Jesus' prayer
Recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 17
My prayer is not for my disciples alone.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me,
that they may be one as we are one --
I in them and you in me--
so that they may be brought to complete unity.
Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them
even as you have loved me.
Father,
I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,
and to see my glory,
the glory you have given me
because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Righteous Father,
though the world does not know you,
I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
I have made you known to them,
and will continue to make you known
in order that the love you have for me
may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
My prayer is not for my disciples alone.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me,
that they may be one as we are one --
I in them and you in me--
so that they may be brought to complete unity.
Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them
even as you have loved me.
Father,
I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,
and to see my glory,
the glory you have given me
because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Righteous Father,
though the world does not know you,
I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
I have made you known to them,
and will continue to make you known
in order that the love you have for me
may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
our prayer for the 500 days
The European leadership of Wittenberg 2017 crafted this prayer for the 500 Days. It was translated into English by John Martin.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You prayed:
"May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. May they be one, so that the world might believe."
We pray that the body of Christ might be united in you, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Break down what stands between us.
Strengthen what unites us.
Give victory over what separates us.
Fill us with the power of your Spirit, that we might seek ways to unite with each other.
Bring about the day when we can praise you together, in the fellowship of all who believe.
Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You prayed:
"May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. May they be one, so that the world might believe."
We pray that the body of Christ might be united in you, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Break down what stands between us.
Strengthen what unites us.
Give victory over what separates us.
Fill us with the power of your Spirit, that we might seek ways to unite with each other.
Bring about the day when we can praise you together, in the fellowship of all who believe.
Amen.
Ottmaring prayer for 2017
This prayer comes from a community of Catholics and Lutherans in Ottmaring, Germany. It was written by them especially for the 500th anniversary in 2017.
Lord our God, our merciful father,
On the evening before his suffering your son,
Our saviour Jesus Christ prayed
That believers in him would be one
So that the world would believe.
But often we have not conformed to his will,
But have fostered opposition to each other
And caused division, have harboured contempt for each other,
Judged and fought against one another.
As we approach the year 2017 we are once more aware
That we must repent and ask for forgiveness
For our failures in our history and in our present.
So we urgently cry out for your mercy and plead with you,
Send us, and all Christians, a heart of remorse and repentance.
Send us the grace we need to reconcile with each other
And, unified in body and spirit, once again
Experience the joy of complete fellowship.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Lord our God, our merciful father,
On the evening before his suffering your son,
Our saviour Jesus Christ prayed
That believers in him would be one
So that the world would believe.
But often we have not conformed to his will,
But have fostered opposition to each other
And caused division, have harboured contempt for each other,
Judged and fought against one another.
As we approach the year 2017 we are once more aware
That we must repent and ask for forgiveness
For our failures in our history and in our present.
So we urgently cry out for your mercy and plead with you,
Send us, and all Christians, a heart of remorse and repentance.
Send us the grace we need to reconcile with each other
And, unified in body and spirit, once again
Experience the joy of complete fellowship.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Biblical prayers of Grieving
One helpful form of prayer, that is somewhat neglected in the Western church, is grieving. Grieving can be a way that avoids anger and cynicism in response to division, pain, and "things are not right". Learn more here about grieving.
Below is a printable PDF with prayers of grieving from the Old & New Testament.
Below is a printable PDF with prayers of grieving from the Old & New Testament.
| biblical_prayers_of_grieving.pdf |
4 Bridge Prayer liturgies
We have used the Bridge Prayer liturgy at each of Wittenberg 2017 gatherings. It was intentionally developed to "bridge" prayer traditions from both Roman Catholic & Protestant / evangelical / free church streams.
Below is a printable PDF with the 4 Bridge Prayer liturgies that we used in the 2016 gathering in Wittenberg. We are making them available so that they can be used in prayer meetings where both Catholics & Protestants are present. If you need more information or guidance on how to use them, please contact us by filling out the form at the bottom of this page, and/or visit this web page from the Christ the Reconciler community that developed this liturgy.
Below is a printable PDF with the 4 Bridge Prayer liturgies that we used in the 2016 gathering in Wittenberg. We are making them available so that they can be used in prayer meetings where both Catholics & Protestants are present. If you need more information or guidance on how to use them, please contact us by filling out the form at the bottom of this page, and/or visit this web page from the Christ the Reconciler community that developed this liturgy.
| bridge_prayers_-_wittenberg_2017.pdf |
Joint Lutheran-Catholic Common Prayer Service
Common Prayer - From Conflict to Communion Lutheran–Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU), in cooperation with a group of noted theologians, have jointly developed a Common Prayer to mark the 500 years of the Reformation in 2017.
The liturgical materials offer suggestions on how Catholic and Lutherans should preside and read together at a common prayer service. Examples are provided of hymns and songs from a variety of multicultural contexts, as well as biblical and confessional readings that reflect mutual joy and repentance, and the desire to serve and witness to the world together.
click here to download prayer in additional languages
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU), in cooperation with a group of noted theologians, have jointly developed a Common Prayer to mark the 500 years of the Reformation in 2017.
The liturgical materials offer suggestions on how Catholic and Lutherans should preside and read together at a common prayer service. Examples are provided of hymns and songs from a variety of multicultural contexts, as well as biblical and confessional readings that reflect mutual joy and repentance, and the desire to serve and witness to the world together.
click here to download prayer in additional languages
| joint_lutheran-catholic_common_prayer_service.pdf |
