Seasons and Sundays

(Jump to Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, Sundays after Pentecost)

The Season of Advent

The First Sunday of Advent

The coming of the Lord

Sentence

To you Lord I lift up my soul; my God I have put my trust in you; you are God my Saviour; for you have I waited all the day long. Psalm 25:1,4

Collects

God of hope,
when Christ your Son appears
may he not find us asleep or idle,
but active in his service and ready.

Come, O come Emmanuel,
you are the way, the truth and the life;
you are the true vine and the bread of life.
Come, living Saviour,
come to your world which waits for you.

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast off the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
so that when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

Living God, you called your people out of Egypt
and gave them the covenant;
prepare our hearts to hear your call,
so that we may receive with joy the gospel of your Son
and be your faithful people,
now and for ever.

Psalms 40:1-11;63

Readings

The Third Sunday of Advent

The forerunner

Sentence

In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3

Collects

God for whom we wait and watch,
you sent John the Baptist
to prepare for the coming of your Son;
give us courage to speak the truth
even to the point of suffering.

Collects

God of all hope and joy,
open our hearts in welcome,
that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming may
find in us a dwelling prepared for himself;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

Praise and honour to you living God;
your coming will be like a thief in the night,
like lightning flashing across the sky.
Grant that we may be ready,
and our hearts answer, Come Lord Jesus.

God faithful and true,
make us eager with expectation,
as we look for the fulfilment of your promise
in Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Psalms 89:1-36;94

Readings

IN THE DAY

Welcome Jesus, our humble gentle Saviour,
welcome to Bethlehem,
where we have loved and fought
and longed for the peace
the world can never give.
We ask for your peace, your love, your gentleness,
and the courage to live that way.

Almighty God,
you gave your only-begotten Son
to take our nature upon him,
and be born of the Virgin Mary;
grant that we, who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

Son of God, Child of Mary,
born in the stable at Bethlehem,
be born again in us this day
that through us the world may know
the wonder of your love.

Psalms 19;85

Readings

AT MIDNIGHT

IN THE DAY

Psalms 8;45

Readings

The Second Sunday of Christmas

The children of God

Sentence

Jesus went down with his parents and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and the people. Luke 2:51,52

Collects

Eternal God giver of love and peace,
you call your children to live together as one family;
give us grace to learn your ways
and to do your will,
that we may bring justice and peace to all people,
in the name of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God now and for ever.

The Season of the Epiphany

The Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ

Revelation to the Gentiles

Sentence

The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:1b

Collects

Jesus, as we travel far and fast,
lead our minds back to the wise men following your star,
and forward to the day
when all will see your shining light.

Jesus, light of the world,
let your bright star stand over the place
where the poor have to live;
lead our sages to wisdom and our rulers to reverence.

O God, by the leading of a star
you revealed your Son Jesus Christ to the gentiles;
grant that your Church may be a light to the nations,
so that the whole world may come to see
the splendour of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 72;96

Open the heavens, Holy Spirit,
for us to see Jesus interceding for us;
may we be strengthened to share his baptism,
strengthened to share his cup,
and ready to serve him forever.

Holy Spirit,
as you drove Jesus into the wilderness,
when John baptised him and the heavens opened,
drive us to wrestle and reflect
so that we may fulfil our baptism,
and live your life of victory.

Psalms 2;36

Readings

The Second Sunday of the Epiphany*

Revelation in the childhood of Christ

Sentence

We call to mind your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name is great O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth. Psalm 48:9,10

The Third Sunday of the Epiphany

Revelation in Galilee

Sentence

With awesome deeds you answer our prayers for deliverance, O God our Saviour; you that are the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of the far off seas. Psalm 65:5,6

Collects

God of all mercy,
your Son brought good news to the despairing,
freedom to the oppressed
and joy to the sad;
fill us with your Spirit,
that the people of our day may see in us his likeness
and glorify your name.

Jesus, our Redeemer,
give us your power to reveal and proclaim the good news,
so that wherever we may go
the sick may be healed, lepers embraced,
and the dead and dying given new life.

