The UCC was begun as a united and uniting church, formed by the merger of two denominations which, themselves, had been formed by mergers. On the UCC website pages, we read that its motto, "That they may all be one," guides its leadership in ecumenical and interfaith relations throughout the nation. In addition the UCC, along with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has developed formal relationships with more than seventy international partnership churches in Africa, Europe, East Asia and the Pacific Islands, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Southern Asia. It is perhaps because of these diverse backgrounds and relationships that we have come to value two basic qualities of organizational life: covenant and dialogue.

What does the logo symbolize?

Also, on the UCC internet web pages we read the symbol of the United Church of Christ comprises a crown, cross, and an orb enclosed within a double oval bearing the name of the church and the prayer of Jesus, "That they may all be one" (John 17:21). It is based on an ancient Christian symbol called the "Cross of Victory" or the "Cross Triumphant." The crown symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ. The cross recalls the suffering of Christ, his arms outstretched on the wood of the cross, for the salvation of humanity. The orb, divided into three parts, reminds us of Jesus' command to be his "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The verse from Scripture reflects our historic commitment to the restoration of unity among the separated churches of Jesus Christ.

Our focus, in this sermon, is to explore what Jesus might have been asking for in his prayer which includes the request "that they may all be one."

Rev. Richard J. Fairchild tells a story which he claims is a true story . . .

During the Depression, a man living in the Appalachian area went to Knoxville for the first time to transact some business. While there he saw a refrigerator that made ice. Since it was summertime, he thought it was a miracle of God.

When he returned to his hometown in the mountains, his church was in the midst of a revival worship service. He arrived at the service during the time when people were giving testimonies. He told of the miracle of seeing ice made in the midst of the summer.

Well, a dispute broke out. Many claimed that there was no such thing. Others wanted to believe him. It resulted in a schism within the church. Many left the church to form a new church. Its name, to this very day, is "No Ice in The Summer Southern Baptist Church."

In our scripture reading today we see Jesus is in the Upper Room with his disciples. He's about to go out and be arrested, tried, and crucified. It's the last night of his earthly life. And what's on his mind, on his heart?

It is that you and I, and all who follow him, "May be one."

That his disciples back then, and his disciples today, be as close to one another as he was to the Father.

"As you, Father," Jesus prayed, "As you are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

That the world may believe.

A seminary professor tells of a time when he ministered in a church that had a major fight over wood piles. This church had a wood stove in the center of the sanctuary that heated the building. Two groups that didn't get along with each other took turns stoking the fire and keeping it lit.

However, one group claimed that they were working harder than the other group to provide the wood. As a result, both groups provided the wood but in separate piles.

One child while reading the scripture one Sunday used his own version of the well-known text from Ephesians, chapter four, verse five: "One faith, one Lord, one baptism, and (the child added) two wood piles."

What was it that Jesus was praying for? There are a number of possibilities, all of which may, in fact, be components of the prayer which He was praying to God.

1. He may have been praying for denominational unity. In his time, it would have primarily been between the various factions of the Jewish faith. Today, many hear in His prayer a plea for Christian unity among the many denominations. He may have been praying for Ecumenism. The internet free dictionary lists 579 protestant denominations in existence today.
2. He may have been praying for a close and healthy community or congregation, then and now. He may have been asking for those who are linked together by their faith to be very supportive and accepting of others in the congregation.
3. He may have been praying for those who follow Him, then and now, to be of a common mind and purpose, i.e., to be in unity, to be one, in the central core of our belief and our mission.
4. While praying, He may have had a more personal relationship in mind. He may have been praying that all who follow Him form relationships, one on one, with other followers, in a manner which is close, accepting, valuing each other.
5. Jesus may have been praying for his disciples, then and now, to have a relationship of faith with God, to be at one with God, and with Jesus.
6. Perhaps, in a more universal sense, Jesus may have been praying that we should be one with all of Creation, that we should be one with the universe, with all existence.

Regardless of which one, or which combination, of these was really in the mind of Jesus as He prayed, it is a very difficult and challenging thing. Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago, wrote in 1986. "This mandate of Jesus is so simple and, yet, so difficult to fulfill. It is difficult because it runs counter to some of the values of our culture, which puts a premium on competition, consumerism, and individualism. It is difficult for those of us who are immersed in this culture to understand a mandate to serve others."

Jesus prayed in a manner that does make one thing quite clear. He wanted God to help all of us "to be one" so "That the world may believe." He was praying for us to be committed to and deeply involved in Evangelism, in building the realm of God on earth.

Peter Scholtes wrote a hymn which was very popular in the 70s. It was sung often and enthusiastically, especially by many young people, often at church camps sitting around camp fires. It is the hymn: "They Will Know We Are Christians." The words are optimistic, proleptic, and capture the prayer of Jesus. Listen:

We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord
And we pray that unity may one day be restored, (to refrain)

Refrain:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand,
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land, (to refrain)

We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each ones pride, (refrain)

All praise to the Father, From whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit, Who makes us one, (to refrain)

Amen.

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John 17:20-26

²⁰ "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³ I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴ "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵ "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (New International Version)

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the Prayer of Jesus affect our decisions about whom we:
   1. Invite/allow in our service of worship?
   2. Allow to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion?
   3. Accept into membership in the congregation?
   4. Marry, baptize, bury?
2. Who, in our time and in this place, is "the world" that Jesus wants to be influenced by observing us?
3. In light of the Prayer of Jesus, how should we relate to other:
   1. Denominations?
   2. Congregations?
   3. Faiths?
4. Are we being faithful to the Prayer of Jesus by spotlighting the uniqueness of The United Church of Christ?
5. What does it mean, to us individually, to "be one" with the other members of this congregation?