A Prayer for the Universal church

O God of all times and places,
we pray for your Church,
which is set today amid the perplexities of a changing order,
and face to face with new tasks.
Baptize her afresh in the life-giving spirit of Jesus.

Bestow upon her a great responsiveness to duty,
a swifter compassion with suffering,
and an utter loyalty to your will.

Help her to proclaim boldly the coming of your kingdom.
Put upon her lips the ancient gospel of her Lord.
Fill her with the prophets' scorn of tyranny,
and with a Christlike tenderness for the heavy-laden and downtrodden.
Bid her cease from seeking her own life, lest she lose it.
Make her valiant to give up her life to humanity
that, like her crucified Lord,
she may mount by the path of the Cross to a higher glory;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Walter Rauschenbush