
  • Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7
  • Hebrews 10:5-10
  • Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

3 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

What a relief that God’s reality and trustworthiness does not depend on our feelings. And God can be trusted with all our emotions and all our hungers, pains, fears, and doubts. The reason we are called to wait on God during Advent is because God always shows up. While we wait on God, we can lean into the believing community that trusts with us and for us. Hope and belief can be shared within the body of Christ.

—Enuma Okoro, Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent (Upper Room Books, 2012)

Today's Question

What support do you need from others as you wait on God? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

By speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments. The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does its part.
—Ephesians 4:15-16 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

As we wait, Transforming God, prepare our hearts to receive you. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation invites you to embark on a transformative journey of faith. Over the course of two years, you’ll gather each quarter for five-day sessions of retreat-style learning, worship, and reflection. Guided by world-class faculty and nurtured within a community of seekers, you’ll explore practices that nourish your spirit and that help you live a more God-focused life. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Micah 5:2-5a
  • Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7
  • Hebrews 10:5-10
  • Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

3 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Doubt is nothing of which to be ashamed or which causes God to turn from us. Doubt is a speed bump on the spiritual journey, and some of us have more speed bumps to cross than others. And yet, while acknowledging this condition, an invitation to resist getting comfortable with our doubts remains. Perhaps at this point we are thankfully reminded that God does not call us to journey alone. In our season of doubt it can help to remember that we have a community of persons behind us, praying, waiting to hear of our spiritual experiences, hoping to share their own stories and learning to hobble together toward deepening belief.

—Enuma Okoro, Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent (Upper Room Books, 2012)

Today's Question

Who has encouraged you during seasons of doubt? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
—Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

As we wait, Transforming God, prepare our hearts to receive you. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation invites you to embark on a transformative journey of faith. Over the course of two years, you’ll gather each quarter for five-day sessions of retreat-style learning, worship, and reflection. Guided by world-class faculty and nurtured within a community of seekers, you’ll explore practices that nourish your spirit and that help you live a more God-focused life. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Micah 5:2-5a
  • Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7
  • Hebrews 10:5-10
  • Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

1 Comments | Join the Conversation.