Occasional Prayers

O God, who didst choose for thyself a nation to be thy agent in the world and when it failed thee didst recreate it in the Church of thy Son: Grant that thy Church may be truly the body of Christ, giving itself for the world as thou didst give thy Son and as he did give his life. Let thy Church be a light to the nations, the messenger of thy gospel, the agent of thy salvation. And to us who are members of thy body, give faithfulness, obedience, zeal and love, that thy wise and loving purpose may be accomplished and all men may know thee as their God and Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord.