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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

The first step to finding planting leaders is to cultivate an organizational culture of taking risks with new ideas and innovations in ministry. For potential planters who are already involved in the established church or organization, a culture of risk-taking gives them the opportunity to grow from taking smaller risky steps of faithfulness to taking larger and riskier leaps. A culture of risk-taking will also tend to attract and retain people who have a higher risk tolerance and who might be more inclined to begin innovative or entrepreneurial ministries. Cultivating a risk-taking culture begins with leaders modeling and promoting appropriate risk-taking for the sake of the mission. When leaders risk their power, reputation, and person in following Christ, then others will join them.

—Bener Agtarap, Curtis Brown, Ready, Set, Plant: The Why and How of Starting New Churches (Discipleship Resources, 2021)

Today’s Question

How have you been inspired by someone’s willingness to take a risk in following Christ? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
—Mark 8:36 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Each day this week, add a different person or group of people to this simple prayer:

Lord,
Help me plant seeds of faith so _________ will get a chance to experience the fullness and unfailing love of God through Jesus and see the glory of God’s children at work in the world.
Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

2021 still has a long way to go. Visit The Upper Room Online Store and save 45% on The Upper Room Disciplines 2021 with the promo code DISC45. Includes both regular print and enlarged print, while supplies last.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted April 16, 2021 6:15 am

    One of those difficult, I don’t have an answer right away, questions here today. Expecting snow, winter storm warning in effect. Pearl had a checkup, shots and bloodwork yesterday, she needs a fractured tooth removed and will have her teeth cleaned. Otherwise she is in very good shape. ZOOM breakfast with the pastor this morning, can start fitting seats in the Brill car now. How many more people have to die before there’s some action in Congress on gun control.? Too many guns in the wrong hands. More shortly once I look at previous day’s posts.

  • robert moeller Posted April 16, 2021 6:31 am

    Book store visits and peaceful reading, travel and tennis matches in CA, healing thumbs and more PT, thoughts about being the first poster – the first shall be last and the last shall be first, Roger over the next few days, always Marcy’s well-being and health, Lucy, family gatherings, the churches we attend and their ministries weak or strong. All of these are in my prayers. Thank You, Lord as we approach the third Sunday in Eastertide.

  • Julie Posted April 16, 2021 8:35 am

    No to the question of the day.
    H came home early yesterday. I was in the basement and Megan was upstairs and I asked her if she heard me wailing. My lament was great. I had just been thinking how relaxed the cats were and how they were very affectionate and around so much more. Of course he started yelling at me and terrorizing the cats immediately.
    Prayers for Robert and his church and their transition in sharing a new pastor, may all adjust well.
    Prayers for Jill and her doubles partner, may they stay safe and be successful in San Diego.
    Prayers for Ally, may her thumb jeal quickly and completely and may she find a telecommuting job. Prayers for David’s continued improvement.
    Prayers for April, Lou and Marcy, may all be safe and well. Prayers for the UR one and all.

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