'Seven Whole Days Not One in Seven' - transcript of sermon St Oswald's Rugby 10/10/21

Exodus 31. 1-5 & Colossians 3:22-24

 

This week we return to our theme of ‘God in my everything’ informed by Ken Shigemitsu’s book of the same name.

Today we focus on work which sits on the ‘Sabbath’ upright and on the ‘reach out’ horizontal span of our trellis.

Our intent is to create for ourselves a ‘Rule of Life’ or a ‘Code of Conduct’ or ‘Rhythms of Grace.’ A pattern of life to live by - a set of guiding principles to help us navigate our way through life and grow in our maturity as disciples of Christ.

For to become as Christ is our upward calling, embracing what the Orthodox Church refers to as  theosis. A transformative process whose aim is likeness to or union with God.

With reference to the exercising of various gifts, callings, and vocations we read in Ephesians 4:13…

This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.

These callings of prophet, evangelist, teacher, and pastors we note ‘are to prepare God’s people for works of service…’

Those ‘works of service’ is what marked out the infant Church. It was the Christians who cared for the poor and stayed the course if a pandemic struck, looking after people, welcoming everyone.  

Acts of worship, the reading of Scriptures and the breaking of bread, poured out into practical expression of God’s love for the world and for everyone in ‘works of service.’

Many years ago, I ministered as a Parish Evangelist at St Mary Magdalene in Prudhoe in Northumberland.  During my time there the Vicar, Paul Adamson took Sabbatical leave.  He considered what he might usefully do during this extended period of leave and study.

He said that he would like to work, explaining that he had gone straight from school to college, onto university and finally into theological college and on into ministry. He considered that he had never properly worked. He was taken on by the Northumbrian Water Board and worked very happily for several weeks at all levels in the company.

Now I understand what Paul was saying and yet such thinking can lead us to imagine that there is Church ministry type stuff and then real work type stuff. 

It has been estimated that we spend around 10 hours a week as a Gathered Faith Community and 110 hours as a Dispersed Faith Community.  

But very often our focus can be on the 10 hours that can then become elevated to a greater level of importance.

Our life as the People of God can become focussed on the Sunday Gathering and not the Monday Serving. 

We need to develop an expansive view of what constitutes work and take it beyond being only about paid labour.  

Put simply as we heard from the Letter to the Colossians this morning…

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Whatever you do – cleaning, cooking, changing nappies, heading up a global company, serving tea, teaching in schools – whatever you do…

A servant with this clause

makes drudgery divine:

who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,

makes that and the action fine.

Familiar words from ‘Teach me my God and King’ by George Herbert who also wrote ‘King of Glory, King of Peace’ with the line Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise thee;

I know a good number of you are familiar with this concept and in particular through the TTT exercise – this time tomorrow. Where someone is invited to say what they will be doing this time tomorrow, serving as a reminder that God is in everything and just doesn’t pitch up on Sunday’s.

Shigemitsu offers some very helpful insights drawn from the Rule of St Benedict. He also mentions Brother Lawrence, a 17th Carmelite Monk who learned to practise the presence of God by constantly refocussing upon God.  Wherever he was and whatever he was doing he felt and knew God’s presence with him. Whether that was amongst pots and pans in the scullery, making sandals or participating in the Eucharist.

I remember hearing of someone who had a sign above their kitchen sink that said, Divine Services held here three times a day.

How then do we go about building into our Rhythms of Grace an understanding of work in its broadest sense, not just paid labour, as something that can carry a sense of the divine presence?

Recalling the directive we heard earlier, ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

A good place to start is in Genesis and the creation narrative.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2.15

Whatever picture you may have of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is should not be one of them simply lounging about doing nothing.

They were called to be fruitful and multiply, to bring about the flourishing of God’s creation, holding back the dark forces of chaos and bringing everything into good order.

And they were called to do this as God’s appointed agents, not as slaves who didn’t have any choice in the matter.

They did have a choice and we know they exercised that choice and chose the path of self-determination. They chose to seek after the knowledge of good and evil.  And once they had done that and disobeyed the command of God, all hell broke loose.

We hear of Adam and Eve becoming aware of each other in a new way that brought shame, so they hid themselves from each other and then hid from God. Human disobedience that like a stone thrown into a pond creating ripples of destruction echoing throughout the cosmos.

We read further of how God speaks of the curses that will follow because of their disobedience.

But note carefully that work itself is not cursed, it is the ground that becomes cursed and will require hard labour to bring it to flourishing.

This gives rise to that peculiarity we so often find.

