With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:8b-10 NRSV)

"...in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" (Eph 1:8b-10 AV

HOLY ONE, LOVING GOD, GRACIOUS LORD, YOU CALL YOUR CHURCH AND ALL ITS MEMBERS TO BE RECONCILED WITH EACH OTHER IN TRUTH AND IN LOVE. WHEN WE PAY ATTENTION, WE SEE SIGNS ALL AROUND US OF YOUR PROMISE FOR THE FULLNESS OF TIME.

WE SEE THEM IN FRIENDSHIPS THAT TRANSCEND BARRIERS. WE SEE THEM IN HOSPITALITY TO STRANGERS. WE SEE THEM IN COMMON RESPONSES TO THE NEEDY. WE SEE THEM IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE STRUGGLES OF THE OPPRESSED. WE SEE THEM IN SHARED PRAYER. BUT WE ALSO SEE OUR BROKENNESS, OUR FEARS, OUR RESISTANCES. SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN WE WANT TO CHANGE, WE DO NOT KNOW HOW. SHOW US, LOVING GOD. CONFORM US EVER MORE FULLY TO YOUR WILL. DRAW US TOWARD YOUR PURPOSE AND YOUR FAMILY.

GATHER UP ALL THINGS IN YOU. THIS WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF CHRIST WHO MAKES US ONE.

AMEN.

REV. DIANE KESSLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

TOGETHER WE PRAY: Christian Prayers for Unity
www.masscouncilofchurches.org/unity.htm
Massachusetts Committee on Ecumenical Observance of the Millennium
c/o Massachusetts Council of Churches
14 Beacon St., Room 416 Boston, MA 02108

(Above Excerpt is posted here by SCUWPG Administrators to make it available for additional agreement in prayers by any members of the Prayer Group. Scripture notation and version for AV has been added here in order to show this prayer with formatting in accordance the guidelines for this prayer forum.)

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Amen to Rev. Kessler's prayer, above.

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love...according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" (Eph 1:4, 7b-10 AV)

"just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love... according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." (Eph 1:4, 7b-10 NRSV)


Dear Heavenly Father,

We, the people of your kingdom, Father, who are formed by you to unite and claim Jesus as the one king in the hearts of us all, pray now together, "...Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10 AV). We know that it is your will, Father, that we on earth be gathered together with each other and eventually with the angels in heaven, to be as one together in Jesus. By the gift of the blood of your Son, Jesus, we are redeemed; and by your continuing grace, Father, you have given us to see your will, in wisdom and without mystery, for the Bible says, "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" (Eph 1:9-10 AV)

We see the wisdom of doing your will, Lord, and we let your will be done on earth in us to make us one in Jesus, for you spoke by the prophet saying "...let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it" (Isaiah 45:8 AV). In having the wisdom to do your will, Lord, we see ourselves as broken shards of the same vessel which you now restore to wholeness. We may contend the understanding of the word among ourselves, as one shard to another, but we will never question the will of you, Father, to make us one together in Jesus, for you spoke through the Holy Spirit by the prophet saying "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? Or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me" (Isaiah 45:9-11 AV).

We ask, Father, and you go on to tell us by the prophet that the whole purpose of creation is that all men who seek to be your children must assemble themselves and come together to Jesus, for the prophet writes "...God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:18 AV). Again you said "Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations." (Isaiah 45:20 AV), and again you said "...That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come." (Isaiah 45:23).

To Jesus we come, and in the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.


Love in Jesus to all,
Tim

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