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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

AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, storytelling has special meaning for us. If all revelation is relationship, then storytelling becomes testimony, or the sharing of another’s testimony, to relationship. The act of storytelling itself becomes relational. It extends beyond the bounds of instructive or entertaining to become connectional. The storyteller engages the listener relationally. The listener seeks credibility in the voice, posture, and nonverbal communication of the storyteller. The storyteller responds to the face of the listener. We are people of The Story.

We are able to testify. We are able to say, I remember. I remember you. Remember me. And we tell The Story.

– Ray Buckley
Dancing with Words

From page 13 of Dancing with Words: Storytelling as Legacy, Culture, and Faith by Ray Buckley. Copyright © 2004 Discipleship Resources. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Discipleship Resources. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Who’s story do you remember today? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:27, NRSV

This Week: pray for the growth of new relationships. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Did You Know?

In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.

This week we remember: Isidore the Farmer (May 15).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2018 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

4 Comments

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted May 19, 2018 2:13 am

    My dad and mum like to tell us stories of their families. Glad to remember these stories. A few are powerful testimonies like how mum became a nurse despite difficult circumstances, etc

    Blessings to all

    Have a great weekend

  • Jill Posted May 19, 2018 6:15 am

    Last night we got to add another little chapter to mom’s story. It was her great-granddaughter’s 13th birthday party – grateful she was able to attend. She still is considerably weak, but took it easy all of yesterday so she could attend last evening for a few hours. My nephew’s mother-in-law was so kind in greeting my mom. She just simply said – it is so good to see you, I am so glad you came. I hope it meant a lot to mom, because I surely noticed the sincerity in the simplicity of it. Both of my nephews are more attentive than usual and the oldest one, who is more reserved, followed us out to the car when we left and hugged both mom and dad. Oh, how I hope she feels embraced by her family. Also, on the sly, I motioned to my other nephew’s wife to get some candid shots of mom and dad while she was taking pictures.
    Lou – praying for the commencement and all events surrounding it. May your travels be safe as well.
    Going to be helping my dad this morning with spreading mulch and working in the yard. I am hoping to have a good conversation with him. See how he is doing, get his perspective on mom. I bought several flats of flowers yesterday after school and hope to begin planting them today or tomorrow. So therapeutic to work in my flower beds.

  • Julie Posted May 19, 2018 7:42 am

    Jill, how wonderful for your mother to have the strength to attend the birthday celebration. I am so glad that your entire family is being so loving and are all cherishing the moments with Gloria. You will all have many happy memories to share.
    Mary, your mother sounds like a remarkable person. How wonderful for you to enjoy her stories.
    I always enjoyed the stories my grandparents shared. They were remarkable people who endured much and loved their family first and foremost.
    I pray Lou and her family are safe while they travel.
    I also pray Robert is safe as he travels for his testing.
    Prayers and blessings for and thank you to all of the UR family.
    The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
    Robert Byrne

  • robert moeller Posted May 19, 2018 8:11 am

    Not so many stories from my parents, little bits here and there. Very long ago, in the 50s, Mom’s Dad would tell us stories about going out west by train, finding arrowheads, and seeing mountain lions.

    Thankful for a good walk this morning before Erich went to work. His spring allergies are bothering him, thankfully medication helps a lot. Pearl, up very early, went back to sleep, had some time with Erich, and is back asleep again.

    Wonderful that Gloria had such a good time at her great-grandson’s 13th birthday. Having a great-grandson that old seems quite amazing to me.
    Planning the garden, should be in pretty soon, that too will be a good feeling.
    Wonderful to read of Mary’s Mum and her nursing days.
    Have not figured out if I can get to the preliminary procedures for the Alzheimer’s study. They are frequent and a 3 hr drive one way. Need some one to go with me and that is an even more difficult task.
    Should be talking with my daughter tomorrow and my sister soon. Erich needs to go to work.

    Prayers for a safe trip home for Lou and her daughter. Thankful they had some time in Vermont and hope it was positive.

    Prayers for Julie, her hands, foot, daughter, and safety.
    Hope we hear from Marcy again soon. Migraine headaches are serious and tough. Have had two. Hopeful the new medication approved by the FDA will help many migraine headache sufferers.

    God’s love is there for all, thank You Lord, may all accept it.

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