God of the nations, who hast led

Thy children since the world began,

Through doubt and struggle, pain and tears,

Unfolding thy eternal plan;

From countless hilltops as of old

The fire upon the altar flares;

Through countless rites, in countless tongues,

Men offer their imperfect prayers;

Hasten the time of our release,

Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

O Jesus Christ, Incarnate Son,

Who bore our flesh that men might see

The Vision of the Perfect Life

Fashioned in their humanity;

By all thy words of heavenly truth,

By all thy deeds of mercy wrought,

By all the passion of thy cross,

By the redemption thou hast brought;

Hasten the time of our release,

Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

O Holy Spirit, who dost touch

The prophets with thy sacred fire,

Eternal Wisdom to whose light

All seekers after truth aspire;

Behold the warring sons of men,

The helpless by the strong oppressed,

The truth with error still concealed,

The evil grudgingly confessed;

Hasten the time of our release,

Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

O God Triune, thy Church today

In penitence before thee kneels,

Mourning her years of slothful ease,

Her deafness to the world's appeals;

Divided where she should be one,

Enamoured of a lesser strife,

Tithing the mint and cummin while

Men perish for the Bread of Life;

Hasten the time of our release,

Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

Restore to us the vision, Lord,

Descend with fires of Pentecost;

Our tongues unloose, our hearts inflame,

To preach the Gospel to the lost:

Here at thy feet our prayer is made,

Here life and wealth we dedicate;

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

Lord, thy anointing we await;

Hasten the time of our release,

Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

Amen.