God,

We come to You as our Father.
We are Your children.
We are brothers and sisters.
We are a family.
A Jesus-family.

Forgive us when we forget
that You are our Father
and that we are family.

Forgive us when we put up walls.
Forgive us when we drift apart.

Forgive us when we are more concerned with self than You.
Forgive us when we are more concerned about self than each other.

Tear down the walls, God.
Make us one.
One Heart.
One Mind.
One Body.

Bind us together, God.
With mercy.
Grace.
Love.
Forgiveness.
Self-control.

Fill our hearts, God.
With compassion.
Concern.
Respect.
Appreciation.
Humility.

Defeat the temptation to run from one another.
Fight the desire to be isolated.

May we be committed to You.
Committed to one another.
Committed to the Lafayette church.

We pray in Jesus’s name,
AMEN