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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

BENEDICT SAYS, “Be here; find Christ in the restless teenager, demanding parent, insensitive employer, dull preacher, lukewarm congregation. Resist the inclination to rush out and find some new recipe for happiness or the spiritual shot in the arm offered by television evangelists or a different church community because it is reputed to have more exciting worship.” Commitment to stability affirms the “sacrament of the present moment” and enables us to create a hospitable space for whomever and whatever God sends into our lives now.

– Elizabeth J. Canham
Heart Whispers

From page 46 of Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today by Elizabeth J. Canham. Copyright © 1999 by Elizabeth J. Canham. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books.i http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

How would you define the “sacrament of the present moment”? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

John 20:29, NRSV

This Week: Give thanks for the Risen Lord. 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: Martin Luther King, Jr. (April 4).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

10 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted April 8, 2018 5:43 am

    Every moment is God-given. Whether we find it exciting or boring, positive or negative, it is from God and there is something there for us from God. Without the – where is the +. Thank You, Lord, that every moment is from You. This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad in it.

    Prayers for Rosina Wallace and her brother. Their two houses, barn, and 23 cows were destroyed in a fire on Easter. Thankfully they have a place to stay and town’s people and churches are raising money to help them. Church today and I should learn more about how they are doing.

    Prayers for Lou and her house search and purchase. Julie’s safety, Marcy’s health and well being, Andrea, Lowell, Andreas’s daughter and grandson.,
    Gloris, Larry, Jill and Becky and the upcoming treatment, Mary, her parents and job. Prayers for Betsy, Louise, Francesca, Joan, Connie, Mark, and Ken. I miss Rusty. Thankful for newcomers and so many memories. Thank You, Lord, for rising from the grave and enabling our salvation. Blessings to all on this first Sunday after Easter.

    • Andrea Posted April 8, 2018 7:50 am

      Thank you, Robert. Blessings.

    • Mary ng shwu ling Posted April 9, 2018 3:26 am

      Thanks Robert

      Blessings

  • Betsy Posted April 8, 2018 7:00 am

    Finding the sacred in every moment is so not part of our culture. We tend to want to amazed, thrilled and entertained in all experiences; even in our worship time. I agree with Robert. God can be found in every moment if we have eyes to see. Help me to see th work of your hands, Lord, as I attend worship today and go throughout my day.

    Prayers for all our UR family as we gather to worship. He is Risen!

  • Julie Posted April 8, 2018 7:25 am

    Yes, we are too busy and too impatient in this time. God, may I slow down and enjoy each precious moment, especially those that are still and ordinary.
    My trip to church was disappointing, not because it lacked excitement but because of the opposite. I missed some of the rituals that the new pastor removed from the service.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich and the church family whose home was lost to fire.
    Prayers for Betsy and her family.
    Prayers for each of the UR family, present or absent, and your concerns, shared or unshared.
    Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.
    Henry David Thoreau

  • Andrea Posted April 8, 2018 7:49 am

    I love the thought, “Be here, find Christ in the..[name the difficult person or circumstance]..” ‘Find Christ in the difficult daughter’ is my answer.

    Prayers for Rosina Wallace and her brother. What a traumatic loss. It sounds like it is a very compassionate community that is responding to their loss and immediate need.

    The risen Christ walks among us – Christ is sometimes the person in need, and sometimes the person responding to the need with care and support.

    Prayers for UR friends and those for whom you pray – Robert, Erich, Anneliese, Jill, Gloria, Larry, Becky, Julie, Marcy, Lou and her children and Lou’s transition to a new home, Betsy, Mary and her parents and new job, Connie, Rusty and K, Pam, April, and all whose names I have missed. I too miss Rusty. Blessings all this Easter season.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 8, 2018 9:20 am

      Thank you Andrea

      May God restore and rebuild what we have lost

      Blessings

  • Kenneth Miller Posted April 8, 2018 9:33 am

    Blessings to all,
    The author’s interpretation of finding Christ is remarkable and I really enjoy this statement. ” Commitment to stability affirms the “sacrament of the present moment”. My first thought was this means maintaining consistency and continuity with my worship, prayers and devotions. When doing these things consistently (Leading by example) I believe others who are always watching, will see this in you or me and may find the desire to begin doing the same. In the end, it’s another way to glorify God. My prayers continue for this UR community of consistent and faithful Christians.
    By the way, today is the first Sunday after Easter and some church’s celebrate this Sunday and call it “Bright” Sunday. Perhaps you may have heard of this. Celebrating the joy of the risen Christ! Amen!!
    Keeping Faith alive,
    Ken

    • Connien Posted April 9, 2018 8:40 am

      Bright Sunday, I like that. I re-read your post today and was glad I did.

      • Connie Posted April 9, 2018 8:42 am

        Just “Connie”

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