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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

Personal healing liturgies are most appropriate when they relate to times of crisis or change in one person’s life. Because personalized liturgies are a bridge between pastoral counseling and the corporate life of the church, usually the occasions for personal liturgies are just that: deeply personal and inevitably varied. Personal liturgies can be created to celebrate or mourn, to recognize growth or stagnation, to claim or surrender, to give up false hope or hold fast to the Love that will not let us go.

—Tilda Norberg, Gathered Together: Creating Personal Liturgies for Healing and Transformation (Upper Room Books, 2007)

Today’s Question

When has liturgy provided a meaningful bridge for you? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.
—Colossians 1:9-10 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Great are you, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is your power, and your understanding is beyond measure.
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.

4 Comments

  • Jill Posted November 29, 2020 5:46 am

    The rhythms of a church service are something I am missing right now, especially as Advent is upon us. I miss the activity which buzzes around prior to the service beginning…friends embracing, comfort offered. I miss the pastoral prayer, where needs of the congregation are carried to the Lord. The beautiful songs, with beautiful harmonies and meaningful lyrics. And hearing the Word proclaimed. I am missing it all, and the pull to return is strong. Yet, again this morning, I will take in my church’s service on a screen.
    My friend cooked up a Thanksgiving meal yesterday and sent much of it home with me for me to share with dad. He is coming over today to watch football and get the food. It’s supposed to be sunny and fairly mild, so I imagine we will take a walk as well. Our first significant snowfall is supposed to occur tomorrow night and Tuesday. I raked one last time yesterday afternoon. The sun was out bright, but it was cool.
    Three weeks of school remain prior to winter break.

  • robert moeller Posted November 29, 2020 5:56 am

    Liturgy became one of the important means of recharging my spirit the year I turned 50. Worship had always been a positive experience for me, but then it moved to a restorative, energizing, faith building, and much needed role in my life. I remains there to this day.
    Advent is here, my wreath is ready for the lighting of the first candle, PEACE. A new experience for me, having a wreath at home. I pray PEACE is with you this day and always. This is God’s peace, brought to the world by the Prince of Peace. Thankful that we have it, especially through the pandemic. Thank You,
    Lord.

  • Lou Posted November 29, 2020 10:14 am

    I so miss the in person church experience as well- connecting and seeing people I have been friends with for almost 30 years. But I always watch online and will as long as we must.
    I’ve always had an advent wreath at home – growing up we had one I think but it was when my children were young and one of the church activities the first Sunday of advent was a family activity of making a wreath of greens and we took this home and had a devotional to read each day – I think I have talked about this here before but the first year we had a advent song that we sang before the reading – a child’s song to engage them – today one of my kids texted me the words to the first verse… they remember and that makes me happy. I sang it as I lit the first candle this morning and read the advent devotional that I follow. It’s a gray morning and I was feeling a little lonely so I made a fire and am ready to have church in front of the fire.
    Blessings to you all as we wait.

  • Ally Posted November 29, 2020 5:20 pm

    Holy Communion is a bridge for me to connect to God’s grace. It puts my heart right. David and I served Communion as part of our wedding service. Serving the elements to my mom is one of the most poignant “God moments” I have ever experienced. Mama entered long-term care a few months later. Thank God for His provision of ways to connect to the holy.
    David tripped over something in our bedroom and fell last night. He’s ok, just a little soreness. We had a time getting him up because he he diminished upper body strength due to COVID after effects. I’m thankful it was not as serious as fall a couple of weeks ago. In other news, we’ve had a nice 4 day weekend: Thanksgiving dinner for 2 (a lot of leftovers to finish. That’s ok. We love turkey and dressing); quiet days just hanging out. Had to get a Covid test before my cataract surgery. I get results tomorrow. Please pray for this.
    As Advent Begins, I pray while we wait for the coming of the Christ Child, we wait in wonder. Blessings to all.

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