2 Lent, Friday

Lord Jesus Christ, you sought not your own will, but the will of the One who sent you: Strengthen us to do those things which you have tasked us to do, knowing that we can do nothing under our own authority, that at the last day you will not accuse us before the Father but know us completely.  In your name we pray.  Amen.

O Lent.  I'm so tired of Jeremiah, and I'm only in chapter 5.  It's good for Lent and being told to repent.  Its pericopes are hard to base collects on.

2 Lent, Thursday

God, you raise the dead and give them life: Raise us up from all our deaths that we may honor Jesus, believe in him, and have eternal life through him and the Holy Spirit who with you live and reign one God now and forever.  AMen.

2 Lent, Wednesday

Merciful God, who is not angry forever: Give us courage and strength to return to you time and again as you call us and have mercy on us so that we may see that you are still working with your Son Jesus Christ who with you lives and reigns forever and ever.

2 Lent, Tuesday

O God, the fountain of living waters: Give us ears to hear your prophets remind us of the devotion of our youth so that we may rely on you rather than ourselves as the provider of our needs for we cannot hold water; we ask this through Jesus who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit from age to age.  Amen.

Lent 2, Monday

So, I dropped the ball with my collects.  But we repent and return to the Lord. so here it goes again.

Holy Three, you are model for us being in relationship with others as you are in relationship with yourself: Give us strength and guidance that we may be mutually encouraged by those around whom we find ourselves; make us thankful for those who care for us and for whom we care so that we may see you in one another and love one another as you have loved us in Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, giver of the Spirit.  Amen.

For the Ministry

Especially for those from the Central Gulf Coast meeting with the Commission on Ministry today (mostly via Skype!  Yeah CGC!):

O God, you led your holy apostles to ordain ministers in every place: Grant that your Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of your kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lent 1, Monday

Generous God who provided for your people and delivered them from captivity: make us grateful for all the blessings you have given us, especially freedom from bondage given to us through Jesus, that as we live our lives we may not boast in anyone but Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Lent 1, Tuesday

Merciful God, you forgave the Israelites time and again for provoking you to wrath: Forgive us for hardening our hearts to your Holy Spirit and look not on our sin but on the work of your Son Jesus Christ so that we may be faithful servants in your household.  Amen.

A Collect for 1 Lent, Sunday

O God who leads us through these Forty Days: Humble us during this time of penitence that the word of the Cross not be folly to us, but the power of God to us who are being saved and that if we boast we boast only in Jesus who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit pouring out yourself on and for us from age to age.  Amen.

Collect for Last Epiphany, Saturday

O God who has shown your people signs and wonders: Strengthen us through the renewal of the Holy Spirit to follow you so that we might see even greater things through Jesus Christ our Savior who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.  Amen.

Loving God, who has saved us through your own mercy: Help us to avoid stupid controversies, that having come and seen Jesus we may be heirs in hope of eternal life through the same Christ, who regenerates and renews us by the Holy Spirit, who with you are one God.  Amen.

A Collect for Last Epiphany, Friday

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus bid Andrew and Simon to follow, come, and see: Grant that those who we follow may teach what befits sound doctrine and set a good example for your flock so that all who follow Jesus to where is staying may know the blessings that you have promised in that land where with Jesus you and the Holy Spirit live and reign in peace everlasting.  Amen.

A Collect for Last Epiphany, Thursday

Faithful God, you have chosen us to be a people of your own possession and kept your covenant when we have not: baptize us with the Holy Spirit that we may do what you require of us, that at the last day we might be with Jesus the Lamb of God, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God everlasting.  Amen.

What I'm Doing

At my friend Erin's prompting, I'm going to write a collect every day.  Last year I gave up social media and it was great.  I'm still working out what I'm doing this year, but I am going to write a collect...with some boundaries as future training.  The Book of Common Prayer set out that the Prayers of the People have to pray for certain areas in the Church and world, but not that the forms have to be used (BCP, 383).  Likewise, there are four options for the Collect after the Prayers: collect appropriate to the season or occasion being celebrated; a collect expressive of some special need in the life of the local congregation; a collect for the mission of the church; and a general collect (BCP, 394).  Hatchett is quick to point out ("What's in a Rubric?") that the first listed option is the preferential option.

The preference is not to use a general collect, but one about the day.  At St. Paul's Chapel we interpret that by having our script say that the presider improvises a prayer based on the readings.  Throughout these forty days I'm going to try to improvise a prayer based on the Daily Office readings for each day.  I'm writing this entry to explain and so that people know they aren't from the Prayer Book.  God deliver me from being the man who prays in public in today's Luke reading!  By writing these during this time I hope to get better at improvising prayers.  The Prayer Book is great, but by praying using it I hope that I have learned to pray some as things come up without turning to a page.

Make a good Lent.

A Collect for Ash Wednesday

Merciful God, who had pity on the Ninevites: keep our heads lifted, knees strong, and feet straight in the paths you have set for us as we lay aside every weight and sin that clings to us during this time of penitence, preparation and discipline; remind us of the fruit of righteousness that it yields, that at the end of this forty days we may be prepared to celebrate the Resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ from the dead; through that same Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit in unity throughout all time.  Amen.

Traveling Mercies

O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel in particular Stefanie and me; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for World AIDS Day

From the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition:

Loving God, You provide comfort and hope to those who suffer. Be present with all HIV

positive persons and their families in this and every land, that they may be

strengthened in their search for health, wholeness and abundant living, through Christ

our Companion. Amen.

September 11 Collect

O God who created all peoples of the earth, knows them all by name, and loves them infinitely: Comfort all who have lost loved ones, especially on this day; forgive those who seek division; lead us to reconciliation with all of our neighbors; and give rest to the departed, that one day we might all join in your heavily Kin-dom, a city of eternal peace, through Christ the Great Reconciler who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Good Friday

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Maundy Thursday II

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Wednesday in Holy Week I

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen