In Christ There Is No East or West, ELW 650
1 In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north, but one community of love throughout the whole wide earth.
2 In Christ shall true hearts ev'rywhere their high communion find; his service is the golden cord close binding human kind.
3 Join hands, disciples of the faith, whate'er your race may be.
All children of the living God are surely kin to me.
4 In Christ now meet both east and west, in him meet south and north; all Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.
Devotion
During the season after the Feast of the Epiphany, Christians have traditionally focused on the church’s missions. Magi from the East followed a star to Bethlehem in search of Christ, the light of the world. As Christians, we are called to be witnesses to that same light.
The miracle of the Epiphany is that the light of Christ shines brightly on the whole creation. Yes, God placed the sun, moon and stars in the heavens to rule over the day and over the night, to separate the light from the darkness. The light of Christ, however, does not distinguish between night and day, dawn and dusk, east and west, north and south, or between Israel, Sidon, and Syria, as Jesus taught his surprised listeners in Nazareth’s synagogue. The Son radiates his life-giving love throughout the earth, on those of us who worship him and on our neighbors near and far.
Prayer
God of glory, throughout time, nations have come to your light. Help us to reflect the light of Christ, that all creation might be drawn to your reconciling love. Amen.