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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

IF YOU LIKE John Grisham novels or Court TV, you will love [the] final chapters of Acts. Paul stands trial before three different authorities before making his way to Rome to be heard by Caesar himself. These final chapters also tell the story of how Jesus’ witnesses carry his message from Jerusalem to the very “ends of the earth” in those days—throughout the known world from Jerusalem to Rome—and how the Jewish sect becomes an important and influential presence within the vast and powerful Roman empire and the entire world. Thirty years is all it takes. The world would never be the same.

—Linda Tower Pevey
We are the Church … Let’s Act Like It: A Study on the Book of Acts

From page 74 of We are the Church … Let’s Act Like It: A Study on the Book of Acts. Copyright © 2019 by Linda Tower Pevey. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

In what ways does your church work to transform your community? In what ways might you help transform the world?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.—Acts 4:13, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

Lord, help us be the Church you created us to be. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something More

Since World War II, The Upper Room has been sending copies of the daily devotional guide to military chaplains (and to prison chaplains) for their ministries. Between Memorial Day and July 31, we aim to raise $100,000 for this valuable ministry. Please help our troops by giving today.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

5 Comments

  • Jill Posted July 13, 2019 5:19 am

    Being an active presence in the community, especially in reaching out to children.
    Julie – thank you for your constancy in praying for the UR family. Know that you, too, are held up in prayer – as well as Megan. I am grateful you have each other, and such a tight bond. May the two of you stand strong and may there be an end to the struggles that exist in your household. I pray you will find a welcoming church.
    Father, thank You for being our strength. Help us to surrender our weaknesses to You.

  • Julie Posted July 13, 2019 7:54 am

    My church only reaches out to the community at prescribed times such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. These never involve actually interacting with the community.
    Thank you Jill for your kind words. I often wonder if my prayers reflect every person’s true heart issues, but I know God is aware of what is on each mind and knows that as a human I will miss the mark at times. I pray your relationship with Becky continues to grow.
    Prayers for healing and renewed health for Andrea, Lowell, Connie, and Marcy.
    Prayers for success in new homes for Betsy, Robert and Erich.
    Prayers for emotional healing for Lou.
    Prayers for Mary and her family, for abundance and joy.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you dear UR family. Thank you for your prayers, kind words, support and mostly for mentoring me as I journey on the path of growing in faith.

  • Edy Posted July 13, 2019 9:12 am

    Actually our church hosts VBS every summer for the children in our community for free. And it includes a meal every evening for a week. Starting on this coming Monday. I am volunteering for the event and bringing my grandchildren. So happy we can provide some fun and Jesus at the same time. This event most likely will be the only time kids may hear his most precious name.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted July 13, 2019 9:19 am

    Our church also has vbs.

    May our church be always active in reaching out.

    Thanks Julie for reaching out to us!

    Blessings!

  • robert moeller Posted July 13, 2019 12:49 pm

    This will be my third Sunday in my new church, too soon to understand what is being done. The last Sunday in July there is a church picnic on Conway Lake. Have to prepare for that.

    Very thankful Habitat took my unneeded furniture, now there is space for items from storage. AC is working well and keeping us cool. Getting settled.
    Have some benchwork for model trains set up. More to do.

    Erich will be checking places he is interested to work this weekend, He’s worked on his resume but wants to adjust it for each job. So far so good.

    Julie I too join Jill in commending you for your UR family prayers. I hope you find a church with a broader vision of service. Thankful that you have Megan and pray that soon the current situation at home changes for the better.

    I am thankful for churches with VBS. More are very much needed.

    Prayers for Marcy and Mary, Rusty and K, Betsy and her move, Lou and her children, Edy and her sone Bill, Connie, Andrea and Lowell, Jill, Becky, and Larry, and all who come to the UR. Have a blessed Sunday. Thank You, Lord.

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