This Advent, join me in praying for The Church and for the people who are the churches. These prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer: Daily Prayer, published by our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sisters and brothers. It’s been on my shelf, recently re-discovered, and offers a wealth of riches. For example —

Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus Christ

to reconcile the world to yourself.

We praise and bless you

for those whom you have sent in the power of the Spirit

to preach the Gospel to all nations.

We thank you that in all parts of the earth

a community of love has been gathered together

by their prayers and labors,

and that in every place your servants call upon your name;

for the kingdom and the power and the glory

are yours forever. Amen.