We have a desire to work, that is part of our God given DNA, we are creative created beings.

Yet work often feels laborious and tiresome.

It is a double bind.

From here the narrative continues as God seeks to find faithful humans who will work with him in bringing about the good order of the world he had created.

The story twists this way and that, with Noah, Abraham and Sarah, with David and many others.  Go and check out Hebrews chapter 11 for a gallery of the faithful.

And if you really would like to dig deeper into this larger narrative then search out ‘The Bible Project’ who have produced videos; podcasts and so much more focussed around their strap line, ‘introducing the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.’

                                               www.bibleproject.com

Because of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and Ascension, God’s project of creating a good world is back on track.

And once more humans are invited to reign and rule as co-regents, as Kings and Priest in God’s new heaven and earth reality.

However, there is a now and not yet about God’s reign over all the created order. 

It is manifestly obvious that at the present time our world does not reflect God glory or God’s will and purposes.

That is where we come in, acting as God agents. 

Amazingly God invites you and me to partner with him in bringing back everything into good order and to push back the dark forces of chaos and evil that continual threaten to overwhelm us.

Michael Quoist ‘The Christian Response’

‘You are a unique and irreplaceable actor in the drama of human history, and Jesus Christ has need of you to make known his salvific work in this particular place and at this particular moment in history.’

And that work of salvation and redemption reaches out to whole of the created order and to the whole of cosmos.

And it reaches out to Rugby, to your family and friends and to my family and friends, to our communities and to our neighbours.

For as Thomas Merton said,

‘The gate of heaven is everywhere - our role is to help open the door... to roll away the stone and unleash the energy and wonder of the risen Christ’.

We are called to be signposts to that greater reality, that one day the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.  Habakkuk 21:14

To close then let us consider some of the ways we might practise the presence of God as we go about our daily lives, living as Christ’s Ambassadors.

What about signing yourself with the cross as you go out of your home, or into another building. Or maybe as you enter and exit your car or bus, train or whatever.

Maybe carry a small cross in your pocket or purse. 

There was a time when the Church bell would toll and serve as reminder to stop for a moment and offer a prayer, particularly the Angelus.  

Today that might be your Connect Group sending around a message at a given time inviting you to stop and pray.  Or set an alarm at various time with a prompt to offer up a short prayer.

There are also many great apps you can get on your phone that can help you to pause during the day and refocus upon God.

Maybe we could write out that verse from Colossians I’ve mentioned and put it somewhere we keep on coming across it…

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Above all we can keep continually asking ourselves and asking each other…

‘Just what are we doing for God’s sake?’

Let us pray…

‘While we have life and breath there is work to be done. While we have friends, neighbours, family members and work colleagues who do not know Jesus, there is work to be done. While millions struggle with poverty and disease, there is work to be done. We cannot and will not sit back and take it easy.’

Amen and Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 n.banks28@gmail.com

Professing What We Confess (Transcript of sermon St Oswald's Rugby 14th September 2021)

 

Sermon – St Oswald’s Tuesday Morning Worship

 

Mark 8:27-38

On our recent visit to the Isle of Wight one of the historical places we visited had a Breeches Bible.

In the Breeches Bible, Genesis Chapter III Verse 7 reads: "Then the eies of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed figge tree leaves together, and made themselves breeches." 

In the King James Version of 1611, "breeches" was changed to "aprons".

This is part of a story that is probably familiar to you. About how the first human couple chose the path of self determination instead of loving obedience to God.

How they knew shame first with each other, signifying the breakdown of human relationships, then secondly the breakdown in relationship to God as we hear of them hiding in the garden away from God.

 Genesis 3.10 He (that is Adam) answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Now contrast that hiding in shame with what we read in 1 John 2: 28

 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

The work of the first Adam that brought shame and broken relationships has now been put right through the work of the Second Adam.

Now we may continue in him, that is Jesus, and be confident and unashamed at the prospect of his second coming - but are we not sometimes ashamed to profess the faith we confess in our daily living.

Jesus’ challenges us on this as we heard in our Scripture reading…

³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

In our reading we heard Peter’s confession of faith, of which much could be said as it marks a pivotal point in Mark’s Gospel. 

Remembering that it has been suggested by some scholars that Mark is Peter’s recollections told to Mark acting as scribe and editor.

It is from this moment in the Gospel that we move first to the Transfiguration then down the mountain, down to Jerusalem, down to the cross and down to death. We see the dark clouds gathering and storm of the world’s sin about to break over Jesus’ head.

‘But you, he asked, who do you say that I am? Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ.’

