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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.

 

Words of Hope During COVID-19

Beth A. Richardson, author of Christ Beside Me, Christ Within Me, talks about spiritual practices that help her stay grounded in God when her usual spiritual practice won’t work.

 

Today’s Reflection

We live in a world where bad things happen to good people. All of us have pain in our lives, to varying degrees. Our pain has a way of drowning out the sound of our truth, that place deep within us that always has known we are God’s beloved. This means the spiritual life is, in part, about recovering our voice and returning to our truth. It’s a journey forward and a journey back: forward toward the voice of the One who made us, back to the truth that always has been in us.

—Kristen E. Vincent, We Are Beloved: A Lenten Journey with Protestant Prayer Beads (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today’s Question

What truth about God or yourself do you need to return to today? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—
because you are the God who saves me.
I put my hope in you all day long.

—Psalm 25:5 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Open my heart to your love, O God.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

What’s your spiritual type? Learn more about yourself by taking The Upper Room Spiritual Types Test.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Liturgy of the Palms

Liturgy of the Passion

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

5 Comments

  • Jill Posted March 30, 2020 5:06 am

    The Psalm I am currently memorizing is Psalm 121. Yesterday – the word “keep” jumped off the page of my Bible. I quietly meditated on God as my keeper. What does that mean to me? What does He want that to mean to me? To be kept by God…what a luxury. Do I allow it? Am I a still child in His arms, or am I squirming, elusive even? This morning as I returned to this Psalm – I thought about how I will sometimes say I need to keep my eyes on Him. Same word, but different in meaning in some ways, I think. I will sit with this a while.
    It seems like we are in this for the long haul. I am concerned about dad. This is so very hard on him. He doesn’t know what to do with himself. And now, an additional month. And, I don’t know how to help him. He told me yesterday about his church service on-line. The lady who sang at mom’s funeral sang one of the songs yesterday for his service. He broke down and broke down again telling me about it. He knows what we were doing last year at this time, replaying it over and over. Such a challenge – corralling his thoughts right now. I will just continue to pray that God will blanket him in His peace…that He will keep him.
    Officially, “on-line virtual learning” begins today. All of my material, assignments, etc are uploaded. I will have two daily Google Meets (video sessions, similar to zoom which Robert speaks of) Monday through Thursday, and “office hours” for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening Monday through Friday. And away we go.

    • Julie Posted March 30, 2020 8:40 am

      I need to return to the truth that God is my heavenly Father and I am His child. I know need to know the truth that God is a Heavenly Father, a perfect father, one who wants to love me and stand by me and wrap me in peace, love and assurance.
      Megan and I spent the day at home and ran a few errands. We used a new bread machine to make homemade bread. I need to order specific items online so we can expand our repertoire of bread types. The grocery stores are out of much of the baking items. We enjoyed the day watching movies with each of us cherishing our own lap kitty.
      Prayers for Jill as she goes forth into the teaching through technology landscape, may she and her students benefit. Prayers for Larry as he continues to struggle with isolation and loss of his lifelong companion.
      Prayers Robert and his continued health. Today’s UR Devotional author was from Germany.
      Prayers for Andrea and Molly, may both deal with this new way of life with aplomb.
      Prayers for April and her family and her flowers.
      Prayers for Lou and her children as they shelter together.
      Prayers for BJ, may she continue to stregthen us through her heartfelt missives that shine with her love for God.
      Prayers for Rick, may he remain safe as healthcare workers in California handle the ill with reduced personal protective equipment.
      Prayers and thank you UR

  • Lou Posted March 30, 2020 9:53 am

    It is a journey forward and a journey back….
    How true is that in so many ways. I am focused on just trying to take it one day at a time while trusting in the Lord. And the one truth I focus on is that God will never leave us. In times especially like these it is hard not to feel alone. I feel for those physically alone each day – your father Jill who misses his lifelong companion, my mother, Jill who is physically alone, Julie who may feel alone in the house that is occupied by one who makes things very tense – all who feel alone – God is with us. He never leaves.
    I’m thankful the heavy rains and the following strong winds of the weekend did not do any damage here. I’m thankful but worried somewhat about the future of my practice. I pray for my children and their schooling and jobs that continue. I pray for all of the health care workers and those that are ill and the families in mourning. I have several tasks that are hanging over my head that I hope to address today- I’ve gotten better at making decisions alone but sometimes I drag my feet I know because I am afraid of things I’m not familiar with- but I must keep going and trust that God will continue to help me.
    I’ve come this far by faith- leaning on the Lord ….
    A good rockin spiritual that my gospel choir used to sing- I miss Connie and her hymn snippets…
    I’m rambling today-
    Prayers and God’s peace be with you all.

  • robert moeller Posted March 30, 2020 1:52 pm

    Came here earły, read, decided to think, and come back. Now here I am. Need to hang on to ever present God. Computer not working well.

  • Rick Posted March 30, 2020 5:00 pm

    I need to lean on and into God, especially now, to be God reliant and not self reliant. I admit my mind has been wandering. It’s hard to wait and to do what feels like nothing. I’m not working as a nurse right now while attending school full time. My hope is in God, my strength and my place of peace and solace. He who hears my pain and grief for the world right now. Jill, Prayers to you as you inspire your students through online learning and for your Dad as he continues to grieve and experience isolation. Julie, grateful that you and Megan were able to spend quality time together. Continued prayers for Robert, Connie, April, Bj, Lou and her children, Marcy, Mary and all those who come here to find peace, guidance, and inspiration. Thank you UR staff and visitors.
    May the peace of Christ be with you all.

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