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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

Many churches choose the longest night to invite those with losses, plus family and friends, to come for a time of worship. Usually the services include readings from scripture and prayers, but a common element of most is the lighting of candles. Even in the darkest time of year, when sadness wraps its arms around us tight, we can gather to light candles of memory and candles of hope. Liturgy affirms that God is a God who knows our grief and invites us to walk through the valley of death, loss, and grief. We do not escape the valleys in our lifetime, but scripture points to moving through grief with the courage to mourn.

—Larry J. Peacock, The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today's Question

How does your church support people in moving through grief?  

Today's Scripture

“God heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.”
—Psalm 147:3 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Hallelujah! God is with us. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Upper Room wishes you a blessed Christmas season, full of joy and love, in celebration of the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ. You can continue to spread the gift of Jesus by giving to The Upper Room.
Your tax-deductible gift of any size will impact lives throughout the world.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

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