Prayer of Blessing for the Church
World Conference—March 31, 2007

Presiding Evangelist David Brock

 

How wonderful and marvelous is your name, O Lord!

This week. . .

We have listened. We have listened and you have given us divine blessing. You have called us by name. We are Community of Christ. That is who we are and why we are. That is our identity.

We have listened, and in the silence you have spoken to us:

“You are loved with an everlasting love.
I delight in you and your faithful response to me.
I have given you abundant gifts, resources, and opportunities.
I yearn to draw you close.”

And we have trusted, God. We have trusted and you have said:

“Do not be afraid.
Do not turn away in pride, fear, or guilt.
Break free of the shackles of conventional culture
And be vulnerable to my grace.”

We have received. We have cupped our hands to receive and we have used our hands to bless: a handshake or an embrace, a bow, a kiss on one cheek or both, a shell hei or fragrant flowers placed around a neck. We have received blessings: “salama,” “shalom,” “bendiciones,” “aloha,” and “God bless.”

We have shared. We have stretched out our hands to share, and we want to share more. We hear your voice of challenge:

“Generously share.
Create pathways for peace in Christ.
Weep for those who suffer.
Carry the emblem of peace into all arenas of life.”

We share. We share what matters most. We share the Good News. We sing and we say and we act on it: “Things are getting better. Come and see what the Lord has done.” Amen.