Once again, we join together here in this sacred space.
We thank you for those around us,
our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We lean upon each other in times of pain and stress,
we learn from each other every day,
and we celebrate each others’ joys and happiness.
As we look at one another,
help us to see your image within them.
We are one body, one church,
but as individuals, we do have our differences.
Remind us that diversity builds strength.
We are shaped by our experiences in life.
Remind us that our lives may have taken different paths
than others have explored, but we are one within your love.
Remind us to cherish and respect the journeys of others,
to hear their story without judgement or bias.
We have been called to this place, to celebrate
one Lord, one faith and one baptism.
Father, you sent your son to teach us one truth, one way of life.
We’ve taken that message and distorted it into different churches,
different truths, with each claiming to know the absolute truth.
We admit that we don’t have all the answers,
that we can never have all the answers.
But we know that our truth is that we are your children,
our truth is that we are deeply loved and uniquely cherished,
our truth is that it is up to us to make this world as it is in heaven,
our truth is to work for peace and justice for all, to respect everyone,
our truth is that we know you are with us always.
We ask that you be with those among us who need your healing grace and strength,
naming __.
As we grow together in love, fully supporting each other, defending each other,
we will truly become the body of Christ.
Give us the strength to truly love one another.
to become one with each other.
And be with us, as we use the words Jesus taught us,
“Our Father…”
Uniquely Cherished 