Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

After two weeks of no posts, I'm back on the blog! I've been suffering from illness - in me (sinus infection) and in my computer (network glitch). Now that both my computer and I have experienced some healing, I'm ready to roll out a number of things that I want to share with you.

The first thing I want to share is a prayer. Today is the first day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25), sponsored by the World Council of Churches. Please join with me in praying about this year's theme "Breaking the Silence." Christian communities in South Africa are asking Christians around the world to "express their growing unity both by 'breaking the silence' [particularly about issues of sexual taboos and HIV/AIDS] and by joining together in responding to human suffering."

Please pray with me the following prayer, which is an adaptation of a prayer provided by the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute:
Lord God, we bless you for the love that you have shown us through Jesus Christ our Lord. In Him, we are conquerors over hardship, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and the sword. In the midst of the silence of abandonment and solitude, of sickness and death, pour out your love, that we may be ever more faithful to serve you, and that our joy to do your will be ever greater.
We bless you and glorify you, O Lord, for you listen to the silence of our hearts. You act within us with power, healing us and leading us to speak in the name of Jesus, your Son. Send us into the world to break down the walls of silence that separate us.
May we witness to you, our only Savior, by being ever more united by "one faith and one baptism." And may we grow in grace and in the peace of God that passes all understanding.
Amen.