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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

During this season when we celebrate the promise of the Prince of Peace, our prayers rise up before God. We hope that, somehow, God’s peace may be realized in our time. We long to be peacemakers and peace builders. We realize our faith involves our hands and feet, as well as our minds and hearts. …

Praying for peace does not fall outside the bounds of our faith. We are still on the journey. But we know that God can always use a few more peacemakers in the world.

—Todd Outcalt, Blue Christmas: Devotions of Light in a Season of Darkness (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today’s Question

Where might your prayers for peace lead you to act as a peacemaker? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

—Isaiah 2:4 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Emmanuel, God who is with us, help me remember you are near every day of the year.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted December 27, 2020 8:18 am

    Being a peacemaker in one particular situation is an enormous challenge for me, but with God nothing is impossible. I pray for guidance and courage to be able to do it.
    Our last Sunday of 2020. It surely has been a tough year and we’re still in the woods or the valley as it may be. Thankful that there seems to be the realization of hope as we move from one year to the next.
    Prayers for all who are waiting for needed help from the government, may we the people do all we can to help them. Thankful that vaccines are being administered with more one the way.
    Had a wonderful day yesterday, the mail-express is on the track behind the engine shown in a picture I have. Still some minor things to do, but it’s 98% done. Saw a steam locomotive in action yesterday on my way for a walk in the woods. That was a a very exciting surprise. Had my walk in the woods on a new very winding trail called Twisted. Hope this new year is not a twisted one. It’s still Christmas! The wise men have yet to come. Emanuel is with us, let us rejoice and be glad! Thank You, Lord, You knew our plight and sent Your Son to save us.

  • Julie Posted December 27, 2020 8:30 am

    Believe it or not I have discovered just this morning that Good has shown me a manner in which to act on my prayers for peace. I have learned that if I speak slowly, calmly and impart facts in small easily understood words I can communicate with h and have him capitulate to situations within the household. They are relatively minor things now, but this understanding may prove useful in situations of more significance. The disheartening thing about this is that it illustrates how much more difficult my life is because I have to discern the progress of h’s Parkinson’s completely on my own as I am being kept from communicating with h’s doctor’s.
    Prayers for Ally and David and their safe travel.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry as they navigate their new and deeper communication and relationship.
    Prayers for Lou and her children, may all stay safe in their own areas of the country.
    Prayers for Robert and his family as they also are scattered about the country and some are dealing with the aftermath of the recent winter storm.
    Prayers for Marcy who continues to be unavailable and I continue to worry for her well being.
    Prayers for the residents and police officers of Nashville. May those who lost their homes be able to return soon and may the repairs made quickly. May those harmed recover quickly. May the police be safe as they continue to try to bring the perpetrator to justice.

  • Jill Posted December 27, 2020 9:34 am

    Peacemaker…I ponder how this will look as I continue in relationship with my three students who cheated on their exam. How will I navigate this appropriately, with the additional obstacle of virtual learning. If indeed my principal supports me, I believe the consequences are going to be quite serious and more than I would have wished. I am hoping he will understand that there is no doubt they cheated, but that I don’t want them punished to the nth degree. I had been able to set it aside for a few days, but now it is back near the forefront of my awareness. I am hoping he will deal with it this week.
    Lots of schoolwork and some shoveling yesterday. Temps are to rise today with rain overnight. Didn’t want there to be a soggy mess in my driveway, which could potentially freeze, so I attended to it. The sun is out beautifully and I was able to run this morning, after not being able to get out the previous three mornings. It is nice to run in the daylight – and a bonus when the sun is out as well.
    My former basketball player is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning. She is nervous, but hopeful. The plan is to remove everything laparoscopically – but the potential is there for them to do a more invasive procedure.

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