Almighty God,
your Son revealed in signs and wonders
the greatness of your saving love;
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 65;111

God of glory,
you gave the vision of your Son
to those who watched on the mountain;
grant that by our glimpses of him
we may be changed into his glorious likeness.

Psalms 27;97

Readings

The Fifth Sunday of the Epiphany

Revelation in Jerusalem

Sentence

You Lord will surely comfort your people. You will make their deserts like Eden, their wastelands like a garden. Joy and gladness will be found among them, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. Isaiah 51:3 (adapted)

The Sixth Sunday of the Epiphany

The final revelation

Sentence

The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

Collects

Lord Jesus Christ,
before whose judgment seat we shall appear;
enable us to see ourselves as you see us,
to repent and to change,
and to be found worthy to bear your name.

Jesus, Saviour in storm,
when the waters of the deep are broken up,
when the landmarks are washed away or drowned,
come to us across the water.

Everloving God,
your Son was revealed that he might overcome evil
and make us heirs of eternal life;
grant that we who have this hope in us
may purify ourselves as he is pure,
that when he appears in power and great glory,
we may be made like him,
to the honour of your name;
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

Psalms 50;98

You made us Lord, and we are yours;
grant that we may so use your gifts
that all your creatures may enjoy the harmony you planned.

Psalms 8;147

Readings

The Eighth Sunday of the Epiphany
Sexagesima

Human frailty

Sentence

Be merciful to me O Lord, for I call to you all the day long; for you Lord are good and forgiving, and of great mercy to all who call upon you. Psalm 86:3,5

Collects

Have pity Father, on us your estranged and wilful children;
grant that we may know the things we ought to do
and have grace to do them;
through Jesus Christ, your Son.

Collects

Christ our Redeemer,
you have crushed the serpent’s head;
you have freed us from our sin;
rescue all your suffering world from the evil
that attracts us still.

God of compassion,
deepen and increase our love for you
so that we may leave behind the sins
from which you have redeemed us,
and serve you in perfect freedom.

Almighty God,
the Redeemer of all who trust in you;
give heed to the cry of your people,
deliver us from the bondage of sin
that we may serve you in perfect freedom
and rejoice in your unfailing love;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Psalms 115;20

Readings

Readings

The First Sunday in Lent

Temptation

Sentence

Lord be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning; our salvation in time of distress. Isaiah 33:2

Collects

Hear us, Jesus Christ, when we ask
for help to recognise temptation,
for honesty to face it,
for strength to resist it and the humility to give God the glory.

Almighty God,
your Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness;
give us grace to direct our lives in obedience to your Spirit;
and as you know our weakness
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

God, you know better than we
the temptations that will bring us down.
Grant that our love for you may protect us
from all foolish and corrupting desire.

Gentle Father,
show us our sins as they really are
so that we may truly renounce them
and know the depth and richness of your mercy.

Psalms 32;141

Readings

The Third Sunday in Lent

Forgiveness

Sentence

We have rebelled against the Lord our God who still shows mercy and forgiveness. Daniel 9:9

Collects

God of infinite mercy,
grant that we who know your pity
may rejoice in your forgiveness
and gladly forgive others
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Collects

Heavenly Father,
you see how your children hunger for food,
and fellowship, and faith.
Help us to meet one another’s needs of body, mind and spirit,
in the love of Christ our Saviour.

O God, giver of life and health,
your Son Jesus Christ has called us
to hunger and thirst to see right prevail;
refresh us with your grace
that we may not be weary of well-doing;
for the sake of him who meets all our needs,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.

God of the hungry,
make us hunger and thirst for the right,
till our thirst for justice has been satisfied
and hunger has gone from the earth.

Psalms 23;4

Readings

The Sixth Sunday in Lent
Palm Sunday

The Cross

Sentence

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! Matthew 21:9

Collects

Jesus, when you rode into Jerusalem
the people waved palms
with shouts of acclamation.
Grant that when the shouting dies
we may still walk beside you even to a cross.

