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The Lord’s Prayer


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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Image credit: Manuscript of the Sermon on the Mount illuminated by Owen Jones via Wikipedia.
Joann Pittman

Joann Pittman

Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio


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