Prayer for the Week: The words of Paul stir within us — There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. What have you done, Gracious God, for Paul to declare something so beautiful and awe-inspiring? What are you doing among us this day, Holy God, to expunge and eliminate all the silly yet painful divisions we have created and tolerated? What are you doing to make us one? In our fractured and factious world, we need you more than ever. Allow for our living and loving, our kindness and compassion, to be added to all the kingdom-work happening in the world. Allow us to live above the pettiness of self-serving politics, and to do so through humility and self-sacrificing love. Let us rise as we kneel, let us lead by lifting others above us. We will do such things only if we center ourselves on the ways of Jesus, and the values of your kingdom. Let us learn all that we can, and then through your encouraging Spirit, let us strive to reveal your kingdom – the body of Christ – your family created in love. This we request in the name of Jesus. Amen.