Almighty and everliving God,
in your tender love towards us
you sent your Son to take our nature upon him,
and to suffer death upon the cross;
grant that we may follow the example
of his great humility
and share in his glorious resurrection;
through him who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

Lord Jesus,
acclaimed as king,
crucified as a criminal,
teach us to accept our sufferings and triumphs
for your glory alone.

Holy Week
Monday in Holy Week

Cleansing of the temple

Sentence

My soul is thirsting for you O God, thirsting for the living God; when shall I come to appear in your presence? Psalm 42:2

Collects

Teach us, Jesus,
how to live and worship
without being worldly or greedy.
Drive from our lives what spoils them
and make us temples of the Spirit.

Jesus, you spoke with passion,
you acted without fear, and we remember.
Help us when we have to speak out,
to speak the truth
and without malice to speak.

Gracious and merciful God,
for our sake your Son became incarnate
and suffered death upon the cross;
purify our hearts and grant us zeal in your service;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

Psalms 54;26

Readings

Readings

Wednesday in Holy Week

Anointing at Bethany

Sentence

Hear me, you that know what is right, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not those who reproach you, and be not dismayed at their insults. Isaiah 51:7

Collects

Gracious and merciful God,
for our sake your Son became incarnate
and suffered death upon the cross;
give us grace to choose him as master and king
who for us was crowned with thorns
and died in shame,
and now lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.

Jesus the anointed,
teach us to honour those who need our help,
and we shall give without condescension,
and receive with humility.

Jesus,
receive our love and worship.
Show us how to give you what we have,
for nothing is too big or small
for us to offer, or for you to use.

Gracious and merciful God,
in a wonderful sacrament you have given us
a memorial of the passion of your Son
Jesus Christ;
grant that we who receive these sacred mysteries
may grow up into him in all things
until we come to your eternal joy;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Everlasting God,
your Son Jesus Christ girded himself with a towel
and washed his disciples’ feet;
grant us the will to be the servant of others
as he was servant of all,
who gave up his life and died for us,
yet lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

Psalms 56;27

Readings

Almighty and everlasting God,
by your Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified;
hear the prayers we offer
for all your faithful people,
that in the particular ministry
to which you have called us,
we may serve you in holiness and truth;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Crucified saviour, naked God,
you hang disgraced and powerless.
Grieving, we dare to hope,
as we wait at the cross
with your mother and your friend.

God of all the world
whose Son was born a Jew,
have mercy on your ancient people;
on all who have not known you
or deny the faith of Christ crucified.
Fetch us home to your fold
so that we become one flock
under one shepherd,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful God,
creator of all the peoples of the earth
and lover of every soul;
have compassion on all who do not know you,
let your gospel be preached with grace and power
to those who have not heard it,
turn the hearts of those who oppose it,
and bring home to your fold
all who have gone astray;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 22;40

Collects

We remember, O God,
the grief of the disciples when Jesus died.
Lead us beyond our fear of death
to the joyful knowledge of eternal life
in him who lives for ever.

Eternal God, give us a sure and certain trust
for those who are with Christ.
When our loved ones come to die,
beyond our sorrow,
grant us confidence and hope.

Grant O God,
that we who are baptised into the death
of your Son Jesus Christ,
may continually die to sin
and be buried with him,
that through the grave and gate of death
we may pass to our joyful resurrection;
for his sake, who died and was buried
and rose again for us,
your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Psalms 30;142

Readings

Easter Day

Christ is risen

Sentence

Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Alleluia! Luke 24:34; Revelation 1:6

Collects

Glorious Lord of Life,
we praise you,
that by the mighty resurrection of your Son,
you have delivered us from sin and death
and made your whole creation new;
grant that we who celebrate with joy
Christ’s rising from the dead,
may be raised from the death of sin
to the life of righteousness;
through him who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

Jesus Christ our Saviour,
you have delivered us
from death and sin.
You have brought with the dawn
a new beginning and an empty tomb;
grant us strength and humility
to enter into life.

