You could feel the love in the air that morning in the park. Children ran and played together, unaware of what it means to "keep to your own kind." Adults mixed and spoke freely, uninfluenced by race, social status, or religion. God talked with us all that morning—through music and speech—in one seamless message that assured us we all belong to one, undivided, caring family.

Our church had organized an ecumenical service that included music, prayer by a local pastor, an address by the chief of police, remarks by the Mayor, and a talk by a member of The Christian Science Board of Lectureship, who spoke on the theme "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?" (Mal. 2:10).

It all grew out of a desire to obey God's law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Lev. 19:18). The members of our church had been praying to see how obedience to that law could tear down barriers and heal hurt; take away fear, insecurity, prejudice, criticism, exclusion, hopelessness.

Several recent incidents in our city and a long history of racial prejudice and violence were loud cries for help and gave focus to our prayers. Every time the citizenry had tried to come together to tackle these problems, something seemed to keep everyone at an uncomfortable arm's length. It was that devilish notion that we'll always be at odds with each other because of differences in race, religion, or social class.

Yet Christ Jesus showed how to have the point of view that lifts people above self-defeating intolerance and hatred. Jesus exposed and denounced bigotry and hatred. He also knew their powerlessness because God, who is Love, doesn't create hatred, nor does God give us reasons to hate each other.

We prayed to know more clearly that God, who is good, is the source of all true action. Because man is the complete image and expression of God, hatred, intolerance, and discrimination could never actually live in man's thought to tear apart the heart of community. Pure fellowship, respect, mutual concern, and limitless opportunity are thoughts God has established for each of us. And because each individual is the complete spiritual expression of God, there aren't some exceptionally loving and others exceptionally intelligent, and so forth. The Bible says of God's children, "He fashioneth theirhearts alike" (Ps. 33:15). We all have everything in common.

In the months prior to the event, we began a dialogue with many community and religious leaders on the subject of spiritual unity. They actively supported the concept of a broad-ranging event. We had the perfect setting in a riverfront park. The event began with music and the voices of children and adults singing of God as our Shepherd, healer, and hiding place.

The invocation was given by a local pastor whose dignity, gentleness, and deep love for God resulted in an inspired prayer that drew everyone together in the circle of God's family.

Next, the chief of police spoke of his own proofs of the effectiveness of prayer. He told us that unity is the one thing that would solve our city's crime problem. "We must tear down all barriers," he said, "because God means for us to get along and unite as neighbors, to come together for this common good. And that good should be to save our community and, most of all, to save our children."

When it was all over, strangers embraced and spoke excitedly, like long-lost friends. Everyone basked in the unconditional love. It all had flowed together so smoothy that we knew it had always been under God's perfect, loving direction.

God showed us something precious that we could share with our neighbors—the spiritual unity that makes a community a home for all.