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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

THE BIBLE’S AUTHORS lived in a three-mile-per-hour world defined by feet rather than wheels or wings. Their world was much smaller, but they knew it more intimately. When I walk, I notice the squirrels in the trees and flattened grass where a rabbit has passed. I encounter smells, textures, and sounds that otherwise I would not notice. I sense more deeply my connection to the natural world around me. When I drive, I see only a blur of people and objects, fleeting and vanishing. Pieces of landscape flash before my eyes in swift succession. The faster I move, the less I experience.

– Thomas R. Hawkins
Every Step a Prayer

From page 36 of Every Step a Prayer: Walking As Spiritual Practice by Thomas R. Hawkins. Copyright © 2016 by Thomas R. Hawkins. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

If you are able, go for a walk today. What of God’s creation draws your attention? Give thanks to God for what you see, smell, feel, and hear. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“[The Kingdom of God] is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Mark 4:31-32, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who need comfort. 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: Anthony of Padua (June 13).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

8 Comments

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 17, 2018 1:28 am

    Bought food for the family to celebrate father’s day

    Thank you God for dad and also for healing him speedily,

    Blessings to all

    Wishing all dads a happy father’s day

  • robert moeller Posted June 17, 2018 5:48 am

    Thank you, Mary! Happy Father’s Day to your Dad. Wonderful that he has done so well.

    Happy Father’s Day to all fathers.

    Today’s reflection on taking walks is close to me. Have always liked walking and here in the mountains I am always glad to see the mist, fog, and clouds rising or covering them. Taking to God on walks is very helpful. Had a long walk yesterday on unexpected terrain and some that was quite familiar.

    No choir or organist today so I go to church a bit later than usual.

    Prayers for Marcy, Gloria, Julie, and Anneliese and their situations. Thankful God knows how to be of assistance to everyone of them. Grateful Erich is making his way through the allergy and warmer weather. Both are not fun for him. He made a scrumptious chicken chef salad last night.

    Have a wonderful, blessed Sunday.

  • Jill Posted June 17, 2018 5:52 am

    The scent of flowers/bushes has seemed more prevalent this year. I have some honeysuckle in my back yard – and it has been most pleasant recently. I wish lilacs bloomed longer – their scent is intoxicating.
    Grateful for time with mom and dad yesterday. We met for lunch and then mom and I did a bit of shopping. They will be over this afternoon to celebrate Father’s Day, along with my sister and her husband. Grateful for mostly good days (physically) for mom. Hoping she makes it to church today.
    Happy Father’s Day Robert – hope you have a wonderful day.
    Prayers continue for Marcy, Julie, Rusty and K.

  • robert moeller Posted June 17, 2018 5:59 am

    Good news that Gloria had a good day, wonderful to get together today, Yes, lilacs don’t last long enough, guess that makes their scent more precious.
    Glad you added Rusty and K to the prayer list.
    Happy Father’s Day to Larry!

  • Julie Posted June 17, 2018 7:53 am

    Happy Father’s day to Robert, Larry, Mary’s dad and all fathers. So glad to hear that Mary’s dad is doing well. Fascinating to know that in other countries Father’s Day is celebrated on the same day.
    Thought of Robert and his daily walks as I read this reflection.
    Praayers for Gloria and more good days.
    Prayers for Marcy and Rusty and K, Erich and Anneliese.
    My world continues to be a pressure cooker of fear, uncertainity, worry, and sorrow. I cry out to the Lord and know in my head that I should give all my concerns to Him and rest assured in His care. But my heart is still stubborn and refuses to hear my mind. Prayers are appreciated with much thanks.
    Prayers for all who visit this UR oasis of calm and support and love

  • robert moeller Posted June 17, 2018 8:39 am

    Thank you, Julie! Working with my counselor, he said I use my mind more than my heart and it is the heart that needs attention. Very hard to explain in words, but trust in God for me has become more and more real. As humans we have a hard time with the unseen, but it is the most important. Praying very much that you are in God’s arms, well protected and cared for. Glad you have your daughter for the support she can provide.

    Just a thought, but aren’t there ways for engineers to work on line, at home?
    I may be way off base, if so, just let it fly.

  • Marcy Posted June 17, 2018 8:41 am

    Dear UR family and siblings, wishing all fathers a Happy Father’s Day! Praising our God, our heavenly Father! Praying for His Life-giving and life saving breath.

    Happiest of Father Days to Robert, Larry, Mary’s Dad, Rusty, and all who are filling that role, Mom’s included.

    Special prayers for Julie. Lord, I know how hard it is to wait for solutions, all the while believing in Your mercy. Please be with Julie and bring her Your strength and comfort, while she awaits Your peace. I continue to pray for each of you, my Loved ones. Thank you for being my family.

    My Dad passed fourteen years ago yesterday, June 16th, my birthday is June 19th and I am saddened every Father’s day. Also, good memories, but bittersweet and I yearn to see him again.

    Prayers for all people everywhere in need today. Praises for God’s Love, healing, health, happiness and harmony.

    God, our heavenly Father, I love you, Your Word and Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank you for Your Presence in our lives.

    • robert moeller Posted June 18, 2018 5:46 am

      This is even later than I hoped for. Started it yesterday and as happens every now and then, some how I misplace, erase, or do something so my whole post vanishes, so here’s attempt number two.

      So hopeful that you are receiving the life-giving, life-saving breath you need. As part of my heart healthy activities, I walk, am supposed to get a minimum of 30 minutes with my heart rate between 88 and 108 beats per minute. That means I need to breathe harder too. Think of you at these times. Also when I see a lady working out at the heart/lung gym. She takes oxygen 24/7 an breathes hard when exercising.

      Thank you for Father’s Day wishes and yes there are Moms filling that role as well.

      I too pray for Julie, her daughter, and even the “husband”. All of us need God. Some recognize that fact and others resist.

      Not quite the same, but similar. My birthday is June 5th, Mom passed away June 17th 2015. Dad passed away on Valentine’s Day 2008. Lately there are a lot of notable days with both sad and joyous occasions on the same day.
      Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, Easter and April Fools Day, Father’s Day, German unity day, Anneliese’s son’s birthday, and Mom passing. Maybe I notice this amore as I am older.

      You wrote” Prayers for all people everywhere in need today. Praises for God’s Love, healing, health, happiness and harmony. God, our heavenly Father, I love you, Your Word and Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank you for Your Presence in our lives.”

      AMEN!

      Should have some HO scale etched nickel-silver, also known as German silver, plates coming from Germany that will enable the building of a Henschel Bismarck type steam locomotive model on the running gear of a
      Märklin T3. This is an 0-6-0 engine with no tender.

      Saw photos of C&NW Pacific steam locomotives on the steam and preservation site. Think that is the railroad of your Dad. These engines hauled commuter trains. The photos were of sites in WI. The Pacific’s I saw on the Central Vermont were Canadian National.

      Trucks and wheels for the St.J&LC combine are painted and reassembled. Rood has a primer coat, working on installing the handrails on the car body.

      You have an appointment tomorrow, I believe, hope you make it and make more progress.

      Blessings and prayers

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