Monday, July 18, 2011

A Prayer for International Nelson Mandela Day

O Lord, who in a time of turmoil and confusion raised up your servant Nelson Mandela, and endowed him with wisdom, patience, and a reconciling temper, that he might lead South Africa into ways of stability and peace: Hear our prayer, and give us wise and faithful leaders, that through their ministry your people may be blessed and your will be done; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


The above prayer is my adaptation of the collect for the day (see below) from the Book of Common Prayer, which today remembers William White, the man who built the American Church to be independent, autonomous and democratic.


{Collect of the Day: William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania, 1836

O Lord, who in a time of turmoil and confusion raised up your servant William White, and endowed him with wisdom, patience, and a reconciling temper, that he might lead your Church into ways of stability and peace: Hear our prayer, and give us wise and faithful leaders, that through their ministry your people may be blessed and your will be done; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



Sourced here }