Centering Prayer
Today's Reflection
Centering Prayer helps us release these distractions and reclaim God’s peace. It helps us turn away from cultural pressure to do more and recenter ourselves in the assurance that we are already enough in God’s eyes.
—Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer: A Simply Centered Advent (Upper Room Books, 2017)
Today's Question
What are some distractions for you? How might you let go of these distractions and relax into God’s loving, peaceful presence this Advent season? Join the conversation.
Today's Scripture
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4:7 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
God, light my path as I journey toward Bethlehem. Help me set aside my fears and assumptions and learn to love as you have called me to love. Give me eyes to see your God-spark in me and in all those I meet. Amen. [prayer adapted from Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer by Sharon Seyfarth Garner]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Each year The Upper Room Disciplines brings together 52 diverse voices to share messages of hope, challenge, and joy. Disciplines writers are clergy and laypeople from a variety of Christian denominations who invite readers to engage daily with scripture for spiritual practice. Watch a message from the contributors to Disciplines 2025 here.
Lectionary Readings
- Zephaniah 3:14-20
- Isaiah 12:2-6
- Philippians 4:4-7
- Luke 3:7-18
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.Flicker and Dance
Today's Reflection
When we slow down and pray for someone else, we empower the God-spark in us all to flicker and dance. When I focus my time of prayer on the needs of others, I am living into the agape love that I am called to embrace.
—Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer: A Simply Centered Advent (Upper Room Books, 2017)
Today's Question
What helps you see the God-spark in others? Join the conversation.
Today's Scripture
Keep loving each other like family. Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it.
—Hebrews 13:1-2 (CEB)
Prayer for the Week
God, light my path as I journey toward Bethlehem. Help me set aside my fears and assumptions and learn to love as you have called me to love. Give me eyes to see your God-spark in me and in all those I meet. Amen. [prayer adapted from Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer by Sharon Seyfarth Garner]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Each year The Upper Room Disciplines brings together 52 diverse voices to share messages of hope, challenge, and joy. Disciplines writers are clergy and laypeople from a variety of Christian denominations who invite readers to engage daily with scripture for spiritual practice. Watch a message from the contributors to Disciplines 2025 here.
Lectionary Readings
- Zephaniah 3:14-20
- Isaiah 12:2-6
- Philippians 4:4-7
- Luke 3:7-18
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.Agape Love
Today's Reflection
Agape love is considered to be the highest form of selfless love, a profound loving-kindness for another person that transcends any selfish motives and that strives to fully care for the needs of another individual as a fellow child of God. Sometimes we refer to acts of agape love as random acts of kindness — love offered without expecting anything in return.
—Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer: A Simply Centered Advent (Upper Room Books, 2017)
Today's Question
How can you practice agape love today? What random act of kindness will you do? Join the conversation.
Today's Scripture
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.
—1 John 4:18 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
God, light my path as I journey toward Bethlehem. Help me set aside my fears and assumptions and learn to love as you have called me to love. Give me eyes to see your God-spark in me and in all those I meet. Amen. [prayer adapted from Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer by Sharon Seyfarth Garner]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Each year The Upper Room Disciplines brings together 52 diverse voices to share messages of hope, challenge, and joy. Disciplines writers are clergy and laypeople from a variety of Christian denominations who invite readers to engage daily with scripture for spiritual practice. Watch a message from the contributors to Disciplines 2025 here.
Lectionary Readings
- Zephaniah 3:14-20
- Isaiah 12:2-6
- Philippians 4:4-7
- Luke 3:7-18
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.Merciful, Gracious Love
Today's Reflection
I am asking that you believe the essence of me. I’m inviting you—I am encouraging you—to make a joyful choice to believe the whole truth of me: I am love, pure, holy, infinite, unchanging, merciful, gracious, slow to anger, powerful beyond measure, made perfect in weakness. All of who I am is aimed squarely at all of who you are, all of the time.
