Holy God, may the divisions between us be erased.
May we, people of all backgrounds, walk with one another;
listen to one another;
bear one another's burdens.
May we faithfully practice peacemaking in our community first.

May your global Church be unified by our shared love for one another.
As we worship today in peace, we call to mind our brothers and sisters
who are persecuted for their faith.
May they be delivered from trouble, comforted by your Spirit,
and strengthened with eternal hope.

Lord, in Your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

Merciful God, the promises of your Kingdom seem so distant,
and the kingdoms of the world war against your peace and justice.
Grant us a tenacious faith:
to bring light where there is darkness,
peace where there is strife,
comfort where there is despair,
and righteousness where there is injustice.
Let the light of your presence always shine in us,
so that all may know that darkness will one day come to an end.

Lord, in Your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Almighty God, you stripped yourself entirely to come into this world.
Weak, fragile, and dependent,
you gave yourself into the care of a teenage girl.
In following you, may we also become vulnerable.

May we strip away all that protects us,
all that we hide behind,
and let it burn like chaff.
May our actions bear fruit that glorifies you,
eternal God, love incarnate.

Today, we also offer our requests, aloud or silently, for those in need or suffering…

[Silence]

As we pour out our cries and petitions,
we thank you for your faithfulness to hear our prayers,
whether spoken or too obscure for words.
Grant our requests as may be best for us
and fill us with enduring hope as we anticipate your coming again.

All this we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.