Commontide

Preparation for Personal Prayer

Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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Commontide
Prayer
Prayers

A Prayer for Mission (1)

Evening Prayer

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men, women, and children everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Provenance

TEC BCP 1979

Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.

This brief petition for universal worship first appeared as one of three "Prayers for Mission" added to Evening Prayer in the 1979 Episcopal BCP. Its clauses are woven from Pauline and Psalm texts: the address echoes Ephesians 4:6, the universal bowing of every tongue echoes Philippians 2, and the vision of all heaven and earth at worship recalls Psalm 148. No prayer book predating 1979 is known to contain it. The ACNA BCP 2019 received the prayer with one small expansion, adding "and children" to the worshipping company.