Living Christ, you are risen from the dead!
Love reigns!
You are life stronger than death;
raise our eyes to see you
as the new day dawns.

Collects
of Easter Day

Psalms 16:8-12;118:19-24

Readings

Tuesday in Easter Week

Sentence

Jesus showed himself to his disciples and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. Alleluia. Acts 1:3

Collects
of Easter Day

Psalms 33:13-21;105:1-8

Readings

Readings

The Third Sunday of Easter

Christ our shepherd

Sentence

In your constant love, O Lord, you have led the people whom you ransomed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy dwelling-place. Exodus 15:13

Collects

Good Shepherd of the sheep,
by whom the lost are sought
and guided into the fold;
feed us and we shall be satisfied,
heal us and we shall be whole,
and lead us that we may be with you,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

God of mercy, we are as Peter;
we lose our nerve
and deny you in the time of trial.
Calm our anxiety, heal our cowardice,
take away our shame, and make us free.

We praise you, God,
that the light of Christ shines in our darkness
and is never overcome;
show us the way we must go to eternal day;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God,
you show to those who are in error
the light of your truth
that they may return into the way of righteousness;
may we and all who have been admitted
into the fellowship of Christ’s religion
reject those things which are contrary
to our profession
and follow all that is agreeable to it;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 27;80

Readings

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

Christ our prophet

Sentence

Jesus said, If you dwell within the revelation I have brought, you are indeed my disciples; you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31,32

The Sixth Sunday of Easter

Christ our high priest

Sentence

Without having seen Christ you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. 1 Peter 1:8

Collects

Holy God, you feed us
with earthly and with spiritual food.
Deathless, unalterable, you have chosen us,
sinful as we are,
to hear your word and to proclaim your truth.
Alleluia! Make us salt of the earth;
make us yeast in the loaf.

Almighty God,
your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
ever lives to make intercession for us;
have pity on our weakness,
and in your mercy give us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask,
except through his merits,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.

Christ our great high priest,
you understand our weakness;
you pray for us while we are sinners.
Help us, through you,
to find a new and living way to God.

Psalms 110;99

Eternal and gracious God,
we believe your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to have ascended with triumph
into your kingdom in heaven;
may we also in heart and mind
ascend to where he is,
and with him continually dwell;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and forever.

Psalms 47;24

Readings

The Sunday after Ascension Day

Christ, sovereign over all

Sentence

Blessing and honour, glory and might, to the one who is seated on the throne and to the lamb for ever and ever! Revelation 5:13

The Day of Pentecost
Whitsunday

The Spirit poured out

Sentence

The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

Collects

Father,
you have filled your people with the Spirit
who rested first on your Son
and united us in your Church:
open the channels for your Spirit
that we may freely work together,
and your kingdom and your rule increase.

Almighty God,
you kindled this day the light of your Spirit
in the hearts of your faithful people;
may we by the same Spirit
have a right judgment in all things,
and evermore rejoice in your love and power;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

Living God, eternal Holy Spirit,
let your bright intoxicating energy
which fired those first disciples
fall on us
to turn the world again.

The Season after Pentecost

(The first to 14th Sundays after Pentecost follow. Jump to the 15th to 27th Sundays starting on Page 624.)

Trinity Sunday
The First Sunday after Pentecost

The holy Trinity

Sentence

You O Lord reign for ever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19

Collects

God of unchangeable power,
you have revealed yourself
to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
keep us firm in this faith
that we may praise and bless your holy name;
for you are one God now and for ever.

Trinity of love,
maker of man and woman in your image,
help us to accept ourselves as we are,
and to know our need for each other.

Father,
you sent your Son to bring us truth
and your Spirit to make us holy;
open our hearts to exalt you,
open our lives to reveal you,
our one true God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Collects

Abba God, we call you Father,
and your care for us
is motherly as well.
Protect our power to love and be loved,
and make us glad to be called your children,
one whānau in Christ.

