Oh Gott, du hast aller Völker der Erde aus demselben Blut gemacht, und deinen gepriesenen Sohn gesandt, um denen, die weit entfernt und denen die nahe sind, Frieden zu verkünden: Gib, dass Menschen überall nach dir suchen und dich finden; bringe die Völker in deine Herde; gieße deinen Geist aus über alles Fleisch; und eile mit dem Kommen deines Reiches; durch Jesus Christus, unsern Herrn. Amen.

This is one of the familiar prayers for mission in Morning Prayer, but its plea takes on new meaning when one prays for “all the peoples of the earth” in a different language.

In this Christmas season especially, it’s important to remember that God became human for all of us, that God shares the flesh that we all share.

I’m grateful during this trip to Germany for the work of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, which has translated portions of the Book of Common Prayer into Italian, French, Spanish, and German.

Praying the Daily Office (das Gebet der Tagzeiten) in German means, for me, slowing down and paying attention to the words of the prayers in a new way.

What practice might you embrace during these 12 days of Christmas that will encourage you to slow down and “ponder all these things” in a new way?