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 Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity 2011
One in the Apostles' Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread
and Prayer (cf. Acts 2:42)
"L"
refers to the leader(s) of worship and are chosen from the
churches present at worship. "A" refers to
the assembly gathered for worship.
GATHERING
A gong or bell is sounded three times to indicate the beginning
of the service followed by a moment of silence. The worship
leaders enter together with those participants carrying the
Bible, a simple cross and possibly symbols inspired by the
text of Acts 2:42.
OPENING HYMN
OPENING INVOCATION
L: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.
A: Amen.
L: From all Christians in Jerusalem to the faithful
of this gathering, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace! (1 Thessalonians 1:1)
A: Thanks be to God.
WELCOME
The worship leader or the pastor of the host congregation
welcomes the assembly and briefly introduces the 2011 celebration,
placing it within the framework of the chosen theme.
OPENING PRAYER
L: Compassionate and loving God, you created us in
your likeness.
A: For this we praise and thank you.
L: We gather in your name, to ask you to restore the
unity of all those who confess your Son Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior of all.
A: O God, hear us and have compassion on us all.
L: Help us in our weakness and strengthen us with your
Holy Spirit.
A: Send forth your Spirit and make us one.
L: Gracious God, you have promised through your prophets
that Jerusalem will be home to many peoples, mother to many
nations. Hear our prayers that Jerusalem, the city of your
visitation, may be for all a place to dwell with you and to
encounter one another in peace. We pray to the Lord.
A: Lord have mercy.
L: Merciful God, may your life-giving Spirit move in
every human heart, that the barriers that divide us may crumble,
suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease, and that, with divisions
healed, your people might live in justice and peace. We pray
to the Lord.
A: Lord have mercy.
L: Open now our ears and hearts to hear your Word proclaimed
and aid us to live it more faithfully in all that we do and
say, to the glory of your name and the spreading of your kingdom,
most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
A: Amen.
Proclamation of the Word of God
Lector: Isaiah 58:6-10
Psalm 96:1-13: O sing the Lord a new song and bless his holy
name.
(Or another hymn based on Psalm 96. If the psalm is not sung,
it may be recited antiphonally.)
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the
earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation
from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to
be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made
the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are
in his sanctuary.
Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the
Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering,
and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all
the earth.
Say among the nations, 'The Lord is king! The world is firmly
established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples
with equity.' Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it; Let the field exult,
and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before
the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the
earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the
peoples with his truth.
Lector: Acts 2:42-47
Alleluia: (Sung)
Leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled
to your brother or sister and then come and offer your gift.
(Matthew 5:24)
L: The Gospel is proclaimed. Matthew 5:21-26
THE SERMON
It is customary to invite a guest to preach in the host church's
pulpit.
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
L: Recalling that the believers devoted themselves
to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, we confess our
failure of faithfulness and fellowship. We pray to the Lord.
A: Lord have mercy.
L: Recalling that awe came upon them and they saw many
wonders and signs, we confess a lack of vision that prevents
us from seeing the glory of your work in our midst. We pray
to the Lord.
A: Lord have mercy.
L: Recalling that all who believed held things in common
and supported those in need,
we confess that we hold on to possessions at the expense of
the poor. We pray to the Lord.
A: Lord have mercy.
L: Recalling that the believers spent much time in
prayer and breaking bread at home with glad and generous hearts,
we confess our failure of love and generosity. We pray to
the Lord.
A: Lord have mercy.
ASSURANCE OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
L: This is what was spoken through the prophet Joel,
"in the last days it will be, God declares, that I will
pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, then everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved."
As we wait for the coming of the Lord we are also assured
that in Christ we are forgiven, renewed and made whole again.
OFFERING
The host leader of worship designates the recipient of the
offering and invites all to participate in giving. A hymn
or musical selection maybe sung during the collection.
THE SIGN OF PEACE
L: Christ is our peace. He has reconciled us to God
in one body on the cross; we meet in His name and share His
peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you.
A: And also with you.
RITUAL ACTION
At the conclusion of the peace candles are distributed. They
are lighted after each intention in the Litany of Christian
Unity. Participants are encouraged to take home the candles
they received and to light them each night during the week
of prayer and, if appropriate, place them in their windows
as a continuation of this prayer vigil and a remembrance of
Christians throughout the world who suffer because of their
faith.
LITANY OF CHRISTIAN UNITY
L: In Christ, God reconciled the world to himself
and entrusted the message of reconciliation to us. As ambassadors
for Christ's reconciliation, we present our petitions to God.
(cf. 2 Corinthians 5:19f)
Lector 1: When we open the Bible together, no matter
our Christian tradition, when we pray together in spite of
our different sensibilities:
A: Everything becomes new again and makes visible our unity.
Lector 2: When we help build good relations among Jews,
Christians and Muslims, when we tear down the wall of indifference
and hatred:
A: Everything becomes new again and makes visible our
unity.
Lector 1: When we work for justice and solidarity,
when we move from fear to confidence:
A: Everything becomes new again and makes visible our
unity.
Lector 2: When we are attentive to the needs of the
bereaved families, of the poor, the hopeless and all who suffer
in the name of our Lord:
A: Everything becomes new again and makes visible our
unity.
Lector 1: When our churches witness to a future of
building closer ties to each other in the service of the Gospel
in the world:
A: Everything becomes new again and makes visible our
unity.
Lector 2: We share much in common, the Word of God,
the teaching of the Apostles, and one baptism. We still cannot
share in the one Eucharist. When your Spirit leads us to full
visible communion:
A: Everything becomes new again and makes visible our
unity.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
L: Let us pray together, each in his or her own language,
in the words Jesus gave us:
A: Our Father…
SENDING FORTH
L: May the Father, who is faithful to his promises
and unfailing in his help, sustain you as you go forth to
strive for justice and seek an end to division.
A: Amen.
L: May the Son, who sanctified the Holy Land by his
birth, ministry, death and resurrection, bring you redemption,
reconciliation and peace.
A: Amen.
L: May the Spirit, who gathered the first believers
together as one, unite you in faithfulness to the teaching
and fellowship, the breaking of the bread and prayers, and
inspire you to preach and live the Gospel.
A: Amen
L: May the One God, Father, Son and Spirit, bless you
and keep you as you go forth to proclaim his Good News to
the world.
A: Amen.
BLESSING
A: May the blessing of the God of peace and justice
be with us;
May the blessing of the Son who has conquered suffering and
death be with us;
And may the blessing of the Spirit who inspires us to reconciliation
and hope be with us from now into eternity.
A: Amen.
FINAL HYMN
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