Daily Devotion June 29, 2021

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Prayer for the Week (June 27-July 3, 2021)

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Let us pray for the strength to reject
    the darkness of sin:
Father in heaven, the light of Jesus has scattered
    the darkness of hatred and sin.
Called to that light, we ask for your guidance.
Form our lives in your truth and our hearts in your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Sunday Missal, alt.)

Sunday Reflection (June 27, 2021)

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Despite all the hardships King Saul had caused David, David had
kind words for King Saul. David was able to see the positive in King Saul
and what he had done for the Israelites (2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27).
Think about it: When someone has done us wrong, how difficult is it
to see their good side?
 
Psalm 130, attributed to David, reminds us of God’s graciousness to us 
despite our sins. In Christ, “God responds to us with grace and 
forgiveness rather than the wrath of God” (NIV Jesus Bible, alt.).
May we likewise respond with grace and forgiveness rather than wrath.

Daily Devotion June 15, 2021

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Sunday Reflection (June 13, 2021)

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Think of ourselves and Christ’s Church as farmers who plant seeds, and the seed that we plant together is the Good News of Jesus Christ.  
We plant it through our proclamation and actions in response to God’s love revealed to us in Jesus Christ.  Yet, planting seeds is not always easy. 
We do not always see the results of that which we have planted (Mark 4:26-32).
 
Someone else may reap the benefit of that which has been planted through us. This can lead to discouragement, or to a greater faith 
in God’s ability to bring to fruition that which God has planted through us. Nevertheless, through us God plants the seed, and likewise,
God works the miracle, so with confidence, keep planting with patience.

Prayer for the Week (June 13-June 19, 2021)

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Let us pray to the Father whose love gives us strength to follow his Son: God our Father, we rejoice in the faith that draws us together.
May your encouragement be our constant strength to keep us one in the love that has sealed our lives.
May we live the Gospel we profess by listening to the Holy Spirit who leads us in the way of Christ.
Amen.

(Sunday Missal, alt.)

Daily Devotion June 8, 2021

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Prayer for the Week (June 6-June 12, 2021)

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Let us pray for daily renewal: Thank you, Lord God, that you have cleansed us from sin and saved us from the power of the enemy through the death and resurrection of your Son.
May our sinful self be destroyed each day as the Holy Spirit brings life to us each day, and continually creates a new person unto the image of God fully revealed in Christ.

Amen.

Sunday Reflection (June 6, 2021)

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Since we have been renewed by God’s Spirit, do not discount what God’s Spirit can do for others. God is a God 
of restoration and renewal (2 Corinthians 5:16-17). 
Furthermore, since everything has become new, may we see people differently and be wary of outward deceptions. 
We will not be perfect in this, but may we be led by the Spirit to see others with the eyes of God as much as we are able. 
 
May we continually be taught by God through the Holy Spirit that each person has the potential to grow into greatness and beauty 
in his or her own right, if only given a chance (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
Yes, we cannot see others as God sees others so before we judge others hear these words of Paul about ultimate judgment: 
“We will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Daily Devotion June 1, 2021

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