The United Church of Christ observes a "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity," each year, from January 18-25. This prayer was written for a "Service of Scripture and Prayer for Christian Unity" at St. Nicolai UCC, today, January 19, 2014. As you can see, it is a responsive prayer, but I believe you will find it useful read alone, especially if you read it out loud.
Prayer of Confession:
Leader: God of all, in spite of Jesus’ prayer that his
followers would be one,
All: We resist.
Leader: In spite of your desire to unite all of
creation in Christ Jesus.
All: We resist.
Leader: In spite of the perfect foundation you have
created for our unity.
All: We resist.
Leader: In spite of the many spiritual gifts you have
given so we may
nurture unity.
All: We resist.
Leader: In spite of the powerful example of unity lived
out in the days after
Pentecost.
All We resist.
All: Forgive us for resisting
the unity that you desire for us and that
you
have already created among us.
Leader: Forgive us for resisting unity with those who
read scripture in
alternative ways;
People: those
whose theology does not fully mesh with our own;
Leader: those whose practice of faith seems odd to us;
People: those
whose worship is more exuberant or restrained than our
own;
Leader: those whose politics clashes with ours.
People: Prod us
past every obstacle and excuse that we use to block
communion
with others whom you have chosen as your own
and
given to us as sisters and brothers.
Amen.
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