Prayer for a holy city


Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem,
      and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.
Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God;
      put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting;
      for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven.
For God will give you evermore the name,
      "Righteous Peace, Godly Glory."
Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height;
      look toward the east,
And see your children gathered from west and east
      at the word of the Holy One,
      rejoicing that God has remembered them.
      Baruch 5:1–9

O God, restore the fortunes of your holy city. Realize the dream of exiles, returned to live together in peace. Replace the affliction of violence and fear with the Glory of promises realized, divisions bridged, swords into plowshares, armaments budgets into schools and bread. We rejoice that you remember your people, and bless your holy name, even as we cry out for your advent, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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