After the sad Twitter meltdowns (by which I mean “communication breakdowns”) surrounding today’s Nines leadership conference (from which no one seems to have emerged more Christlike), a prayer.
Will you join me? (Comment with an “amen” if you feel like it.)
-Paul
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Jesus prayed that his followers may all be one.
In the power of the Spirit, we join our prayers with his.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
our only Savior, the Prince of Peace:
give us grace seriously to lay to heart
the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions.
Take away all hatred and prejudice,
and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord;
that, as there is but one body and one Spirit,
one hope of our calling,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of us all,
so we may henceforth be all of one heart and of one soul,
united in one holy bond of peace, of faith and charity,
and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I am the vine and you are the branches.
Abide in me as I abide in you.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
Abide in me as I abide in you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Abide in me as I abide in you.
You are my friends if you do what I command you;
love one another as I have loved you.
Abide in me as I abide in you.
Intercessions are offered for the unity of the Church.
Lord of the Church
hear your people’s prayer.
Silence may be kept.
Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your apostles,
‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you’:
look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church
and grant it the peace and unity of your kingdom;
where you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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