Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Unity
In Christ there is no East or West,
In Christ no South or North;
But one great family of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden chord
Close-binding humankind. Amen.
Join hands, then, people of the faith,
whatever your race may be.
All children of the living God
are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north.
All Christly souls are joined as one
throughout the whole wide earth.
John Oxenham, Adapted
Lord, thou whose Son didst pray that all thy children might be one in thee, we come with repentance for the sin of useless division and for the secret vice of pride. We beg forgiveness for harsh judgment, for prejudice nourished as a virtue, for self-will, for scorn of others, whose experience before thee is as valid as our own. For all mean attitudes, for all denial of the worth of other views, for all exclusiveness which has kept out men of good will, receive our contrition and heal us of the sin which keeps us apart. Teach us what it means to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Open our eyes to the insight of others. Help us to appreciate those of other lands and of other races, who. differing from us in much, are yet one with us in faith. For problems beyond our minds to solve, grant us patience. For tasks too great for our weak hands, give us faith. For all tedious steps in discovering thy way and thy will for thy church, endow us with necessary grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
George Stewart, A Face to the Sky, adapted
Lord, you whose Son did pray that all your children might be one, we come with repentance for the sin of useless division and for the secret vice of pride. We beg forgiveness for harsh judgment, for prejudice nourished as a virtue, for self-will, for scorn of others, whose experience before you is as valid as our own. For all narrow minded attitudes, for all denial of the worth of other views, for all exclusiveness which has kept out men of good will, receive our forgiveness and heal us of the sin which keeps us apart. Teach us what it means to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Open our eyes to the insight of others. Help us to appreciate those of other lands and of other races, who, differing from us in much, are yet one with us in faith. For problems beyond our minds to solve, grant us patience. For tasks too great for our weak hands, give us faith. For all tedious steps in discovering your way and your will for your church, endow us with necessary grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
George Stewart, A Face to the Sky, adapted, Langauge Modernized by Stuart Strachan Jr.
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast built thy church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; we pray thee to inspire the church universal with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord. And grant that all who confess thy holy name may abide in thy truth, and live in unity and godly love.
O Lord, our Governor, whose glory is in all the world; we commend this and all nations to thy merciful care, that being guided by thy providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to all in authority wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear.
Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Christian ministers, that they may, both by their life and teaching, set forth thy true and living word, and rightly administer thy holy sacraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and especially to this congregation here present, that with meek heart and due reverence they may hear and receive thy holy word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.
And we beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and save all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness , or any other adversity. And we bless thy holy name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to give us grace to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Book of Worship for Free Churches, The Board of Home Missions of the Congregational and Christian Churches, 1948.
Almighty and everlasting God, who has built his church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; we ask you to inspire the church universal with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord. And grant that all who confess your holy name may abide in your truth, and live in unity and godly love.
O Lord, our Governor, whose glory is in all the world; we commend this and all nations to your merciful care, that being guided by your providence, we may dwell secure in your peace. Grant to all in authority wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in your fear.
Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Christian ministers, that they may, both by their life and teaching, set forth your true and living word, and rightly administer your holy sacraments. And to all your people give your heavenly grace; and especially to this congregation here present, that with meek heart and due reverence they may hear and receive your holy word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.
And we ask you for your goodness, O Lord, to comfort and save all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. And we bless your holy name for all your servants departed this life in your faith and fear; asking you to give us grace to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Book of Worship for Free Churches, The Board of Home Missions of the Congregational and Christian Churches, 1948. Modernized by Stuart Strachan Jr.
Lord – We come this morning at the start of another week to worship You, our Alpha and Omega, our beginning and end.
You guided, protected, strengthened and blessed us this past week – for which we thank You and praise You.
There’s no one like You. There’s no one who loves us like You do; no one who knows us like You do; no one so good and so strong, so powerful and compassionate as You. We worship You in glory.
You bind us one to another – each of us to You and all of us to each other. Together You make us Your family, marking us with the same Spirit. Thank You.
You show us Your way, give us Your truth and impart Your life to us in Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord – the One who we trust. Bless you, God our Savior.
God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – You know what it’s like to be many and one at the same time.
In You, we too are many … yet one.
You’ve made us one body—a single family unified for one purpose; with one baptism—giving us a single identity.
You’ve given us one Spirit—Your Spirit; and one hope—in the same future.
And, with one faith we trust You for our salvation, our one Lord, Jesus Christ.
Opening Prayer based on 1 Corinthians 12
Holy One, Giver of every good and perfect gift
It is your great grace that offers us salvation
It is grace upon grace that gives us the chance to join you in your saving work
You trust us that much
You empower us that far
Reveal our spiritual gifts
Reveal our calling in this time and place
so we may fulfill it together
so we may fulfill it for the common good
so we may honor you and one another
Holy One, convince us of our value and purpose,
Assure us of our place in your Body and our place in your plan
Use us for your glory, now and forever. Amen.
Opening Prayer based on 1 Corinthians 12 © 2022 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
Take Up the Cross
Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny privilege
To lay down advantage and opportunity
in order to take up the cross of equity and justice
Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny comfort
To lay down ease and apathy
in order to take up the cross of unity and solidarity
Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny prejudice
To lay down discrimination and segregation
in order to take up the cross of diversity and true love
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me
Show me what to pick up and what to lay down
So I only carry what leads to life
and give me the courage to help others do the same
Amen
Take Up the Cross © 2017, updated 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com