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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

BAPTISM IS a commitment to evangelistic mission. Baptism does not make sense apart from the practice of evangelism, conversion to Jesus, initiation into the kingdom of God, and the life of discipleship. But it can be observed that Jesus used the word “Go” in a present continuous tense that could be translated, “As you are going.” From this perspective, it does not mean going overseas on long- or short-term mission projects. Nor does it mean staying to do the same kinds of projects with needy people at home. Rather, it implies that the business of making disciples is something that emerges organically as we go through everyday life and among the networks of relationships we make along the way.

This is what Jesus did, and it has implications for all of us. Wherever we might live, the mission field is on the doorstep of our everyday lives. For some of us, going where Jesus sends will mean leaving home and living with a doorstep that opens onto a very unfamiliar world. But for all of us, going where Jesus sends means crossing the threshold as ordinary missionaries into a world that needs to hear the gospel.

– Philip R. Meadows
Remembering Our Baptism

From pages 20-21 of Remembering Our Baptism: Discipleship and Mission in the Wesleyan Spirit by Philip R. Meadows. Copyright © 2017 by Philip R. Meadows. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Discipleship Resources. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Where are you in mission as a disciple of Jesus? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:35, NRSV

This Week: pray for patience. 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: Boniface (June 5).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

18 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted June 10, 2018 5:30 am

    I’m on a mission as a disciple of Jesus in my own home, within my own family.

    Thankful for church today, have had wonderful weather, the garden is coming up, made progress with a model, now I’m watching baseball. Saw a very good Father Brown show yesterday and had a great lunch.

    Prayers for Marcy, her breathing, and upcoming appointment, for Julie, her hans and a foot, her safety, well being, and a good resolution to her current situation. Thank You Lord for watching over Marcy and Julie. Prayers that Gloria has many good days, acknowledges God’s presence , and is at peace.
    Thankful she has support from Larry, Jill, and Becky. Thankful too for all the spirit filled support given by the UR family. God works through you.

    Blessings to all on this Sunday morning, be at peace, grow in patience. Thank You, Lord

    • Marcy Posted June 10, 2018 1:26 pm

      Thank you, Robert, for keeping me in your prayers. I am doing the best I can, praying to Jesus, our Savior, to continue to watch over me, especially when “sleeping.” I have questions of interest in your train and model and your ancestral German town, but am unable to fully engage due to the breathing issues. I still enjoy hearing about them and it helps me get my mind off things.
      I pray for you, Erich, Annaliese, your daughter, sister, loved ones and church family and friends. I pray that your mission work at home is blessed with the Holy Spirit’s intercession. With God, all things are possible!

      • robert moeller Posted June 10, 2018 2:17 pm

        Marcy, very glad that it’s tomorrow, the 11th, you have your appointment. Certainly praying that you get the help you need.

        Anticipating your questions and trying to give you something to read at the same time I’ll tell you more about my ancestral home.

        The oldest known Moeller -Möller in German- family home is in Unterweisenborn a 700 year old little village of 35 families on the outskirts of Schenklengsfeld, a larger town to which Unterweisenborn is now a part. The Mauritius church in Schenklengsfeld is the church the family has attended for 400 years. From Unterweisenborn my family moved to Sorga and later to Rotensee -Red Lake, both towns not far from Unterweisenborn and Schenklengsfeld. The area my family is from is called Landecker Amt meaning that at one time there was a government district of some sort there. Landecker is the name of the hill where the castle ruins are found. The castle dates back to 1274 and was ruined in 1525. The castle’s purpose was to protect the abbey in Hersfeld that was founded in 800 by Lullus a missionary and supporter of Boniface, an English missionary who helped Christianize Hesse.
        Hersfeld-today Bad Hersfeld because of the mineral baths found there- is the largest city and is district capital of Bad Hersfeld-Rothenberg District. The distruct is located north of Fulda and south of Kassel and quite close to the old East German-West German border.

        The area was a battle ground in the Peasant’s War, the Thirty Year’s War, Napoleonic Wars, and Pattons’ Headquarters for a time in WWII. American troops guarded the border as the US expected that if the Soviets attacked they would come through the Fulda Gap. Bad Hersfeld is the northern end of the Fulda Gap.

        In Reformation times Luther preached here on his way back to the Wartburg after going to Worms. The are soon became Protestant and thus was involved in the 30 Years War. French Huguenots came to settle when they were forced out of France.

        Hesse is a modern German state created by the Allies after WWII. It includes what at one time were many smaller German states. The larger area where Bad Hersfeld-Rothenberg District is located was once called Kurhessen. Landgraves- a German noble title- ruled from their home in Kassel called the Wilhelmhöhe. These are the same landgraves who rented their troops out to the British during the American Revolutionary War. While two regiments came from Bad Hersfeld to the best of my knowledge no relatives of mine were among them.

