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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

EVERY PERSON has the ability to be a minister. We all are called to make love our aim and to bear witness to the power of love in the world. Ministry isn’t only work for “professionals”—that is, pastors, church employees, missionaries, or those who give their lives to serve the least among us. Ministry is the unique way each of us uses our gifts and our energy to share God’s love with the world. This ministerial work can be done at home, at work, or in the marketplace. But before we can do the work of ministry, we first must affirm our identity as ministers, as people who have accepted the call to be servants of love, each in our unique way.

—Henri J. M. Nouwen with Nathan Ball
A Spirituality of Fundraising: Workbook Edition

From page 41 of A Spirituality of Fundraising: Workbook Edition by Henri J. M. Nouwen and Nathan Ball. Copyright © 2019 by by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust and The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

In what ways are you a minister to those around you?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
—1 Peter 4:10, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

Creator God,
Give us vision and mission, so that we may find new life and direction. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something More

Learn more about this week’s featured book, A Spirituality of Fundraising Workbook Edition.

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

7 Comments

  • Bj Posted July 18, 2019 6:08 am

    Good morning, UR familg! Have a blessed day.

    • Bj Posted July 18, 2019 6:17 am

      Meant to type family.

  • Jill Posted July 18, 2019 6:24 am

    I hope that my presence, countenance and willingness to listen well are constant ministerings to those around me. I have learned the significance of presence by those God has placed around me.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted July 18, 2019 7:40 am

    For me it’s patience and kindness

    Blessings!

    Julie, may you have a safe trip and quality time with your mum!

    Thanks for all your prayers, Julie!

  • Julie Posted July 18, 2019 8:01 am

    Listening, this ability, to truly listen, silently, nonjudgmentally, is difficult to master but shows caring and true interest and investment in another, their cares, concerns and thoughts.
    Thank you dear Mary for your prayers. I visit my mom only 3 times a year and cherish each moment. Prayers for you to continue to live in joy after so much loss. You are truly a person I wish to emulate.
    Prayers for Jill and her contiinued restful recharging.
    Prayers for BJ and her new sharing attitude.
    Prayers for healing for Andrea and Lowell, Connie, and Marcy. May Connie’s garden survive the heat and may the hummers find water and nourishment at her feeders.
    prayers for emothioanl release for Lou.
    Prayers for success in new homes for Betsy, Robert and Erich. May Erich finally get a job that suits him. May Betsy enjoy this new phase of her life, grandparenting.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling maryng64@hotmail.com Posted July 18, 2019 9:16 am

      Thank you Julie for your words of encouragement and prayers!

      You are also my inspiration – the way you pray for all of us each day!

      Blessings!

  • Connie Posted July 18, 2019 9:03 am

    Nice rainfall this morning, even though the power was off for a short time.
    We needed the rain.
    Dangerously high temps predicted. Hope Chicago is more prepared this time around. Many died a few years ago. 700+, I believe.
    I try to do everything I can, emotionally and physically which has been a little compromised lately, but hope it will get better. I have always been a good listener, that I will say. and a caring one.

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