I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three . . .

Emmanuel, God with us.
During this season of Advent we have awaited your birth. Now it is upon us . . .

We praise you for your unswerving love for us
Though we are fragile ‐ Though we are wounded ‐ Though we are broken . . .

These are examples of prayers handed down to us from the first centuries of the Christian Church. There is a lot to be said from studying early prayers such as these as they provide a continuous link of worship between the early Christians of the first few centuries to ourselves. Their content and pattern provide a useful template for the writing of modern prayers:

CLEMENT OF ROME (1st century) . . .

Grant to us this day, O Lord:

Wisdom that protects us,

Let your strong hand be with us

to calm us,

O Lord,

peace in our hearts,
peace in our homes,

Save us, O Lord:

from the worries that trouble us,
and the troubles that worry us;