[Once again, World Communion Sunday arrived just when we needed it because we are living during a time where there are so many issues that divide us. Churches all around the world celebrate this Sacrament on this same day as an expression of our unity and oneness in Jesus Christ. World Communion Sunday reminds us that what divides us is no match for what unites us. For some reason, we forget this all important truth too frequently, but thanks be to God for reminding us every 1st Sunday of October.]
O God, on this World
Communion Sunday, we are reminded that we, though many throughout the earth,
are one body in you. And so on this Sunday, we join Christians all around the
world in receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the Mass, the Eucharist,
the Lord’s Supper.
Thank you for the many
languages, customs, traditions, and expressions of faith that make up the Body
of Christ. We pray that this special day of unity throughout the universal
church would be an answer to Jesus’ prayer when he prayed, that those who
believe in him may be one. Make us one today, O God. And may the world be drawn
to you because they can see that your church is one throughout the world.
In a world where we can’t
even agree to disagree on issues like standing or kneeling for the national
anthem before a football game, remind us of what actually does make us unified
– our purpose which is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation
of the world.
And so, when we find
ourselves at odds with each other over so many issues, draw us back, draw us
back, draw us back to why we are even here in the first place which is to be a
visible expression of your love and grace for a broken and hurting world.
Help us to continue to be
unified in our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation
of the world; in our discipleship strategy of each person having a loving,
learning, and living faith; and in our fellowship where we see each other as
brothers and sisters in Christ.
Teach us what it means to
live generously in all that we say and do so that we can be a blessing to
others.
We pray this in the name of
Jesus Christ who though he was in the form of God, emptied himself for our
sake. It is in his name that we pray together saying, “Our Father, who art in
heaven…”
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