Here’s a thoughtful prayer for openness and unity written by Ms. Helen Barron and posted on the No Anglican Covenant: Anglicans for Comprehensive Unity website.
Listening
To hear—really hear—amid the noise
to risk being open to another perspective
amid the impacted certainties
amid the impacted certainties
to be able to listen to impassioned pleas
while owning the cries that come from our own hearts.
while owning the cries that come from our own hearts.
To hear an argument that does not resonate
disagree, if that be our call,
without demeaning the bearer of the words.
disagree, if that be our call,
without demeaning the bearer of the words.
Amid the colliding words
injured by the words
injuring with our words:
injured by the words
injuring with our words:
help us to hear
your
Words.
Amen.
your
Words.
Amen.
— written by Ms. Helen Barron, and published in Women’s Uncommon Prayers, Morehouse Publishing, 2000. Posted on the No Anglican Covenant: Anglicans for Comprehensive Unity website.
For more worship resources related to Christian unity, click on Christian Unity in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page, or see this Resources for Christian Unity Index.
