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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

STORY IS THE PRIMARY WAY we impart what really matters to the next generation. Stories have the potential to embody biblical and theological content in ways that sink into the imagination, take root, and grow.

– Sarah Arthur
The God-Hungry Imagination

From page 17 of The God-Hungry Imagination: The Art of Storytelling for Postmodern Youth Ministry by Sarah Arthur. Copyright © 2007 by Sarah Arthur. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What stories from your childhood have shaped your faith? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

1 Samuel 17:49, NRSV

This Week: pray a prayer of thanksgiving every day this week. 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: Ephrem (June 18).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

6 Comments

  • Jill Posted June 18, 2018 5:58 am

    On the way home Saturday with mom, I needed to run into this one store for a moment. Mom stayed in the car with the air on, as I had purchased some seafood and needed it to be as cool as possible. At the checkout, I saw a Zero candy bar – and bought it for mom. When I got in the car – I gave it to her and she said she hadn’t had a Zero bar in forever. I said, remember when we used to go to the movies at the mall…we would always go in the drug store (mom, dad and I) and each pick out a candy bar for the movies. I said – mom – you always picked out a Zero bar. She said she didn’t remember that. We shared it and saved a bite for dad.
    Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day with a meal at my house and cards. My sister’s husband worked on a used bike I had bought this week – switching the seat from my previous bike. I bought this bike, as it is more upright and has a shock absorber on the front tire. It should be much easier on my hands. The heat wave began here yesterday and will continue today.

  • Betsy Posted June 18, 2018 7:54 am

    Stories make us and shape our journey through life. I’m with family and friends at the beach this week, and we have shared such great stories of our childhoods and happy times together. So thankful for the ability to share stories that bring people together. Loved you sweet story about a childhood memory, Jill.
    Blessings to all.

  • Julie Posted June 18, 2018 7:56 am

    Prayers of thanksgiving that Jill and her family continue to build warm and loving memories with Gloria.
    Prayers for a less stressful work week for Mary. Prayers for her parents and their health.
    Prayers of thanksgiving that Marcy posted. Prayers for her health.
    Blessings and prayers for all UR members who are so warm and loving and free to give good advice and offer up prayers
    Please continue to pray for me, my life continues to be one big question mark. I am in constant fear and shake constantly. I continue to try to feel God’s warm assurance and rest in His promises.
    I am glad this week’s person to remember is a Christian from Syria. My great grandparents came to America on aboat from Syria and they were Catholic

  • Connie Posted June 18, 2018 7:57 am

    I remember my Father dropping me off at a stable and then going on to work. I would ride to my heart’s content. I love horses. I remember my Mother and I playing cards waiting for my Father to come home from work, and I remember smelling the dinner she always had ready. I remember seeing the orange lilies in our front yard, feeling the summer breeze coming through the upstairs bedroom window, and hearing the cows mooing in the barnyard. What a wonderful life!
    Have a good week, friends.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 18, 2018 9:08 am

    I remembered we always pray for a parking lot near church when i was young. God always provide and my mum would give thanks to God.

    May our faith be increased as we share stories to inspire one another.

    Blessings and thank you for all your prayers

    Keeping Julie in prayer. May she experience more of God’s love and power in her life!

  • robert moeller Posted June 20, 2018 6:20 am

    Missed this reflection, not sure how, wanted to read the stories mentioned in later posts.

    Walked to church from when I was a little kid to age 14. The walk became easier and shorter as time went on, Not sure if there were sleigh or wagon rides when walking was too far, I was a toddler or a baby. It was a 4 season walk, don’t remember it in bad weather.

    Sadly I learned that that church has gone from 30 people when our current pastor was there to 12 people now. As a kid there were plenty of kids and people, a choir, and addition built on. My Mom’s UMC church is now a dance studio and the congregation has joined with the UCC church down the street to become a United Community church.

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