A Prayer in Advent: for Courage in Christ’s Mission

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 —

O God, show us clearly the heart of the kingdom of God.

We do not protest

even if our life is destined to lead to the cross,

or if the way leads to our losing our lives.

We will march in the face of distress and contrary winds.

Teach us how to dispense with unnecessary things.

Let us go forward without fear of death

in order to fulfill our mission simply, surely, and steadily.

Reveal to us our station clearly,

and strengthen us to teach and guide, by our example, all persons,

even those who are ruled by evil.

We pray that you may find us worthy to work through us. Amen.

— Toyohiko Kagawa (1888-1960)