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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

From the moon the earth looked just like a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine. The earth is uncommonly lovely. It is the only warm living object that we saw in space on our flight to the moon. . . . That beautiful, warm living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man, has to make a man appreciate the creation of God and the love of God.

—James B. Irwin (U.S. astronaut), To Rule the Night: The Discovery Voyage, quoted in Sam Hamilton-Poore, Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation (Upper Room Books, 2009)

Today’s Question

How does God’s love shape your perspective of the earth? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
—Psalm 36:7 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Creator Spirit:
As the earth,
so beautiful, so warm,
receives and reflects the sunlight,
so may I receive and reflect your love.
—Sam Hamilton-Poore, Earth Gospel
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Palm/Passion Sunday

Liturgy of the Palms

Liturgy of the Passion

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

4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted April 7, 2022 5:40 am

    Planet earth surely is an amazing place. Life is sustained here despite the storms, natural disasters that come and go. God’s love is shown by making earth our habitat. We are given dominion over it and are asked to be stewards of it. It has become obvious that we have erred in our management and need to make corrections.
    The time to make those corrections is NOW. We have been slow to recognize, accept our role. Thankfully we have found ways to improve, they must be implemented at a faster pace to turn the tide.
    Today is load up day for tomorrow’s trip to see my daughter and granddaughters. The car is in great shape.
    I’m delighted that furniture donation has been arranged. It will help someone else and lighten the moving load.
    Hopefully soon we’ll know what our new home looks like. Thank you all for your prayers. More in a little bit.

  • robert moeller Posted April 7, 2022 8:41 am

    Glad to read of the progress being made by Ally&David,. Hope the disability application, employment, counseling, and health issues continue to see progress. We each have favorite spots. For personal reasons they are near and dear to us. That was a long and arduous divorce proceeding, Julie, I am very grateful positives have resulted from it. Hope you find the healthcare needed. A great review and much accomplished with school work, Jill. A dense of accomplishment. Your godson’s team wine handily 10-0. You were able to follow the game even if not in person. April, you have a wonderful way with words, very descriptive, they capture the moment.
    The deck here is getting attention today, have to treat the “green stuff” as it is locally known. Sprayed the affected areas and with rain coming it should be washed away. Tough winters with ice and snow mean the deck needs continual upkeep. Removed items that won’t see use here, Small steps, but helpful ones.
    Hope everyone has a great weekend and glorious Palm Sunday,

  • Julie Posted April 7, 2022 9:07 am

    God obviously loves the world. As he created it he stated that each action “was good.” As Robert noted, he also told us to be stewards of the earth and we need to do this better.
    Saw a kidney specialist yesterday and learned that my kidneys underwent an acute injury and we need to determine if it is still suffering the effects or if the damage has healed. This involves many bood tests and a 24 hour urine test. Have an issue with my prescription for my Reynaud’s and must make some phone calls. Please pray that I am accepted into another assistance program as without one the cost is $2,000 a month.
    Prayers for Ally and David’s finances and health and Jill’s never ending workload and Robert’s safe travel.

  • Jill Posted April 7, 2022 1:12 pm

    We need to be appreciative for what we have, and tend to it and honor it well. I am grateful to take in the beauty of different landscapes than what I have in the Midwest. I have certainly come to appreciate these things and am grateful for the photography I have in my home to remind me.
    Today is the third anniversary of mom’s passing. I told my sister we should all be together this evening for a meal – that this would bring comfort to dad. So – we set up the plans this past weekend – I was to pick up Chinese and go to their place, after I stopped by home to feed and give Roger his shot. I get a voicemail from dad – saying to call him. I call him – and he received an offer from friends from his church who had an extra ticket to the Collingsworth Family concert tonight at a local venue. He and mom never missed one of their concerts when they were in town. After mom passed – I attended one with him. Without even thinking, he accepted their offer. After he hung up – he realized we had plans. He was apologetic and near tears on the phone with me, telling me we would have to do our time together some other time. This couple has been very consistent with keeping in touch with him. I am glad they asked – I just didn’t want him to be alone with his thoughts all day. He was reminiscing to me about he and mom going to these concerts with Jim and Wanda. What strikes me, and maybe I am over-interpretting it is – he is so desperate (maybe too strong of a word) for socialization – that he can’t think straight to realize he had other plans. I truly am glad that he is doing this and I will be thrilled to just go home after school and just be by himself. Interesting how he needs socialization in the midst of his grief and I just want isolation and quiet. It is ironic that the concert is on this date.
    When I woke up this morning – there was a text from my friend in Montana – remembering what today was and offering prayers. She is Jim and Wanda’s daughter. We lost our moms about 2.5 months apart. She is coming into town in a week or so to celebrate her dad’s 95th birthday. It will be good to see her. Also received a text from a friend from my small group a few year’s back. She lost her dad in August – three years ago. She, too, remembers the importance of remembering other’s important dates.

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