We are going through prayers in the Bible as our church’s sermon theme for the summer. This Sunday our text was John 17:20-23, the 2nd part of Jesus’ wonderful prayer for the disciples and the church. Our pastor encouraged us to write new prayers based on these four verses. Here’s what I offered.
Holy One,
You are the unity we seek.
You are the one and only, and in you we live and breathe.
Open our eyes to see you in the other.
Open our eyes to see you in ourselves.
Unity is not ours to create or destroy but is always present in you.
Holy One of Glory,
Open our eyes to encounter your Glory bursting forth in all creation.
May our lives delight and celebrate your Glory in others and ourselves.
Holy One of Love,
Open our hearts to recognize that it is love, your love, that gathers each one of us into your unity.
Tear down the boundaries we build so that your unifying love might flow freely through us to all the world.
In your one and holy name we pray.
Amen