But we know that Peter failed to profess what he confessed when challenged in the courtyard of the High Priest.

He bottled it – and can we blame him?

Jesus had laid it out very plainly what it would mean to follow him.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Remember that this was at a time and place when they knew what this looked like, felt like and smelled like. It was a reality they would have known only too well. 

I recently heard it put like this, ‘the entrance fee into the Christian Faith is nothing but the subscription is everything.’

I know there have been times when I have bottled it – not professed the faith I confess.

I know that there are times when I have said and done things that if Jesus was there at the time would have made me ashamed.

Then, recognising that he was there and is there all the time.

I know that in reality there are areas in my life which are not fully surrendered, or of which I keep taking back control.  

Remembering the words of St Augustine who said, ‘that if Jesus is not of Lord of all he is not Lord at all.’

Finally, a question for us to take into the rest of the week ahead…

Are we confident to profess the faith we confess amongst our family and friends, amongst our neighbours and to those we may meet in our daily lives?

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15,

Or are we sometimes ashamed and fail to profess what we confess!

 

Meditation - Pope Benedict XV1

And only where God is seen does life truly begin.

Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is.

 We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution.

Each of us is the result of a thought of God.

Each of us is willed,

Each of us is loved,

Each of us is necessary.

 There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel,

By the encounter with Christ.

There is nothing more beautiful than to know him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.

Tip Toe Creation (transcript of reflection on Romans 8: 18-27)

Tuesday Morning St Oswald’s Rugby

Romans 8: 18-27

Last Saturday we went for a picnic to Swift Valley with our twin grandchildren, James and William who are just turned 2 years old, along with their mum and dad.

My son-in-law Peter is a runner like me and together we were fascinated by the various paths and where they led during our walk. I had cycled, walked, and run around some of Swift Valley before, but on Saturday I made all sorts of new connections, one of those moments of, ‘ah, now I see, that’s interesting’ - seeing the connections for the first time so that in the future we could both explore and discover yet more of Swift Valley.

Writing in the 1^st century, the time the letter to the Romans was written, was an expensive and time-consuming labour. It is worth remembering that as we read these letters today.  Paul, and other authors, did not have the luxury of adding in anything frivolous or superfluous. Everything is written for a purpose and has a meaning.

This passage we heard today from Romans is one such passage that is not Paul using up pen and scroll and a scribe’s time.  Rather it is pivotal to understanding the broad sweep of the whole of Scripture. To understanding God’s plans and purposes for the redemption and the renewal of the whole of the created order, the whole of the cosmos.

If we took the time to study this section carefully within the context of the whole of the Letter, we could begin to see all sorts of connections. New areas to explore, new pathways to understanding and fresh insights.

Sadly, we do not have the time this morning and I can only give you a few signs, the briefest of outlines that I hope will whet your appetite to go and explore more.  

Again, it maybe stating the obvious, but Paul was a solid monotheistic 1^st century Jew. As such he would have known and understood and had his life and faith built on the Story of Israel. Or better to say, the Story of God in which the Israelites were to play a key role as God’s chosen instrument to bring about the redemption of the cosmos and the glory and the blessings of God to the whole of the created order.

This passage from Romans 8 leads us down a direct path to the creation narratives in Genesis 1-3.

Condensing these narratives down we see God creating by the word of his mouth. We see humans emerging bearing the image of God and being placed in a temple type space, the Garden of Eden. An image in a temple in the ancient world and even today is set to represent the god in whose temple the image is placed.

Humans were placed in the temple space, the Garden of Eden, to represent God, to partner with God and to work with God to bring the rest of creation out of chaos and into order and beauty, fruitfulness, and fullness. 

However, God did not want automatons, mere robots, because God is love he creates seeking a responsive love. That means that God’s love and care can be rejected and the image bearing humans can chose their own path of self-determination.

We are told that is exactly what happened – and quite literally all hell broke loose.

God did not say, o dear, that did not work, let’s try Plan B.  Rather he worked at seeking out faithful image bearing humans who would love him and work with him in fulfilling the original plans and purposes, to banish chaos and bring in order and beauty reflecting God’s glory, much like the moon reflects the brilliance of the sun.

The Biblical narrative continues with many twists and turns, false paths and some promising paths that disappointingly end in a cul-de-sac. At last, the story brings us to Abram, to become Abraham and the true founding Father of Faith. 

Yet all was not straightforward and once more the Biblical narrative takes us down first this path and then another and often brining us full circle and utterly lost and confused.

