I recently had the chance to attend a Catholic service here in the Twin Cities during which we recited the Lord’s Prayer. It struck me that I had not recited it since the last time I was in a church service in China.
One of the things I miss most about living in China is worshipping with Chinese brothers and sisters on Sunday mornings. Over the years I attended various registered churches in Changchun and Beijing. I loved learning and singing the hymns and struggling to understand sermons (some preachers were definitely easier to understand than others). Attending church each week was a good way to measure my progress in learning Chinese, but more importantly it was a blessing to be with God’s people.
In all of the churches that I attended, there was little variation in the order of service. Opening announcements. A hymn. A prayer. A hymn. The Lord’s Prayer. A hymn. Scripture reading. Sermon. Closing hymn. Benediction. Sometimes a recitation of the Apostles’ Creed was also included.
At least in the denominational circles that I am a part of, saying the Lord’s Prayer together seems to have fallen by the wayside. I have no idea why, and I have found myself recently wishing that we recited it more. To refresh my memory, I got out my beloved Chinese hymnal to read it in Chinese.
Here is a recording of the Lord’s Prayer (主祷文) in Chinese:
Finally, the Chinese-American music ministry, Stream of Praise, has a wonderful arrangement set to music.
May this prayer be on our lips as we begin the Advent season.
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