—Ruth L. Boling, "One Divine Detail: A Letter from Jesus," in Season’s Greetings: Christmas Letters from Those Who Were There (Upper Room Books, 2024)
Today's Question
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and substitute the word “Christmas” for the word “love.” How does this passage resonate with your plans for Christmas this year? [question adapted from from Season's Greetings by Ruth L. Boling] Join the conversation.
Today's Scripture
Love is patient and kind, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. . . . Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!
—1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (CEV)
Prayer for the Week
Jesus, help me cast aside my reluctance, throw caution to the wind, and open the doorway of my heart to all the wonder of you, here and now. Amen. [prayer adapted from Season's Greetings by Ruth L. Boling]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
In this week’s featured book, Season’s Greetings, twelve vividly-imagined letters from long-ago Bible characters who were there for the birth of Jesus speak to the many meanings of Christmas. It’s not too late to order your copy and experience the Christmas story in a new way this year. Learn more here.
Lectionary Readings
- Malachi 3:1-4
- Luke 1:68-79
- Philippians 1:3-11
- Luke 3:1-6
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.Rely on God
Today's Reflection
Christmas calls for responsible action steps, so begin by admitting to one another: “This is our mess. We have no one to blame but ourselves. Let’s clean things up.” Take responsibility, but do not be hobbled by it. Move on quickly to determine what piece of the mess is yours to untangle, and then set about to do just that. Seek God’s guidance. Rely on God’s help. God won’t be waving a magic wand to fix things for you, but neither does God expect you to go it alone.
—Ruth L. Boling, "A Summons: A Letter from Isaiah of Jerusalem," Season’s Greetings: Christmas Letters from Those Who Were There (Upper Room Books, 2024)
Today's Question
What action is God calling you to this Christmas? How can you bring hope, peace, joy, and love into the world? Join the conversation.
Today's Scripture
I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
—Isaiah 6:8 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
Jesus, help me cast aside my reluctance, throw caution to the wind, and open the doorway of my heart to all the wonder of you, here and now. Amen. [prayer adapted from Season's Greetings by Ruth L. Boling]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
In this week’s featured book, Season’s Greetings, twelve vividly-imagined letters from long-ago Bible characters who were there for the birth of Jesus speak to the many meanings of Christmas. It’s not too late to order your copy and experience the Christmas story in a new way this year. Learn more here.
Lectionary Readings
- Malachi 3:1-4
- Luke 1:68-79
- Philippians 1:3-11
- Luke 3:1-6
Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
0 Comments | Join the Conversation.Disbelief and Belief Together
Today's Reflection
If God has ever planted a wild notion in your head that you simply can’t let go of, then you know what Christmas means to me. It means disbelief and belief mingled together. When I say “disbelief,” I don’t mean doubt. I mean that exploding feeling that is more than amazement.
—Ruth L. Boling, "Beyond Me: A Letter from Elizabeth," in Season’s Greetings: Christmas Letters from Those Who Were There (Upper Room Books, 2024)
Today's Question
Have you ever had a spiritual experience that you struggled to explain rationally? In which “belief and disbelief mingled together"? [questions from Season's Greetings by Ruth L. Boling] Join the conversation.
Today's Scripture
The angel said to [Mary], “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, 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.”
—Luke 1:35-37 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
Jesus, help me cast aside my reluctance, throw caution to the wind, and open the doorway of my heart to all the wonder of you, here and now. Amen. [prayer adapted from Season's Greetings by Ruth L. Boling]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
In this week’s featured book, Season’s Greetings, twelve vividly-imagined letters from long-ago Bible characters who were there for the birth of Jesus speak to the many meanings of Christmas. It’s not too late to order your copy and experience the Christmas story in a new way this year. Learn more here.
Lectionary Readings
- Malachi 3:1-4
- Luke 1:68-79
- Philippians 1:3-11
- Luke 3:1-6
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.