Loving God,
in Jesus you gather us into your family;
confidently we call you Father;
may your Spirit bring us to share
the glorious liberty of your children.

Almighty God,
you have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
and set us free from bondage to sin;
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all people may be brought
to the glorious liberty of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 113; 92

Readings

Readings

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

God’s righteousness

Sentence

Give due honour to God’s holy name, bring offerings and enter the courts of the Lord; for you O Lord are coming to judge the earth; with righteousness you will judge the world and the peoples with your truth.
Psalm 96:8,13

Collects

God of all power and might,
the author and giver of all good things,
graft in our hearts the love of your name,
increase in us true religion,
nourish in us all goodness,
and of your great mercy
keep us in the same;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Holy God,
before your face all sin must stand condemned;
help us to know our sins and to repent of them;
so may we find salvation in the cross
and mercy on the day of judgment.

Call us to you, Jesus,
like Martha from her kitchen,
like Zacchaeus from the tree,
to hear and to do your will.

Almighty God,
you have called us to serve you,
yet without your grace
we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 50:1-15; 27

Readings

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

God’s purpose

Sentence

O Lord my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress; to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth, and they will know that your name is the Lord.
Jeremiah 16:19-21 (adapted)

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

God’s work

Sentence

As the new heavens and the new earth which I am making shall endure in my sight, so shall your race and your name endure; all people shall come to bow down before me, says the Lord.
Isaiah 66:22,23

Collects

Make us glad, we pray you, gentle God,
to give each other your loving care;
make us happy to receive it.
May there daily grow within us
a generous, trusting spirit.

Merciful God,
you gave your only Son
to be both a sacrifice for sin
and an example of godly life;
help us gladly to receive
all that he has done for us
and follow in his footsteps;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God, you are working still,
breaking down and building up;
open our eyes to discern your hands
so that we may take our place
as labourers together with you.

Psalms 117; 62

614 Sentences, Prayers and Readings

Christ of the new covenant,
give us the happiness to share,
with full measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over,
all that you give us.

Psalms 87; 122

Readings

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

The Holy Bible

Sentence

God chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all creation.

Collects

Almighty God,
your word is a lamp for our feet
and a light upon our path;
grant that by patient study of the Scriptures
we may follow more closely the way
that you set before us;

Collects

Almighty Father,
grant that we your children
may never be ashamed
to confess the faith of Christ crucified,
but continue his faithful servants
to our lives’ end.

Come Holy Spirit, to all baptised in your name,
that we may turn to good
whatever lies ahead.
Give us passion, give us fire;
make us transform the world from what it is,
to what you have created it to be.

Eternal God,
you have given us one baptism
for the remission of sins;
grant that we who are born of water and the Spirit
and made members of Christ,
may be one in inward faith and outward service;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 23; 85

Readings

Readings

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Ministry

Sentence

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins with his life’s blood, who made of us a royal house to serve as the priests of his God and Father - to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:6

Collects

Almighty God,
by your grace alone
we are accepted and called to your service;
strengthen us by your Holy Spirit
and empower our calling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Servant God, grant us opportunity,
give us willingness
to serve you day by day;
that what we do
and how we bear each other’s burdens,
may be our sacrifice to you.

God, the strength of all who believe in you,
increase our faith and trust
in your Son Jesus Christ,
that in him we may live victoriously.

God of our forebears,
as your chosen servant Abraham
was given faith to obey your call
and go out into the unknown,
so may your Church be granted such faith
that we may follow you courageously
now and forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 91; 3

Readings

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The gift of hope

Sentence

We have waited eagerly for you O Lord; for you are our help and our shield; our hearts shall rejoice in you, because we have hoped in your holy name. Psalm 33:19,20

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The gift of love

Sentence

I shall live through you O Lord and my children shall serve you; to a people as yet unborn they shall make known the saving deeds you have done. Psalm 22:30,31

Collects

Give us, we pray you, gentle God,
a mind forgetful of past injury,
a will to seek the good of others
and a heart of love.

