Prayer-Walking Time #37: Kanazawa/Nagasaki Martyrs' Memorial on Utatsuyama (Utatsu Mountain)

 

Just a ten-minute walk from our house via the 400-Year-Old Forest (cherry tree park), the Nagasaki Martyrs' Memorial was erected in the 1960s by the Catholic church in Kanazawa and is obviously still lovingly tended by them (as evidenced by the flowers and care in the forest clearing). 

If you'd like to read a bit of the history, you can do so here. 

Here's a quick overview: In 1869, 500 Christians were marched from Nagasaki to Kanazawa, kept in prisons on the mountain/hill just behind our neighborhood, and tortured to get them to apostatize. Over 100 of them died before the rest were released. We regularly drive through a highway tunnel to get to our grocery store and church, and when that tunnel was dug the workers found the skeletons of those martyrs. It's a sobering feeling to know what happened and to realize just a small part of what those believers went through. 

A few weeks ago I started feeling the prompting of Holy Spirit to go and pray there together with a group if possible---to remember those martyrs, those heroes, to thank God for them, and to pray for the believers who live and love in Japan now, believers who are persecuted not physically but sometimes spiritually, relationally, and mentally. (We have a friend who was bullied and disowned by his family because he started following Jesus, and that is not an unusual story.)

I set up a time (this past Saturday), sent out invitations, and a dear friend of ours and her children were able to come. We are so thankful for our time together there---it felt precious. 

Here's the order of service I put together using bits and pieces from an Anglican service for remembering martyrs, a prayer from the Eerdmans Book of Famous Prayers, the Bible, a hymn, and some of my own thoughts. 

Prayer Time at the Martyrs' Memorial (November 12, 2022)

Let’s read Revelation 5:6-10 aloud together:

So I looked, and there, surrounded by Throne, Animals, and Elders, was a Lamb, slaughtered but standing tall. Seven horns he had, and seven eyes, the Seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth. He came to the One Seated on the Throne and took the scroll from his right hand. The moment he took the scroll, the Four Animals and Twenty-four Elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. Each had a harp and each had a bowl, a gold bowl filled with incense, the prayers of God’s holy people. And they sang a new song:

Worthy! Take the scroll, open its seals.

Slain! Paying in blood, you bought men and women,

Bought them back from all over the earth,

Bought them back for God.

Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God,

Priest-kings to rule over the earth.

A prayer from Johann Tauler. Let’s pray aloud together:

May Jesus Christ, the king of glory, help us to make the right use of all the myrrh that God sends, and to offer to him the true incense of our hearts; for his name’s sake. Amen. 

 

Let’s pray aloud together:

These saints were faithful unto death

and now dwell in the heavenly kingdom for ever.

As we celebrate their joy,

let us bring to the Lord our sins and weaknesses,

and ask for his mercy.

We are often slow to follow the example of Christ. Lord, have mercy.

We often fail to be known as Christ’s disciples. Christ, have mercy.

We often fail to walk the way of the cross. Lord, have mercy.

Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood, for he is our peace. Amen. 

Let’s pause and thank God in our hearts for these saints who have gone on ahead of us, and let’s ask God to bless and strengthen Christians in Japan who are alive now and to bring many more into his kingdom. 

 

 Now, if you have anything you want to pray aloud, please do so. 

 

Amen. 

 

Let’s read Romans 8: 38-39 aloud together: 

Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present,

nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God

in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let’s sing Holy, Holy, Holy:

Holy, holy, holy!

Lord God Almighty

Early in the morning

Our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy!

Merciful and mighty

God in three persons

Blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy!

Though the darkness hide thee

Though the eye of sinful man

Thy glory may not see

Only Thou art holy

There is none beside Thee

Perfect in power, in love and purity

Holy, holy, holy!

Lord God Almighty

Oh thy works shall praise Thy name

In earth and sky and sea

Holy, holy, holy!

Merciful and mighty

God in three persons

Blessed Trinity

Oh God in three persons

Blessed Trinity!

 

May we all go in peace, sharing God’s light and love, and may he continue to fill us with his Presence and to build our faith, helping us grow more in him and like him. And may we look around and see where he is already working, and join in with his Spirit, with his help. Amen!