For the Unity of Christians
Collect for the Week of Christian Unity
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you”. Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly city, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
Almighty, ever-living God,
who gather what is scattered
and keep together what you have gathered,
look kindly on the flock of your Son,
that those whom one Baptism has consecrated
may be joined together by integrity of faith,
and united in the bond of charity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the Unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
We humbly ask you, Lord, lover of the human family,
to pour out more fully upon us the grace of your Spirit,
and walking worthily in the vocation
to which you have called us,
we may bear witness to the truth before others
and seek with confidence
the unity of all believers in the bond of peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the Unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
O God, who have united many nations
in confessing your name,
grant us, we pray,
the grace to will and to do what you command,
that the people called to your Kingdom
may be one in the faith of their hearts
and the homage of their deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the Unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
Attend with favor to the prayers of your people,
we ask, O Lord,
and grant that the hearts of believers
may be united in your praise and in repentance together,
so that, with division among Christians overcome,
we may hasten with joy to your eternal Kingdom
in the perfect communion of the Church.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the Unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
Look with favor on your people, Lord, we pray,
and pour out upon them the gifts of your Spirit,
that they may grow constantly in love of the truth
and devote themselves with zeal
to perfect unity among Christians.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the Unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
Make known in us, O Lord,
the abundance of your mercy
and in the the power of your Spirit,
remove the divisions between Christians,
that your Church may appear more clearly
as a sign raised high among the nations
and that the world, enlightened by your Spirit,
may believe in the Christ whom you have sent.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the Unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.