From Conflict to Communion: Together in Hope
Joint Lutheran-Catholic Commemoration of the Reformation
Bethany Lutheran Church | March 19, 2017 | 3pm
The prayer service to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation will follow the format of
the Common Prayer held last October in Sweden, and attended by Pope Francis.
The title of the Common Prayer comes from a document of the same name, “From Conflict to
Communion: Together in Hope,” that was published in 2017 by the international Lutheran-Roman
Catholic Commission on Unity.
As we pray, we will confess our brokenness, renewing our commitments to reconciling the body of
Christ, and celebrating the ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans over fifty-plus
years of dialogue.
Here’s a summary of the key moments of the prayer service.
Opening: After the opening hymn, there will be an invocation to the Holy Spirit.
Thanksgiving, repentance, and peace: Sections of the document “From Conflict to Communion” will be
read, together with various prayers written for the occasion, to underline the themes of thanksgiving
and repentance. All will be asked to offer a sign of peace with those around them.
Gospel and homily: The Gospel of John (15:1-5) will be read, and a joint sermon will be delivered.
Following the sermons, all will recite the Apostle’s Creed together.
Commitments: Readers will proclaim five commitments going forward. After each commitment is read,
a candle is lit.
 Catholics and Lutherans should always begin from the perspective of unity and not from
the point of view of division in order to strengthen what is held in common even though
the differences are more easily seen and experienced.
 Lutherans and Catholics must let themselves continuously be transformed by the
encounter with the other and by the mutual witness of faith.
 Catholics and Lutherans should again commit themselves to seek visible unity, to
elaborate together what this means in concrete steps, and to strive repeatedly toward
this goal.
 Lutherans and Catholics should jointly rediscover the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ
for our time.
 Catholics and Lutherans should witness together to the mercy of God in proclamation
and service to the world.
Intercessory Prayer/Our Father: A series of prayers will be read that ask for intercession on behalf of
the world, the Church and all those in need. After each prayer, the response is “Hear our prayer!” All
recite together the Our Father.
Final prayers/blessing: The two presiders conclude the Common Prayer with their blessings.