Call to Worship

Easter people, Christ has completed the work of salvation, reconciling us to God so that we may know eternal life.
Through Christ, we are made one with God.

In life, death, and Resurrection, Christ guides us into eternal life with God here and now.
Through Christ, we are made one in God.

Through prayer and teaching, healing and serving, Christ draws us together as the people of God, diverse members of the one body.
Through Christ, we are made one with God and one another.

So, come, let us worship God who saves us into eternal life with God and one another!
Thanks be to God! Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, October 2025.

Prayer for Unity

God of all creation,
who called every being into life,
who is mindful of humankind in all its diversity,
who embodies us with dignity,
granting different gifts and talents to shape life in this world,
we ask for your Spirit to unite us
where we face lack of understanding and disunity
in our churches, in our communities, in our countries.
And in silence, we lay before you the burdens of our hearts.

(Silence)

We ask for your Spirit to unite us
in the face of the conflicts, hatred, and violation of life
experienced in so many regions of the earth
and, in silence, we bring to you the pain of the victims.

(Silence)

We ask for your Spirit to unite us
wherever fear prevents us from caring for our neighbour,
from meeting people of different ethnicities, cultures,
and faith communities with respect,
and, in silence, we bring to you the brokenness of human relationships.

(Silence)

God of all creation,
in Christ we are reconciled,
and so we ask for your uniting Spirit
to help us to overcome all our divisions
that we may live in peace.

Posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website, http://www.christianaid.org.uk/http://www.christianaid.org.uk/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/09/prayer-for-unity-amidst-diversity.htmlhttps://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/09/prayer-for-unity-amidst-diversity.html.

Prayer of Confession

God, we believe you have called us to unity,
but often we have isolated ourselves from others.
God, forgive us for the times we have turned our backs
on those who are different.

God, we believe you have called us
to live together as one body.
God, forgive us for the times we have created division
within your worldwide church.

God, we believe you ask us to look, listen,
and learn from others.
God, forgive us for the times we have ridiculed and attacked
those with different viewpoints.

God, we believe you ask us to accept and seek to understand
all who are called by your name.
Forgive us for the times we have offended you
by failing to love others as we do ourselves.

God, we believe you call us to be one,
even as you are one.
Forgive us for the disunity we have harbored
and make us one.

(Pause to offer up prayers for unity within the church.)

God and Creator of all humankind,
your son Jesus Christ prayed that your church might be one,
even as you our God are one.
May you renew our minds and rekindle your love in our hearts,
so that by the power of the Spirit,
we might find the Oneness that you intend for us.

God, may we recognize in your Oneness
our need for unity.
God, may we recognize in your Three-ness,
our need for community.
God, may we recognize in your creativity,
our need for diversity.
God, may we recognize in your Self,
our need to love each other.
Amen.

Adapted from the Lenten series Journey into Wholeness written by Christine Sine. Published in 2009 by Mustard Seed Associates. The entire series is available on the Godspace website, http://godspace.wordpress.com. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/01/prayer-called-to-be-one.htmlhttps://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/01/prayer-called-to-be-one.html.

Benediction

Beloved, go now in the blessing of the Triune God to live as diverse members of the one body of Christ, choosing unity over division, cooperation over conformity, and collaboration over exclusion as we work together for the flourishing of all creation. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, October 2025.