The Octave (aka Week) of Prayer for Christian Unity is held every year, with a different theme each year, with resources and devotional material produced by different communities & countries each year.
The
prayer below is adapted from an order of service published by
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The original, together with
other material for the Octave of Prayer, was produced in the
Caribbean, a region marked by its
history
of colonialism, slavery, and paternalistic missionary endeavour.
Today, as in other parts of the world, human trafficking and the
abuse of human rights are still endemic, together with addictions to
drugs and economic restrictions/debt, which are known to lead to violence, domestic abuse, and migration.
Praying for unity involves a
recognition both of the brokenness of Christian relations and the
effects of injustice in the world at large. The Caribbean Churches
remind us that reconciliation demands repentance, reparation, and the
healing of memories. They call the whole Church to be both sign and
active agent of this
reconciliation.
Prayer:
Come
Holy Spirit: unite us in the bond of unity,
help
us in our weakness, restore us as your children,
and
free us from old habits of wrong which undermine people's dignity,
perpetuate
poverty, separate us from each other,
and
place limits on hope and healing.
Kyrie
eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.
God
of the Exodus, free us from all forms of slavery,
and
everything that obscures people's dignity:
Lead
us by your hand, that we may live.
God
of abundance, help us rise above our selfishness and greed,
and
grant us the courage to be agents of justice:
Lead
us by your hand, that we may love.
God
of love, empower us to love our neighbours, welcome strangers,
and
grant us a new heart that we may be servants of your peace:
Lead
us by your hand, that we may show your light.
God
of glory, help us to be faithful to our families and our communities,
and
make us one in Christ:
Lead
us by your hand, that we may truly be your people.
The
Spirit of the Lord is upon us, because the Lord has anointed us:
to
bring good news to the poor,
to
proclaim release to the captives,
and
recovery of sight to the blind,
to
let the oppressed go free,
to
proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. Amen.
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