Opening Sentences and Words of Greeting

 

[The host pastor may want to welcome the congregation and state the purpose of this gathering.]

 

Blessed is our God always, now and forever unto the ages of ages.

 

Dear friends in Christ, we have gathered to pray for the Church, wherever Christ’s community is gathered; the Church in each place.  Especially this day, we are here to pray for one another, the Church in this place.  Let us join together in prayer—to God who has named us, through Christ who saves us and calls us to be his Church, witnesses to and servants of God’s reconciling love in the world.                                                                                 Greek Orthodox Liturgy

 

Hymn

Invocation (in unison)

God our creator, the resurrection of your Son offers life to all the peoples of the earth.  By your Spirit, kindle in us the fire of your love, empowering our tongues for praise and our lives for service in this place.  In Christ’s name, Amen.                                                                                                                               Evangelical Lutheran Book of Worship

 

Reading from Scripture

 

[Local organizers will want to select texts from both testaments that lift up the theme of unity in Christ. A Psalm, read or sung responsively, might be included as part of the reading from Scripture. A brief example is included below. It is certainly appropriate for a homily to follow the reading of the texts.]

 

Responsive Psalm

from Psalm 85

 

+Response: God is speaking peace, peace to his faithful people. 

 

I listen to God speaking:  God is speaking peace;

Salvation is coming near, glory is filling our land. +

 

Love and fidelity embrace; peace and justice kiss.

Fidelity sprouts from the earth; justice leans down from heaven. +

 

Our God pours out riches; our land springs to life.

Justice clears God’s way and peace keeps pace. +

 

 Prayers of the People

 

[There are many ways to structure this time of prayer.  It should reflect the traditions of the congregations present.  It may include set prayers offered by the pastors or lay leaders.  It may include responses by those gathered.  It is also a time to offer opportunity for those present to lift up specific prayer petitions for situations of conflict, for peace, for reconciliation, for the unity of the church, for the shared witness of the local churches, for bishops, pastors and other leaders of the churches.  Those leading the prayer may want to close with a final prayer.]

 

L:  Hear our prayers, God of grace.

R:  Meet us in our need and in our honesty.

L:  In the abundance of your mercy, we pray for others:
 

For our families, friends, and neighbors; for those with whom we work, learn, and play; for the sick, the frightened, the lonely; for those who grieve, who are desperate and angry; for those in prison, hungry, homeless, poor; for those we perceive as our enemies. [Additional petitions may be added here, followed by a time of silence.]
 

Hear our prayers, God of Compassion.
 

R:  Send your Spirit upon all for whom we pray.
 

L:  We are one with all your creation and pray about the issues that confront us all: for our planet and the environment in which we live; for the end of war, conflict and violence; for liberation from racism, bigotry and injustice; for freedom from addictions of all kinds; for the end of abuse of all people, for each member of the human family that all may know the dignity and worth of being a child of God; for solutions, and our part in those solutions, to our common human dilemmas. [additional petitions, followed by a time of silence]
 

L:  Hear our prayers, God of justice, God of love.
 

R:  May your love and justice be manifest in our lives.  We pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.”                                                                                                                                       Moravian Book of Worship

 

L:  Finally, beloved God, we pray for the witness of your Church gathered in this place. Bless us, encourage us and send us into our community, to serve your people, as a sign of Christ’s reconciling and healing grace. Receive our prayers and petitions as we pray the prayer Jesus taught his disciples.

 

The Lord’s Prayer  [The worship leader may want to encourage those present to pray in the language most familiar to them.]

 

The Peace

 

L: Joined in the fellowship of prayer, let us greet one another with the sign of peace. The peace of Christ be with you!
R: And also with you.

 

Hymn

Benediction

 

And now to the One who is able to keep us from falling, and lift us from the dark valley of despair to the bright mountain of hope, from the midnight of desperation to the daybreak of joy; to God be power and authority, for ever and ever.

                                                                                                                                                                            Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Additional Resources

 

Click here for a printable pdf version of the service.

 

Above photo by Kathleen Cameron