A Litany of Hope
Merciful God, you have called us from all nations, tongues, and tribes to be your holy people. You have given to us in abundance; we know it is not right that some of us should have only crumbs. For our failure to build as you would have us build. Grant us forgiveness, O God.
Give us courage as we seek justice and peace. Give us eyes with which to see possibilities for justice. Let us not grow discouraged by our past failures, but give us the strength to act boldly upon our faith. Make us bold, O God.
Fill our hearts with the love that looks past our differences and the peace that destroys distrust, O God. Let no hatred or bitterness divide us from each other or from the world in which we live. Give us loving spirits, O God.
Above all things, make us confident in the hope that is in you, O God. Build us up and give us hope. Amen!
This message is excerpted from “The Story of Peter and Cornelius: An anti-racism Bible study on unity,” written by Inez Torres Davis, a 2016 Women of the ELCA resource. Today we commemorate the Confession of Peter. This is the first day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
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