Prayer For the City
Church Unity and Mission
This is written by Matt Coombs, one of the leaders at St Mary’s and oversees small groups.
Reflection
The Psalmist says that unity with others is "good" and "pleasant" (Ps 133:1). For Paul in this passage unity is essential. He uses the metaphor of a body to describe the church, and a body cannot be in disunity or disharmony with itself. While all different, with varying gifts, personalities, strengths, weaknesses and priorities. Jesus' plan for His church is people unified in the faith. Holding the tension of our difference.
Today, let’s pray for our unity as a church community. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and help us exhibit the fruit of his Spirit as we interact with one another.
Is there someone who has been really annoying you at church? Take a moment to pray for them, that they would know God's love. That’s a harder prayer than you think, because what you want to pray is that God would change their annoying behaviour. Could you pray asking God to help you love them?
But also let's pray for the Church BIG C. There are tonnes and tonnes of churches across this city trying to spread the word that Jesus is alive. Some in the Square Mile, some on estates, some in leafy suburbs. Pray for them as they begin this new term; for Alpha, Christianity Explored courses, for the new small groups and church plants and missional communities and social justice projects. Jesus said "May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe that it was you who sent me." John 17: 20 – 21. Disunity weakens our witness to the world, prayer strengthens the bonds of love.
Father God,
you have called us to be your hands and feet here on earth and continue the work of reconciliation and reveal you to the world: forgive us the sins which tear us apart; give us your Spirit and the courage to overcome our fears and to seek that unity which is your gift and your will;
In Jesus name,
Amen
Today, let’s pray for our unity as a church community. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and help us exhibit the fruit of his Spirit as we interact with one another.
Is there someone who has been really annoying you at church? Take a moment to pray for them, that they would know God's love. That’s a harder prayer than you think, because what you want to pray is that God would change their annoying behaviour. Could you pray asking God to help you love them?
But also let's pray for the Church BIG C. There are tonnes and tonnes of churches across this city trying to spread the word that Jesus is alive. Some in the Square Mile, some on estates, some in leafy suburbs. Pray for them as they begin this new term; for Alpha, Christianity Explored courses, for the new small groups and church plants and missional communities and social justice projects. Jesus said "May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe that it was you who sent me." John 17: 20 – 21. Disunity weakens our witness to the world, prayer strengthens the bonds of love.
Father God,
you have called us to be your hands and feet here on earth and continue the work of reconciliation and reveal you to the world: forgive us the sins which tear us apart; give us your Spirit and the courage to overcome our fears and to seek that unity which is your gift and your will;
In Jesus name,
Amen
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