 Until we come to Jesus, who, as we read in Colossians 1:14-16…

‘…in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.…

Jesus is God’s perfect plan of redemption for the whole of the cosmos,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

What we often miss noticing in this well-known verse is the phrase, ‘God so loved the world…’

Jesus’ death and resurrection has brought about a new creation, of which we are the first fruits.

However, as Paul mentions in this passage in Roman’s the created order knows that things are not as they ought to be, and is eagerly awaiting, standing on tip toe, to see the full and final redemption of all of God’s people.

That great and glorious day of which we read in Revelation 21, when heaven comes to earth, using the extraordinarily rich metaphor of a Wedding Banquet.

Meanwhile, as God’s people, we are called to be signposts to the fulfilment of the created order that we find in Genesis 1-3. As image bearers of God, we reflect God’s glory, in our lives, in the way we care for the planet, in all our relationships – God in my everything.

When people see us either individually or together, they ought to be able to say, now we have seen a true reflection of God. Of God at work and active in his world bringing everything around to good order. 

Out of the mess and muddle of life we are to be busy clearing away brambles and weeds, building bridges over rivers, connecting pathways, bringing people together. Offering places of refreshment along the way. Walking alongside those who have become sore footed.  Rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep. Bearing the pain of the world not yet fully redeemed.

A battle won at Calvary but a war still being waged, but whose outcome of victory of our God and King is assured.

And we walk with people until the path ends – apparently, for we are people of hope that the path does not end, merely disappears this side of our own bodily resurrection.

As we work, we pray – for as John Wesley said, ‘Prayer is where the action is.’

This leads us to the final verses from Roman’s 8 we have been reflecting upon.

 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

A question that I will leave you to ponder and reflect upon…

‘Just what upon earth am I doing for God’s sake.’

Let us pray…

Living God, you call us to be good stewards of this earthly home, strengthen us to care for your creation; forgive us when, through our greed and indifference we abuse its beauty and damage its potential. Empower us, through your Spirit to so nurture and love the world, that all creation sings to your glory. Make us fervent in prayer and diligent in action until that great and glorious day when heaven descends to earth, and we celebrate the Wedding Banquet of the Lamb. Amen.   

 

 

 

 

 

Running for Rose!

  

May 2021

WATER PROJECT

From May 1st – May 31st this year my Church, St Matthew with St Oswald’s in Rugby are supporting Christian Aid’s water project to build earth dams for communities in Kenya, whose water supply has become erratic due to climate change. Your gift could make someone like Rose’s life much better; enabling an earth dam to be built in her community. 

Rose spends 6 hours journeying on foot each day to collect water.   

I celebrated my 70th Birthday on the 16th May and I have  set myself the challenge of running 70K in seven days at the end of May and  seeking sponsorship.  I am running so that people like Rose do not have to walk such long distances every day simply to get water. 

⦁ £10 could buy a pair of taps at a water point which will be installed at an earth dam.

⦁ £42 could buy 350kg of cement, which is needed to build an earth dam.

⦁ £545 could pay for a skilled labourer to work on the construction of an earth or sand dam.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Gordon-Banks11

 

'Would You Adam and Eve It' (Transcript of Sermon St Oswald's Rugby 11th April 2021)

 John 20: 19-31

On Easter Sunday, Alan helpfully presented the resurrection in a wider Biblical context. He referenced Jesus’ resurrection as inaugurating New Creation as part of God’s plans and purposes for the redemption of the cosmos and in which we have a part to play. 

Today we are in John’s Gospel and reflecting on the story of Thomas, doubting Thomas, Thomas the twin!

I know I am not alone in thinking it rather sad that Thomas continues to carry the epithet ‘doubting Thomas,’ and that most often with a pejorative tone.  

What is overlooked is the tradition that he took the Gospel to South India and suffered martyrdom. Today the Thomasina Church reveres St Thomas as their founding father and Thomas continues to be highly regarded in the area even by some Hindu’s.

In a recent series on Netflix, ‘AD Kingdom and Empire,’ the development of the infant Church from the crucifixion is explored.

In one scene, Thomas is still ranting on about not believing until he sees Jesus and sees the wounds in his hands, feet, and side. Jesus then quietly appears behind him.

Doubt is something we all live with in matters of life and matters of faith.

However, doubt is not the same as unbelief.

In some ways doubt is good, as it pushes us on and stops us simply putting our brains into neutral and doggedly whistling in the dark or putting our fingers in our ears because we do not want to listen.

We need to develop a healthier approach to doubt because if it is simply pushed down or away this can lead to unbelief and unbelief can then lead to disbelief.

