DEVOTION:
Scripture: Psalm 143:8
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."
THOUGHT:
Many of you know that I find something special about early Sunday mornings. The world’s still quiet. The coffee smells better. The to-do list hasn't shouted at me yet. And in that stillness, there's a small window to breathe, and maybe to listen. I love this time of my life.
For many, part of the week is dragged into Sunday. The stress of work that didn’t get finished, words we regret saying, the feeling we didn’t do enough, or maybe just plain exhaustion. We show up to church, or even just to our own couch with a Bible and blanket, getting ready to watch a service online, hoping for something that feels like grace. It’s been a long week. And the good news is, God’s already there. Before you open your eyes, before the house creaks awake, before you say a word, He’s already whispering, "I love you. I see you. Let Me walk with you today."
You don’t need to come to Him with the perfect words, or the perfect life. Just bring your heart. Bring your mess. Bring your hope. He’s not asking for performance, He’s asking for presence.
Let this Sunday morning be a soft restart. Not a pressure-filled promise to “get it all together,” but a gentle return to the One who holds you together. So breathe deep. Sip your coffee. Whisper a prayer. And listen for that still, small voice that says, “You are mine. Let’s walk this day together.”
PRAYER:
Almighty and Holy God, this morning, we come before You as a people in need, not just of answers, but of hope. Hope that steadies the soul. Hope that lifts our eyes. Hope that reminds us that You are still writing our stories, even when the pages feel heavy. We pray for our country, Lord. In a time of division, uncertainty, and deep longing for what is good and right, may Your Spirit breathe fresh wisdom into our President and all leaders and compassion into our own hearts. Remind us all that justice, mercy, and humility are not just words, but ways we are called to live.
We lift our local communities, neighborhoods where people are quietly struggling, where loneliness lingers behind closed doors, where joy and pain share the same streets. Let us be people who show up, who listen, who extend a hand, who make space for healing. We pray for our church, East Orrington Congregational Church. Thank You for this gathering of faithful people. Continue to shape us into a body that reflects Your love, a place where grace runs deep, truth is spoken with kindness, and lives are transformed by Your presence. Give us courage to be the Church not only on Sunday but every day, everywhere we go. Lord God, we pray especially this week for the many activities that are tied to Old Home Week. Tuesday night Bean dinner, VBX and the many volunteers, and the Community Dinner and small concert on Thursday. May we deliver hope and a deep sense of belonging to all we meet this week.
Lord, we remember the families who are grieving, tired, and uncertain. We hold those around the world trapped in war and chaos in our prayers. We pray for our own country and others whose homes are shattered, whose children are afraid, whose peace has been stolen. Be their refuge. Be their hope. Raise up peacemakers. Raise up relief. Raise up compassion in all of us. We pray for the thousands of government workers who have recently lost their jobs, whose sense of purpose and stability has been shaken. Let them know they are not forgotten. Provide in surprising ways. Remind them, and all of us, that our worth is not in our titles or paychecks, but in the fact that we are Yours. And Lord, in a world that can feel upside down, whisper to our hearts that our stories are not over. Not even close. You are still working. Still redeeming. Still reaching into the mess and bringing beauty. We trust that You are alive and active, even when we can’t see the ending yet. Help us hold on. Help us look up. Help us love well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.