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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

CHRISTIAN LIFE is thoroughly communal, for being in Christ means that we are in it together unto death and beyond. Thus at the heart of each church is a core of persons vowed to a countercultural lifestyle at odds with an individualistic society. As organically both divine and human, the church has used a beautiful image to express this — the Holy Mother church.

Certainly the church is human, with a goodly collection of hypocrites and sinners. Yet just as essentially is she divine — consecrated by Christ as his body on earth so that “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Gregory of Nyssa deepends this analogy with the idea of the church as nurse, its teachings being our milk, its sacraments our food.

Worship is at the center of the church’s communal life. While it may not always be clear what the shabby little church across town is all about, be assured that it is an invitation touching our deepest yearning — to be embraced in an organic belonging that God intends for the church to provide.

– W. Paul Jones
Becoming Who God Wants You to Be

From page 43 of Becoming Who God Wants You to Be: 60 Meditations for Personal Spiritual Direction by W. Paul Jones. Copyright © 2013 by W. Paul Jones. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Describe your Christian community. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side — let Israel now say —
if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;

Psalm 124:1-3, NRSV

This Week: pray for caregivers. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Did You Know?

In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.

This week we remember: Leoba (September 28).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2018 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

5 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted September 25, 2018 6:55 am

    Thankful for warm clothes, food, and heat on chilly days. Prayers for caregivers, thankful for an email from my daughter with pictures of my granddaughter in nursery school.

    While I have been warmly welcomed and feel at home in the tiny 10-15 member congregation church I attend, there is a conflict between long time members. The pastor and several others have tried and are trying to help it be resolved. I am not so aware of how it is going as one party has not been in church due to health problems.

    Prayers for Rebecca having knee replacement surgery today, prayers for Gloria and Larry, Marcy, Julie, Betsy, Connie, Jill and Becky, Mary, Andrea, Lou, Rusty and K, all who come to the UR, all believers, and all who are yet to believe. Thank You, Lord, for the blessings of the day.

  • Jill Posted September 25, 2018 7:54 am

    My church community is small, well – at least smaller than I am accustomed to. Having said that – it is probably around 400 or so each Sunday morning. My church previously for 15+ years was likely 3000-4000 each Sunday. I enjoyed the anonymity of that size church for that season of my life. And I absolutely adore this “smaller” church – where I continue to meet warm, genuine people who experience the bumps and hurdles of life and still praise Our Great God. It is a younger congregation than I am accustomed to, as well – but so good to see the younger generation so intent on sharing His love.
    Grateful for Bible study last night and cramming eight of us around a too small table. I like this size – and four of them are new to the group. A variety of ages and backgrounds – and so far, they, too, seem genuine. Grateful for cooler temperatures, blankets on the bed and a better behaved cat at night. Also grateful for a less hectic week. I am watching the leaves and very few have turned. It seems they should be turning by now, especially due to the dry summer. But – still very green. Ok by me to delay the onset of Fall.
    Good morning.

  • Julie Posted September 25, 2018 7:58 am

    I have yet to find a church to attend. The one I attended for years has a new pastor and I do not agree with some basic issues he espouses. I attended on Easter and there were fewer people attending on this normally very well attended Holy Day than there were at a normal Sunday service with the last pastor. It was sad. So this group of Christians continue to be my community.
    Prayers for Robert, Erich, Pearl and his church members.
    Prayers for Jill, may the prednisone ease her symptoms. Prayers for Gloria and Larry and their new family dynamic.
    Prayers for Mary and her sister, Molly, and their parents.
    Prayers for Connie and her little corner of the world.
    Prayers for Marcy and Lucy. May God holf Marcy in His arms today. First thing in the morning I call Tazzie my little ray of sunshine and I tell him that he lights up my world no matter how dark it is outside….or inside. I sometimes sing him the John Denver song about sunshine on my shoulder.
    Prayers for all the UR family members, those who join the conversation and those who are silent

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 25, 2018 9:40 pm

      Thanks julie and Robert for your prayers!

      May all be well with you and may all your needs be met!

      May God lead and guide you every step of your life journey!

      May God’s presence be so close to all of us!

      Blessings!

  • Jim Washburn Posted September 25, 2018 8:55 am

    I am 72 years old!! I do not agree that our Church is made up of people alike in their common belief in our Father GOD and HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, but individuals different in every aspect of everyday life. This, to my thoughts and ideas, makes their mutual Faith stronger as their different, individualistic minds, are argued and discussed as a whole and based on Biblical foundations applied to the Church’s goals and Faith doctrine!!

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