We invite you to spend some time in prayer. Take a moment to quiet yourself before God and share your thoughts and feelings with him. If you are with others, pray out loud together. If you are alone, know that you are not alone--the body of Christ is praying with you. 

God of all nations, you called us to a new body, unified in Christ and bound by the Spirit. 

Across the divides of rich and poor, race from race, culture from culture, old from young, you called us to a new body of shared faith, shared calling, and shared soul and mind. 

By your death on the cross, reconcile us to one another, O Lord.

Forgive us for false unity that is an affront to your good plans. Where we are to work for one cause and share one hope, we work for ourselves and show apathy and indifference. Where we are to bear one another’s burdens, suffering with one another for the sake of righteousness, our empty promises and shallow words hurt your beloved.   Where we are to admonish one another and serve God together to fight against all which may threaten or hinder unity, we abandon relationship to the point both our words and deeds are bitter and pointless.

By your death on the cross, reconcile us to one another, O Lord.

Prince of peace go before us in our fight for unity. Bear the arms of love and truth to form our body anew today through repentance.  Compel us to lay down our earthly weapons and stand firm in the armor of God. Break down the evil walls of division by giving us the truth, righteousness, and readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Gather up our broken pieces, O Lord, and reform us again today.

By your death on the cross, reconcile us to one another, O Lord.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.

Lord God, we pray that our capacity to know and experience life might be magnified in Christ. By your grace set the eyes of our hearts on Jesus, giving us a widened imagination to see everything from your perspective, to live in faith, and to love our Savior. Amen.