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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

God exists within a holy community, the Trinity. God’s self is a thriving community, and God created us to flourish in our interconnectedness and mutual support of one another. We need one another to remind us that all things are possible with God and to help us trust the narrative that God’s reign is both at hand and still to come. In the midst of uncomfortable waiting, we need voices that also speak to our blessedness. Sharing our stories adds perspectives that can bolster our faith when life overwhelms, frightens, or takes us by surprise.

—Enuma Okoro, Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent (Upper Room Books, 2012)

Today’s Question

What bolsters your faith in the midst of uncomfortable waiting? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

I hope, LORD.
My whole being hopes,
and I wait for God’s promise.
Psalm 130:5 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

As we wait, Transforming God, prepare our hearts to receive you.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

For many people, this time of year brings up feelings of loneliness, anxiety, grief, and despair. Join us to pray for those in need, or share your own prayer request at The Upper Room Prayer Wall.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

6 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted December 16, 2021 7:52 am

    Knowing the end of the story.. We are very fortunate having the New Testament. Without it the story depends on oral transmission. Why did it take so long after Jesus’s resurrection for it to be written?
    Thankful for a very positive skiing experience yesterday. Physical exercise does a lot to help relieve stress. Progress continues on both photography and article writing.
    Will be able to participate from home via ZOOM in Sunday’s worship. The virus, especially delta, is spiking here, the worst it has been since the pandemic started. The unvaccinated are overwhelming the hospital. Prayers more will be vaccinated instead of sick.
    Prayers forJulie (job search, health, and legal), Jill (school, Dad, and Roger), Ally&David (disability application, income, health, and Jeremy), Lou (work, children, and Mom). NEM (your needs, situations, concerns, and joys) Thank You, Lord

  • Julie Posted December 16, 2021 8:33 am

    I am uncomfortably waiting especially right now. The job my church friend told me about has two openings. She relayed this information to me yesterday but I’ve heard nothing since. Prayers, my own and those of others, sustain me as well as the uncanny timing. Tuesday the desperate need of a job was made clear to me by my lawyer and Wednesday I reached out to my church friend and she related that two people turned in their two week notice yesterday. Please lift me and this situation up in your prayers. I am excited but have been unable to receive further word from her as she has not responded to my emails.
    Prayers for Ally’s finances and disability application and David’s and Jeremy’s health. Prayers for Jill and her students during exams and for Larry’s anxiety and for Roger’s health. Prayers for Lou and her family. Prayers for Robert’s safety from Covid and for Erich’s stress. Prayers for Marti and her staff.
    Thank you all so much for your prayers and may God bless all who visith here.

  • Gail Posted December 16, 2021 10:39 am

    God appears at the right time. Yesterday I was at medical facility for consultation and the receptionist at intake greeted me. I know her from church but haven’t seen her in a long while. Makes all the difference when someone knows your name!

    • Ally Posted December 17, 2021 3:56 pm

      Hello Gail. Praying your consultation went well.

  • Jill Posted December 16, 2021 10:48 am

    Recalling others who have struggled significantly more and struggled well. There affirmation of God’s faithfulness spurs me on, blows wind into my sails. Staying in the Word, especially the Psalms is a comfort as well.
    A very warm morning, but way to windy to attempt a run. Hated to waste the warm temperatures – would have been pleasant to run without gloves and a hat. The front will move in sometime this afternoon and then we will be back to seasonal temps. The long range forecast shows 2 inches of snow on Christmas. I would enjoy a white Christmas, but not one where travel is a struggle.
    Dad saw the urologist this morning and his number remains somewhat elevated. Not out of the norm for an 88 year old. The doctor is comfortable letting it go another year.
    Yes, the numbers here are back to levels of this past January. I continue to be concerned about dad’s willingness to be out in public, eating in public spaces – but I am resolving to not nag.

  • Ally Posted December 16, 2021 11:09 am

    I think of how I filled my days while waiting for David to get better when he was hospitalized with Covid. I prayed, I studied scripture, wrote my church choir newsletter, read uplifting literature, listened. I have never been through such a season of waiting. God was faithful. God cannot be anything else, even when God is silent.
    We discovered that our pastor is a licensed counselor and is working with us. Had our first sessions yesterday. Pray for us in this process. David sees his primary on Tuesday. I think he may refer David to a specialist regarding the esophageal spasms. Jeremy is eating and drinking well, acting more like himself. We are cautiously hopeful for Jeremy. The cost of the surgery he needs is much more than we expected. We are praying for wisdom and discernment about moving forward.
    Robert, interesting question you asked about why it took so long to for the New Testament to be written down. Going to ponder that one. Glad you had a good day skiing. Praying for your area as covid spikes and that more people will get vaccinated. Prayers for healthcare workers in overwhelmed hospitals. Prayers continue for your church. Julie, prayers continue for your job search and for your anxiety. I empathize because I live with anxiety too. Prayers for the mediation process and a fair and equitable settlement in your divorce.
    Jill, prayers continue for restoration of little Roger’s health. It is a joy to be a cat mama , but So hard when they are sick. Its hard to concentrate on other things when we worry about our babies. Prayers you get some good rest during Christmas break. Lou, lifting up you and your children and concerns for your mom.
    Prayers today for our country for victims of racism and gun violence, for those who experience discrimination. Lord, help us to love others and treat all people as Christ would. Praying for us as we wait with hope.

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