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“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5.26-27)
Lord, grant that I may behold your church as you do
not just this beautiful church, pure and glorious,
which is with you and sings your victory.
But above all the real and imperfect church
the one in which I live, suffer and grow
the one which one day will accompany me on my way to you
Yes, Lord, as you are risen and active,
I continue to discover the signs of your beauty.
You alone are holy
and you share your holiness with us
if we receive your Word and live out our baptism.
So grant that I may recognise your footsteps
in the life of every church or small church group.
May I no longer belong to myself
but to you, who have loved me and given yourself for me
so that in turn, I may live for you and give myself to others.
(Rev. Martin Hoegger,
Reformed Church of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland)
