The Reign of Christ
On Sunday 26 November, Roman Catholics and Anglicans/Episcopalians again share a common collect. Here is my Book of Prayers in Common. My rendering for this coming Sunday is:
Let us pray (in silence) [that the reign of Christ may live in our hearts and come to our world]
Pause
Almighty ever-living God, [or Sovereign God]
it is your will to gather up all things
in your beloved one,
reigning in the universe
in the power that is love,
mercifully grant
that the whole of creation,
freed from slavery,
may serve and praise you
through Jesus Christ
who is alive with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
I provide a commentary here.
My introduction to the lectionary readings.
Prayer after Communion
Stir up, O Lord, [or Stir up, O God]
the wills of your faithful people;
that they, richly bearing the fruit of good works,
may by you be richly rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Feast of Christ the King/the Reign of Christ is obviously a feast day, celebrated on the Sunday. The collect, hence, is not used on the weekdays following. The following collect is suggested for the weekdays following:
Let us pray (in silence) [that we may be prepared]
pause
Stir up, O Lord, [or Stir up, O God]
the wills of your faithful people;
that they, richly bearing the fruit of good works,
may by you be richly rewarded;
through Jesus Christ
who is alive with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
commentary on the ancient Stir Up collect
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image: The Crown of Thorns by Matthias Stom (1615–1649).
Hello Bosco… any thoughts on the White vs Red options for Christ the King suggested in the lectionary published by our province?
Thanks for the question, Ellen, for our Anglican Church of Or. For those who don’t have a copy, the options for November 26 in our lectionary booklet are: Christ the King; the Reign of Christ; 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Aotearoa Sunday; or the Feast of Christ in All Creation. Some options have propers, some do not.
Red has been an option in the lectionary booklet every day since 5 November (which had options Green, Red, or White) and titles ranging from 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time; 4th Sunday before Advent; All Saints’ Day. The next Sunday had options of Green, Red, White, or Violet! I won’t list off the options for titles.
Remember “The colours suggested are not mandatory and traditional or local uses may be followed where established. Colours shown here are those likely to be used in most parishes” (lectionary booklet page 142).
I think red was just arrived at by those who find Ordinary Time far too long and now start counting backwards to Advent and, bored with Green, pick the colour they have been using least – ah Red – making any understanding of the colour scheme incomprehensible.
Blessings.