        Two railroads had their beginnings in or near Bad Hersfeld, The Bebraer railroad started in Bebra and came south to Bad Hersfeld before finally reaching Frankfurt am Main. It started aoround 1866. The Hersfeld District Railroad started in Hersfeld in 1912 and ran through Landecker Amt.

        When it started there were 4 locomotives, all steam, two 2-6-0s and two 0-60s all built by Henschel in Kassel. Passenger car trains had a mail-baggage car, one 2nd class passenger car, and two 3rd class passenger cars. Freight cars came mostly from the larger railroads whose traffic came through Bad Hersfeld.

        Hope I have not confused you, but have added to your area and railroad understanding

    • Marcy Posted June 10, 2018 2:05 pm

      Robert, I forgot to mention that I also enjoy Father Brown and many of the other programs on PBS. Call The Midwife, is another favorite, and most of the documentaries (although some of the Nature documentaries are hard for me to watch). There are quite a few religion themed documentaries too!

      • robert moeller Posted June 13, 2018 4:41 am

        I like these too. The best network on tv in my opinion is PBS.

  • Jill Posted June 10, 2018 5:35 am

    My classroom is part of my mission field. Weirdly enough – I said to my friend about a week ago that I never imagined my mom would be my mission field. And, yet, in some ways – I feel that is the case.
    One of my students invited me to her baptism this morning. She asked me in early May and it was such a timely thing – what a lift it gave me that morning and I imagine this morning is going to be very special.
    Mom, dad and I tried to do the art show yesterday, drove there – but the rain was enough to be a nuisance, so we didn’t walk through the show.
    Sunday blessings to each of you.
    Betsy – anxious to hear what you think about the book. I am about 100 pages in and look forward to reading it this week, now that I have so much time.

    • Marcy Posted June 10, 2018 1:37 pm

      Thank you, Jill, for praying for me. You remain strong in faith as you take your Mom on outings, golf with your Dad and be such a wonderful daughter and sister.
      Praises for the baptism of one of your students you attended today. What a honor I’m sorry the weather derailed some of your plans with your parents yesterday. I am praying for you, Jill, and your Mom, Gloria, Dad, Larry, sister, Becky and Roger, your furry cat. How blessed to have pets! You are blessed with good Christian friends and may God bless you always!

  • Betsy Posted June 10, 2018 7:10 am

    I have traded my classroom mission field for my volunteer work places. I have encountered such wonderful, giving people who give of themselves in such gracious ways. They have ministered to me by example.

    Jill, I’ve just read the first two chapters but I’m really liking his honest thoughts of coming to God as a child, messiness and all. I hope to get into it more this week.

    Grateful for church service today, sitting with my husband. The choir is off for the month, so I can sit in the congregation with him; a treat! Blessings to all on this Sabbath.

    • Marcy Posted June 10, 2018 1:49 pm

      Betsy, thank you for including me in prayer. You are following God’s plans in your transition from your mission in being a teacher, to now contributing your time and energy to the next mission(s) He guides you to next. It’s a blessing to have the many different examples of the family of Christ to follow. Yes, the Choir members are rarely able to join their family for the church service. Another meaningful blessing! You and your family remain in my prayers.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 10, 2018 7:11 am

    Grateful for time spent with my sister and niece.

    Have a wonderful week ahead everyone

    Blessings

    • Marcy Posted June 10, 2018 1:57 pm

      Sweet sister Mary, thank you for praying for me. Your parents and students are blessed to have you. I’m glad you have had good times with your Mom and Dad, niece, and pray you continue to do so! We are blessed to have you and your kind words and prayers here in the UR family. You and your family continue to be in my prayers, and even though school may be out, I pray for your students also. God’s heavenly blessings to you, Mary!

      • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 11, 2018 8:37 am

        Thanks Marcy for your prayers,

        Yes, school is out but i am working in a student care where the students come the whole day cause their parents are at work. At this stage, i am working very hard cause my colleagues claims that she has lots of admin work to do. She was working last saturday but she did not do the lessons planning for this week, i had to prepare the lesson plans and get the materials as well as give tuition to the kids.

        May God be my ever present help and strength.

        Blessings

        • Msry ng shwu ling Posted June 11, 2018 8:40 am

          I mean colleague not colleagues

  • Andrea Posted June 10, 2018 8:08 am

    Grateful for the beauty of God’s creation.
    We have 3 days left of our South Dakota. vacation. The state has had frequent rainfalls, making the dramatic landscape very green. The skies are gorgeous. Last might, the sunset glowed over a large, open, inactive gold mine pit across from our lodging in Lead.

    Yesterday, we visited, for the second time, my husband’s 99 year old aunt, who is hospitalized in a small town in the Black Hills. She has pneumonia and heart issues. Her mind is as clear as a bell. I ask for prayers for Aunt Dorothy.

