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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

WHILE THE MANY traditions of the Christian church have varied opinions on the way in which the sacrament [of Holy Communion] is to be served and received, and in which Christ is present at the Table, there is a common sense that something holy, something transformational, something grace-filled happens in this sacrament. As a result, the Eucharist may indeed provide a way forward and a way for this divided, suspicious world to find its way to a different place, an alternative and holy vision of what it means to be in community. (Larry M. Goodpaster)

—Thomas Porter, Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table (Discipleship Resources, 2006)

Today’s Question

How have you been transformed by participating in Holy Communion? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
—Luke 22:19 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.
(From the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis)
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

2 Comments

  • Jill Posted January 31, 2020 3:33 am

    I try to be very aware and intentional during Communion, to not be on auto-pilot. I often wish more time was afforded, time to slip into deep prayer – time for introspection, confession. It should be a holy time.

  • Julie Posted January 31, 2020 8:25 am

    I learned about the Eucharist in the Episcopal church. I had my first Holy Communion in that faith. I learned that there were traditions that needed to be followed which treated the host and blood with respect. It was a solemn time, performed with eyes closed and no handling of the host or blood (we held our hands cupped and raised to receive the host and bent our mouth to mouth it up and the minister served the blood from the communal cup). I have trouble with the relaxed versions of Communion practiced in the Methodist church. They do not seem as if they give the ritual its true respect. I continue to genuflect and cross myself before and after.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry, who both have bruised and battered hearts, please hold them Lord, love them, comfort them.
    Prayers for Robert and hisdental work and his railroad work, so different but both able to heal him.
    Prayers for Andrea, April, BJ, Betsy, Connnie, Edy, Lou, Mary, Marcy and Rick.
    Prayers and thank you UR

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