Keep praying with us! Jessie Cunningham brings us today's prayer.

Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

The way to unity is what God requires of us, even if we aren’t bound and determined to have unity. You have called us to be united together as your Body as a witness to a divided world. Let those who follow your Son Jesus Christ be a peaceable people in the midst of conflict and division. Our denomination is pondering a divorce, but we’ve not undergone the intensive work of figuring out why we’re where we are, and what’s in the heart of those other people. We love each other and don’t wish to divorce. We ask that you send us to counseling, Enable us to have long conversations with those with whom we disagree, not pseudo-conversations, but conversations with much curiosity, hospitality, genuine questions and empathetic listening. The kinds of conversations Jesus had with people.

The unity of the church is God’s will. Jesus prayed for it. Jesus clearly wants unity. When we divide, we grieve the heart of Jesus. One day, we will be one. The Father loves the Son and will give him what he asks. The Father will give the Son a unified church, and the Son will unify the church by his Spirit. This is what the church will be.

Send your Spirit of peace, justice, and freedom upon us, break down the walls of political partisanship, and make us one; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.