WE ARE YOUR PEOPLE, LORD
In addition to the gatherings of both the small groups of churches and the larger gatherings of churches across the presbytery, it is important from time to time, when we gather as a presbytery, that we engage in a liturgical recognition of our calling from God.
It might be good to introduce the experience with reading John’s account of the New Commandment, John 13:34-35, and the proactive efforts of the churches in the presbytery to provide a testimony of unity in the name of Christ.
If your experience has had a positive effect already, you might want to invite some of the ruling elders to give brief testimony to their experiences in the small groups.
Then, recognizing that liturgy is the work of the people lifted to God in praise, you can invite those gathered to join in the following litany.
A LITANY FOR PRESBYTERIAN UNITY
Leader: In Ephesians 4, Paul invites us “ to lead a life worthy of the calling to which (we) have been called.”
People: We pause to listen in silence to God’s call for us as several churches drawn together as Presbyterians in this region of the country.
(A time of silence)
Leader: Paul calls us to respond to each other “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
People: Gathered as one people, we pause in silence to examine our individual consciences and recognize in our separate churches what quality—humility, gentleness, patience, or love—we need to strengthen if we are to bear witness as the one Body of Christ.
(A Time of Silence)
Leader: Paul speaks of us as “one body and one Spirit, . . .called to the one hope of (our) calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
People We pray that God will forgive us for any divisions in our heart just as we pray that we will forgive any divisive spirit in our neighbor’s hearts.
Leader: Let us sing together “We All Are One in Mission.” (#435 in Presbyterian Hymnal)
My Scandal is Your Scandal
Feel free to make variations to the design of the service and the litany. The important point is to emphasize God’s call for us to be one church. Of course this goes far beyond the divisions of the Presbyterian Church. Variety and variations are natural to the human personalities, but it is hard to deny that the various divisions of the Body of Christ is a scandal.
While we cannot cure our warring madness by any single act, we can choose to be proactive against such divisions. Who know what God can do with our offering of peace and reconciliation.
We can also act together as pastors to strengthen our bonds.
If you would like a complete set of this series in a PDF format, you may contact me at steve@smccutchan.com
