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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

Silently make space for [God’s] love in Centering Prayer. With even deeper and longer breaths, imagine the space within expanding, being filled with the presence of God.

Read Psalm 63:1-8. Listen for a word that gains your attention. Be open to the presence of Christ; listen for his word. Respond with verbal prayer and then remain in silence long enough for the Word to shape the space within you.

—J. David Muyskens, Sacred Breath: Forty Days of Centering Prayer (Upper Room Books, 2010)

Today’s Question

How can this psalm inspire your prayers today? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.

—Psalm 63:2-3 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

This week we invite you to practice Centering Prayer:
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly, and then silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
3. When engaged with your thoughts [which includes body sensations, feelings, images, reflections], return ever so gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Upper Room Chaplains’ Ministry campaign is currently underway. Each year, between Memorial Day and July 31, The Upper Room raises awareness about and funds for this donor-led outreach, which distributes more than 270,000 copies of The Upper Room daily devotional to military, VA hospital, and prison chaplains. Support this ministry by giving today.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

1 Comment

  • robert moeller Posted June 6, 2021 6:01 am

    This week’s reflections seem to go hand in hand with the listening lessons of Rueben Job’s book, Listening – Praying in a Noisy World. Longing was the word from the Psalm for me and peace is the word that came to mw.
    Communion today and a tailgate meeting after the ZOOM service. Next Sunday in person worship returns! May you all have a blessed Sunday. Thank You, Lord.

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