Hearts One In Christ
Worship
THE WEAVING OF THE HEARTS
Worship Resources For 17 Special Occasions
A Service Celebrating Unity
L: Today we celebrate our oneness with God and each other through hearts that are one in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches. If we remain united with him, we will bear much fruit. But if we do not live in union with him, we can do nothing (John 15:1-5). As we stay connected to Jesus, we will live in harmony with one another. Our Christian unity, our oneness in the body of believers, comes only from our connectedness to Jesus, the True Vine.
So, let us celebrate our Christian unity now by lifting our hearts as one.
THE WORD SPEAKS OF UNITY
L: The Holy Scripture stresses the importance of unity and its call to us as Christians. Paul prayed that God, who is steadfast and encouraging, would grant his people to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. Unity in the community of believers produces a people who are able to glorify God with one voice (Romans 15:5-6).
C: May we glorify you with one voice, O Lord!
L: Israel often strayed from the blessing of unity. Renewal came as its leaders turned the people back to celebrate and honor their oneness in being chosen people of God. God's hand comes upon repentant people, giving them one heart to do his will (2 Chronicles 30:12).
C: May we glorify you with one heart, O Lord!
L: God calls the members of the body of Christ to live in unity with one another. As Christians, we witness our union with Jesus as we work and live with one another in unity of spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3).
C: May we glorify you with one spirit, O Lord!
L: God grants gifts to equip the members and build up the body so that all will come to a unity of faith and to a knowledge of the Son of God, mature, attaining the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).
C: May we glorify you with one faith, O Lord!
L: Clothing ourselves as one body with the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness, we witness to our unity through love which binds everything together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:12-14).
C: May we glorify you with one love, O Lord!
L: Let us pray: Jesus Christ, help us to remain attached to you so we will bear much fruit. Pour out your spirit of unity that we who profess faith in you might witness to that belief by our thoughts, words, deeds and love shown for you and each other. As we are one in the Spirit so shall we be one in the Lord.
C: With one heart we pray. Amen.
THE BLESSING OF UNITY
(Litany of Praise based on Psalm 133)
L: How very good and pleasant it is when Christians live together in unity!
C: We rejoice in our oneness in Christ!
L: It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
C: Anoint us with the oil of your Spirit and clothe us in unity, O Lord.
L: It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.
C: Pour out the living water that we may be refreshed as the body of Christ.
L: For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.
C: Gathered as your children into one family through Christ, we celebrate the wonderful blessing of everlasting life. Amen.
L: Today we celebrate our oneness with God and each other through hearts that are one in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches. If we remain united with him, we will bear much fruit. But if we do not live in union with him, we can do nothing (John 15:1-5). As we stay connected to Jesus, we will live in harmony with one another. Our Christian unity, our oneness in the body of believers, comes only from our connectedness to Jesus, the True Vine.
So, let us celebrate our Christian unity now by lifting our hearts as one.
THE WORD SPEAKS OF UNITY
L: The Holy Scripture stresses the importance of unity and its call to us as Christians. Paul prayed that God, who is steadfast and encouraging, would grant his people to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. Unity in the community of believers produces a people who are able to glorify God with one voice (Romans 15:5-6).
C: May we glorify you with one voice, O Lord!
L: Israel often strayed from the blessing of unity. Renewal came as its leaders turned the people back to celebrate and honor their oneness in being chosen people of God. God's hand comes upon repentant people, giving them one heart to do his will (2 Chronicles 30:12).
C: May we glorify you with one heart, O Lord!
L: God calls the members of the body of Christ to live in unity with one another. As Christians, we witness our union with Jesus as we work and live with one another in unity of spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3).
C: May we glorify you with one spirit, O Lord!
L: God grants gifts to equip the members and build up the body so that all will come to a unity of faith and to a knowledge of the Son of God, mature, attaining the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).
C: May we glorify you with one faith, O Lord!
L: Clothing ourselves as one body with the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness, we witness to our unity through love which binds everything together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:12-14).
C: May we glorify you with one love, O Lord!
L: Let us pray: Jesus Christ, help us to remain attached to you so we will bear much fruit. Pour out your spirit of unity that we who profess faith in you might witness to that belief by our thoughts, words, deeds and love shown for you and each other. As we are one in the Spirit so shall we be one in the Lord.
C: With one heart we pray. Amen.
THE BLESSING OF UNITY
(Litany of Praise based on Psalm 133)
L: How very good and pleasant it is when Christians live together in unity!
C: We rejoice in our oneness in Christ!
L: It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
C: Anoint us with the oil of your Spirit and clothe us in unity, O Lord.
L: It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.
C: Pour out the living water that we may be refreshed as the body of Christ.
L: For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.
C: Gathered as your children into one family through Christ, we celebrate the wonderful blessing of everlasting life. Amen.