Doubt is not necessarily destructive and can become constructive.

We may find ourselves puzzling over the details of the Gospel narratives recalling the resurrection for example.

That the Gospel accounts do not exactly line up and tell a coherent story. Or there may be other aspects that we find we are doubting.

Live with those doubts, chew them over, do some work on them, but do not push them away.

You can be sure that if you find you have doubts, and if you have lived and wrestled with those doubts, you will be in a much better place to speak to those who also have their own doubts, doubts which may be a barrier to them coming to Faith.

Thomas had his doubts and looked for tangible proofs, which Jesus provided - along with a gentle reprimand and an encouragement for all who would put their hope and trust in Jesus in the years to come.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

What is interesting is where John has chosen to place this story about Thomas and his confession of faith, ‘my Lord and my God.’

There are some Biblical scholars who argue that chapter 20 concludes John’s Gospel, and that chapter 21 is an epilogue. With Peter’s re-commissioning, and with the ‘beloved disciple’ claiming authorship and authenticity.

Also, there is a fishing story and the disciples ongoing task to be fishers of people is outlined with their need to look to Jesus and not to the works of their own hands.  Chapter 21 then, becomes a call to continue to spread the word about the New Creation inaugurated by Jesus.

If John’s Gospel does end at chapter 20 it presents us with a fitting culmination to this Gospel account set within the framework of New Creation.

John’s Gospel opens with….

‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.’

Echoing Genesis 1.1 ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’

John gives us seven signs (or miracles) in his Gospel to signify who Jesus is as well as seven I Am sayings.

He tells us that there are other things that he could have chosen to mention, but he chose seven signs, and that number is not insignificant.

Jesus was raised from death on the first day of the week, what we call Sunday, or as Alan referred to it, Resurrection Sunday.

In the Genesis creation narrative, we have six days of creation, then a seventh day of rest, followed by the first day of the week.

Creation going forward, God and humans cooperating in the ongoing work of caring and cultivating the garden. Even taking an evening stroll together.

And this is where all these seven signs in John’s Gospel have been pointing.

^‘On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

‘The first day of the week.’

Jesus rested in the tomb on the seventh day and then rose on the first day of the new week. The first day of New Creation.

New creation going forward…

But now going forward with Jesus as the new Adam.

Going forward with Jesus as the new Israel.

Going forward with Jesus as the new temple.

Going forward with Jesus as the new Moses.

Going forward with Jesus as the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King.

Going forward with Jesus as the new human.

Going forward with the possibility of humans and God once more being able to have a meaningful relationship.

Going forward with the same call to the first human couple. To work in partnership with God to care and cultivate, to be fruitful and to multiply.

Going forward as God’s image bearers.

Going forward in the hope of bodily resurrection and of redemption.

Going forward in anticipation that one day earth will welcome and receive her true Lord, King and Creator.

The time spoken of in Revelation 21, when heaven descends to earth…

 ‘the dwelling place of God is now with His people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.’

What are we told that Thomas encountered along with the other disciples?

A tangible physical body that was so much like a human body and yet so much unlike a human body in their current frame of reference.

A body that ate and drank.

A body that carried the marks of the crucifixion.

(Why did they remain and why only these particular wounds)

A body to which doors, walls and geography provided no limitations or constraints.

What Thomas saw in Jesus, and what we see with the eyes of faith, is Jesus as the first of God’s New Creation of immortal human beings.

Colossians 1:18 ^‘And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.’

God has not rejected his original plans and purposes outlined in the opening chapters of Genesis.

Jesus is part of the overarching narrative of how God would bring about in the fullness of time his perfect plans and purposes. Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension are integral to those plans.  

And cooperation and partnership with humans are also an integral part of God’s plans and purposes.

The story we read in our Scriptures is of God seeking to work out his plans and purposes through the human medium. Albeit they keep messing up big time and failing.

It has been said, ‘that without God we cannot, and without us God will not?’

Thomas wanted physical proof of Jesus resurrection.

What would it take for us to believe and to seek to work within God’s plans and purposes?  To embrace the New Creation inaugurated by Jesus, working towards the redemption of the whole of the cosmos – but beginning right here and right now in Rugby.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that the Messiah, the Son of God, is Jesus, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

 Let us pray…

O Christ in the synagogue at Nazareth,

O Christ in the pulpit of our Churches,  

O Risen and Cosmic Christ,

O Voice of the Compassionate

  and Righteous God,

 give us no peace until we become workers

 for your Gospel.  

Amen

 

 

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