Jesus, Savior of the World,
We are grateful for the opportunity to be in relationship with you, our leader, Savior and Redeemer. We thank you for one another as we navigate a challenging time in the life of our beloved United Methodist Church.
We confess that we live in a season in our denomination’s history when there are deep disagreements among us about theology and doctrine. Indeed, at times our differences are so great that we act as if we do not want to sit at the same table.
Yet whenever we participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, we are reminded that you invite to your table all who love you, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. (The United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 35)
We all love you, Jesus, and we know that you love us. You love us so much that you came from heaven to earth to make forgiveness and new life available to us. You demonstrated your love by your death on a cross and resurrection from a tomb. Your love transcends a location and time to us even now. Yes, we all love you, Jesus, in response to your amazing love for us.
We earnestly repent of our sin. We acknowledge that we are all imperfect people who regularly make mistakes, misstep in our walk with you and sin with our words, actions and attitudes. Forgive us, we pray. Do more than forgive us, though. Transform us so that we may more fully embody the Christian way in everything we say and do.
We seek to live in peace with one another. You said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Though, sometimes our actions do not show it, we truly do desire to live in peace with all persons, including other Christians with whom we have significant theological differences. Increase our capacity to live in peace with one another.
Yes, we are thankful for the privilege of relationship with you and each other, Jesus. Thank you for inviting all of us to your table. Increase our love for you. Make us increasingly aware of your forgiving and transforming power in our lives. Grow our desire to live in peace with one another. These things we pray, now and always. Amen.
We are grateful for the opportunity to be in relationship with you, our leader, Savior and Redeemer. We thank you for one another as we navigate a challenging time in the life of our beloved United Methodist Church.
We confess that we live in a season in our denomination’s history when there are deep disagreements among us about theology and doctrine. Indeed, at times our differences are so great that we act as if we do not want to sit at the same table.
Yet whenever we participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, we are reminded that you invite to your table all who love you, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. (The United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 35)
We all love you, Jesus, and we know that you love us. You love us so much that you came from heaven to earth to make forgiveness and new life available to us. You demonstrated your love by your death on a cross and resurrection from a tomb. Your love transcends a location and time to us even now. Yes, we all love you, Jesus, in response to your amazing love for us.
We earnestly repent of our sin. We acknowledge that we are all imperfect people who regularly make mistakes, misstep in our walk with you and sin with our words, actions and attitudes. Forgive us, we pray. Do more than forgive us, though. Transform us so that we may more fully embody the Christian way in everything we say and do.
We seek to live in peace with one another. You said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Though, sometimes our actions do not show it, we truly do desire to live in peace with all persons, including other Christians with whom we have significant theological differences. Increase our capacity to live in peace with one another.
Yes, we are thankful for the privilege of relationship with you and each other, Jesus. Thank you for inviting all of us to your table. Increase our love for you. Make us increasingly aware of your forgiving and transforming power in our lives. Grow our desire to live in peace with one another. These things we pray, now and always. Amen.
Author
Debra Wallace-Padgett
The Reverend Dr. Debra Wallace-Padgett was elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church at the 2012 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. At the time of her election, she was the lead pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Lexington, ...