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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 HOLY SPIRIT draws us into a deeper shared life by widening our circle. I am sure that you have noticed the deep-seated human tendency to draw a circle around our lives. Usually we put people we like within our circle: those who agree with us, those who look like us, those who believe like us, those who worship like us, those who live like us. These are the people with whom we associate—get to know, give our time to, form friendships with. They are part of the “us,” the ones with whom we share our lives, the people we include. Other people are part of “them,” those whom we do not want to know, those whom we exclude. Sometimes we may even think that God prefers those who are inside our circles to those who are outside them.

When the Holy Spirit brings us alive to God’s presence, the same Spirit challenges us to widen our circle.

—Trevor Hudson
Holy Spirit Here and Now

From page 53 of Holy Spirit Here and Now by Trevor Hudson. Copyright © 2013 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Share one example from your own life where the Holy Spirit has widened your circle to include someone you had previously excluded.  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.
—Acts 10:36, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
From A Book of Prayers © 1982, ICEL. All rights reserved.

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

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5 Comments

  • Darr Sigilman Posted June 9, 2019 7:33 am

    I’m inclined to think that it depends on WHY you excluded certain people from your circle. If it was because you were trying to avoid bad company, and by this I mean people who were doing what was wrong and KNOW that they are doing what is wrong but doing it anyway, using illegal drugs, stealing, vandalizing property, in general people who are making A conscious effort to do what is wrong then we should exclude such people from our circle and not give our high calling to the pure gospel of Jesus A bad name. But if it is just because someone doesn’t do just what we think we would do in every situation and just because someone doesn’t ware the clothes WE ware or doesn’t think just like WE think or just like WE think they should think then yes I think we should widen our “circle” to include them.

  • Connie Posted June 9, 2019 2:02 pm

    I am thinking of Mary on this Pentecost Sunday. It is so sad about her Father. May he rest in Eternal Light and Peace. What a wonderful example of a loving daughter …..Mary.
    I can’t think of anyone I have excluded. At least I hope not.
    Thankful for:
    Nice days all in a row.
    A family visitor-a helpful one at that.
    Relief from dizziness (room spinning). Horrible feeling.
    We are family.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 9, 2019 7:38 pm

      Thanks so much Connie!

      May God bless you and your family abundantly!

  • robert moeller Posted June 9, 2019 8:13 pm

    Still thinking about today’s question.

    Yes, prayers for Mary and Molly and the passing of their Dad and Mum. Very thankful for wonderful care they gave their parents. God’s peace be with you.

    Prayers for Connie, hope the dizziness subsides.

    Had a warm and caring Pentecost fellowship after the service today. Yummy snacks, a farewell cake, cards, flowers, a vine from the plant in the sanctuary, and two meaningful mementos. Will miss, but will also see this church again.
    I will be in touch.

    Now to finish packing and go to the closing. Thanks so much for your prayers.
    The Holy Spirit is with us, a gift from God and the request of Jesus. Thank You, Lord.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 9, 2019 10:35 pm

      Thanks so much Robert!

      May God bless you and your family abundantly!

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