Opening Prayer
God of Peace and Life, the promised ingathering of all peoples is such a sign of hope. You continue to come to us with gentle power. You promise a peace, beyond human understanding, when all swords will be melted into plowshares, so that our resources will be turned toward feeding people’s needs rather than destroying them. You will calm the restless violence of the human heart. Your light will radiate all truth and reveal Your presence in people and places we least suspect or expect. Give us the humility of the centurion of Capernaum, who articulated his desperate need of Jesus for his son, and yet felt unworthy to have him come under his roof. We are dependent on You. We don’t deserve Your graciousness and faithful coming to and within us. We are not worthy, but we believe and need Your saving, healing and enlightening presence beyond and within us. Thank you for ingathering with us, Lord Jesus – and for not giving up on us. Continue to huddle with us and bring forth the full daylight of God’s Reign. Come, Lord Jesus, with justice and life-giving peace!
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