Interfaith Day of Prayer – Prayer from Rev. Dr. John Thomas

God of earth and sky, oceans and streams, plants and creatures, you created a world without borders, a garden of abundance and diversity destined to become a city whose river flows clear as crystal and where the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Today may the remembrance of this gift and the promise of this vision startle us from the narrow preoccupations of our confinement to see our world anew with all of its promise and pain, its gifts and its need, and thereby evoke in us gratitude and compassion.

Cast our eyes this day toward the earth’s far horizons to see each of the world’s continents and islands with all they have to offer – many colors, diverse cultures, varied creeds, treasured stories. Let us sense their eyes gazing upon us; let us hear their songs and listen to their voices, comforting, challenging, consoling, correcting. Break through the veil of our illusions and the pretentions of our privilege to welcome a world that seeks to be our neighbor.

Holy One, encourage us to set aside the seductions of greed and fascination with war. Make us more faithful to the way of our brother Jesus who washed his disciples’ feet, fed multitudes, ate at table with the outcast while overturning the tables of oppression, healed the bereft, blessed peacemakers, and proclaimed the coming of the new creation where faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

This is our hope. This is our commitment. This is our prayer. By your grace may it be so. Amen.

Rev. Dr. John H. Thomas

Former General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ (1999-2009)