Grant us, Jesus, that tender, indestructible love
which asks forgiveness for its executioners
and gives hope to the thief on the cross.
Keep us compassionate when the way is hard,
and gentle with those who oppose us.

Lord God,
you have taught us
that anything we do without love is worth nothing,
for whoever lives without love
is counted dead before you;
send your Holy Spirit,
and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues;
grant this for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ.

Psalms 116; 103

Save us, Lord,
from the worship of power or science.
Save us from making you in our image,
and keep us humble.

Psalms 111; 18:1-30

Readings

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

The fulfilment of life

Sentence

Happy are those whose helper is the God of Jacob; whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, who keeps a promise for ever. Psalm 146:5,6

The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Fear of the Lord

Sentence

You O Lord are in your holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before you. Habakkuk 2:20 (adapted)

Collects

Father,
imprint upon our hearts
that because we belong to you
no one can pluck us from your hand,
and because we fear you
we need fear no other.

Holy God, grant us the beginning of wisdom
and love to cast out every fear:
that we may grow more brave,
more ready to hear,
more ready to obey.

Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal,
keep us under the protection of your good providence,
and help us continually
to revere and love your holy name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 65; 96

Readings

Psalms 100; 126

Readings

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Prayer in the Lord

Sentence

Through the abundance of your steadfast love, I will come into your house, and bow low in reverence toward your holy temple. Psalm 5:7

Collects

Almighty and merciful God,
more ready to hear than we to pray,
giving more than either we desire or deserve;
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgive us those things
of which our conscience is afraid,
and give us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask,
except through your Son our Saviour
Jesus Christ.

Collects

Holy and eternal God,
give us such trust in your sure purpose,
that we measure our lives
not by what we have done or failed to do,
but by our faithfulness to you.

Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless
till they find their rest in you;
so lead us by your Spirit
that in this life we may live to your glory
and in the life to come enjoy you for ever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Your cross, Jesus, remains like a tree on a hill.
You show me where I am,
you take away my fear,
and set me on my course again;
help me to watch for you night and day.

Psalms 139:1-18; 81

Readings

Readings

The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

Our neighbours

Sentence

Arise O Lord God and lift up your hand; do not forget the poor in their need; the poor commit themselves to you; for you are the helper of the orphaned. Psalm 10:13,16

Collects

Almighty God,
you teach us in your word
that love is the fulfiling of the law:
grant that we may love you with all our heart
and our neighbours as ourselves;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collects

God of nations, help us to reflect and share
the goodness that surrounds us.
Help us to win justice for poor and rich alike,
and bring trust and friendship
to all our different races.

God of all the earth,
you have given us the heritage
of this good and fertile land;
grant that we may so respect and use it
that others may thank us
for what we leave to them.

God of nations,
you have given us a good land for our heritage;
inspire in the people of our country
a love of peace and a zeal for justice,
that we may use our liberty
in accordance with your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalms 72:1-14; 149

Readings

* The 24th to 27th Sunday after Pentecost are used each year as required.

Readings

The Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Things of eternal worth

Sentence

Your throne O Lord has stood firm from of old; from all eternity you are God. Mightier than the noise of great waters; mightier than the waves of the sea; so the Lord on high is mighty. Psalm 93:3,5

Collects

God, you have given us a lodging in this world
but not an abiding city.
Help us, as a pilgrim people, to endure hardness,
knowing that at the end of our journey
Christ has prepared a place for us.

Collects

Jesus our guide, we journey in faith to resurrection,
through failure, through success,
through whatever lies ahead;
for you are the way, and life.

Almighty God, you alone can bring order
to our unruly wills and affections;
give us grace to love what you command
and desire what you promise,
that in all the changes and chances
of this uncertain world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed
where true joys are to be found;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God our ruler and guide,
when we come to the place where the road divides,
keep us true to the way of Christ,
alive to present opportunities,
and confident of eternal life.

Psalms 1; 112

Readings