A discovered prayer

There is so much in church I do not understand. Much of the liturgy is in either Isizulu or Sesotho, depending on the congregation I am visiting that week and often the sermon is a mix between English and the parish's language. However, yesterday, as I sat in church enjoying the harmonies and sang along with the parts of the service I knew, I was suddenly handed a booklet I had never seen before. An order of service! With the liturgy written out! In English!

I knew we were at the confession and forgiveness which the gogo (granny) who had handed it to me had the book opened to. So I followed along with the English as the congregation sang in Sesotho "Lord have mercy on us."

Then we came to a prayer. A prayer that I have probably heard prayed tons of times here. But this was the first time I was exposed to its meaning in English. I was so moved by it that I copied it down. Part of it read:

"Grant this congregation all that is needed for its spiritual welfare;
Strengthen and increase the faithful;
visit and relieve the sick;
rouse the careless;
restore the fallen and penitent;
remove all hindrances to the advancement of the truth;
and bring all to be of one heart and mind within the fold of thy holy church."

What a beautiful prayer! For strength, restoration, truth, healing, unity and rousing from apathy. This is what OUR Church is praying for.

More and more, I find my ideas changing here. My ideas about faith, what it means to be a follower of Christ and a lover of justice and what our vision as Christians should be. To love across all borders and barriers; to strive for truth, justice and unity in our world; to hate apathy and carelessness and to put an end to all division... this should be our vision. And this prayer gives me hope in our ability to align our will with the will of God and bring this vision to pass.