    Prayers for Marcy, Julie, Lou and her family, Jill and her family, Robert, Erich and Anneliese, Betsy, Connie and her husband, and all UR friends and visitors.

    Betsy, I like your phrase, “coming to God as you are, messiness and all.” God’s grace knows is boundless.

    • Andrea Posted June 10, 2018 8:09 am

      Correction – *God’s grace is boundless.*

    • Marcy Posted June 10, 2018 2:47 pm

      Andrea, I am thankful for your words and prayers. And grateful. As true family would, you have lifted myself and others, through reassurance and God’s peace. I don’t think you know how valuable this is to me, God’s comforting words, helping me cope with my inability to breathe as I should.
      My Dad was born in South Dakota, and his family had to come to Chicago at when my grandfather was killed in an accident. They family farm passed to a great-uncle who kind of let things go. We visited there often when I was growing up and as an adult, after my Dad got the house, outbuildings and much less acreage back, I went there every summer to help him keep the place up. On these visits, we included traveling the state over and over. I think Dad wanted me to feel the connection he did, and he succeeded. Did you visit Needles State Park? There sure are a lot of bison among the other wildlife you mention. Those bison come right up to the vehicle, they’re huge! There so many beautiful places in South Dakota and Dad was always concerned about the industries he thought would ruin them, but did occassionally buy Black Hills gold. He was more concerned about water tables, farmland and so on. Oh, so many truly sacred places, even those of the Native American Indians. I still have the Black Hills gold jewelry my Dad gave me over the years. Have you visited Deadwood? Sturgis can be a little scary, as Dad and I found out one year. We planned to go on to Wyoming to visit Yellowstone again, but never did. My *husband* refused to go on these trips and I’m thankful. He was very disrespectful to my Dad, who had a temper when confronted with disrespect to those older than you. I was brought up that way. I feel so close to him today and look forward to the day I see him again. Thanks for this trip down memory lane, Andrea! Please continue to post your description of your travels. We are all enjoying them!
      I pray safe travel mercies for you and Lowell. I am praying for Aunt Dorothy, 99 years old! I pray she is feeling God’s comfort. I always keep you, Lowell, your daughter, son-in-law and grandson in my prayers. God bless you all and keep you all safe and well!
      Sorry I went on for so long!

  • Marcy Posted June 10, 2018 3:48 pm

    Today, dear UR family, I am so very grateful and mindful of today’s Scripture, Mark 3:35 — “Whoever does the will of God, is my brother and sister and mother.” Thank you for being my family, as I was in tears, crying out to God yesterday, last night when I had to “sleep” in the recliner, awakened gasping for air. I felt like I was floating, then struggled to wake up fully, my heart racing wildly. I have turned up the oxygen slightly and am now praying my way through the day. I felt this Loving family’s prayers for me all through the night.

    My mission right now is to pray intercessory prayers, pulling out my Prayer notebook, touching the names there with one hand and fingers, letting the Bible fall open and touching the Scriptures with my other hand flat on the page. Often, the Scripture deepens the connection with God, adding to the prayers. My mission at this time is to learn, continue learning the Bible, studying, praying for understanding and enlightenment. My mission is to envision a future, if it be God’s will, to help others and will do so by His guidance. I must keep listening, praying for mercy and forgiveness.

    Robert! Thank you for your reply today! I tag the dates in my Prayer notebook, where you talk about trains and history, and look them up to learn more. A lot of German, though! I have German ancestry also, and when my desk and other furniture is moved in, will have to look at the family tree, to remind me where my ancestors lived.

    I am praying for Lou and her family. Lord, please grant her children Your guidance and Love and grant Lou joy and happiness! I am praying for Julie and her daughter. Father in heaven, please grant Julie and her daughter Your Peace and make your Presence known and felt by them. Protect them and watch over them closely and keep them safe and well. I’m in continual prayer for Robert and his family, Andrea and her family, Jill and her family, and Mary and her family. Also, Betsy, April, Connie, Francesca, Gerri, Pam and their families and Rusty and K and the many others here. I pray for all that come to the UR Reflections, posting or reading, and beyond. Jesus Christ, our Savior, we love You and revel in Your Love for us!

    Thank you, Lou, Robert, Andrea, Jill, April, Betsy, Connie, Mary and Julie for you keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. These are treasures, indeed, and I am holding them in my heart. Praise God! Thank you, Father, for leading me to this place of Love, acceptance and comfort, where I am not judged, or berated, held in contempt and where understanding and Your grace flows freely. Amen.

    And these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE!

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 11, 2018 11:51 am

      Marcy, praying that your breathing will be natural and may you continue to be a prayer warrior. May you glorify God in all that you do.

      Blessings

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