God of goodness and righteousness, who desires that all should walk in your ways, send your prophets and messengers to point to our faults and wrongs, that we would recognize where we must repent and would turn and seek your forgiveness and strive to live according to your law, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. ‘John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ – Mark 1:4