Today’s prayer for General Council comes from Rev. James Murray on the 93rd anniversary of the United Church of Canada. To view the archive of all prayers being offered in the lead up to GC43 click here.

“Gracious God, we give thanks that on this day you called us to be your church. The union of the Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregational churches in Canada was unprecedented. You called us to be one in service, one in faith, and one in love. You gathered our different parts in. We were three streams of spiritual experience and achievement which you called together to flow like a mighty river. On this day you called us to be like a grain of wheat that must be willing to die in order bear much fruit. You called us to die to our past traditions so a new community might be born to serve your purpose.

We ask that your Holy Spirit guide and bless us on this day as we seek to be your church. We are having to learn how to die to what was all over again. We are seeking the hope that only death and resurrection can bring. Fill us with a vision of your kingdom come, here on earth as it is in heaven. Remind us, dear Jesus, that we do not face these challenges and opportunities to serve on our own. It’s not all up to us. For you are with us. In life, in death, in life beyond death, we are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.”