Let us pray (in silence) [that we may love God in our hearts and in our actions]
Pause
Lord, [or God of compassion]
direct our hearts
by the action of your mercy,
for without your help
we cannot please you;
through Jesus Christ
who is alive with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
The above ancient prayer is used by Roman Catholics and Episcopalians/Anglicans and others. It has a long, shared history which you can find here with commentary and reflection: Ordinary 24. The above is my rendering in my Book of Prayers in Common.
I produced the above version of this collect six years ago. I then, this year (there being a gap with no collect last Sunday), produced another version for last Sunday – only noticing the double-up when I was preparing for resources for this coming Sunday. Obviously, it is my intention to have a full, annual set of collects. When I get/make time, I will work on reorganising these two Sundays. Meanwhile, if you do not want to use the above collect, what about:
Grant to us, O God, we pray,
the spirit to always think and do what is right,
that we, who cannot exist without you,
may be able to live according to your will;
through Jesus Christ
who is alive with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Reflection on this “Grant to us…” collect.
Many, at this time, celebrate Creation Season.
Many people focus on creation during the month of September – a “creation season” concluding on the feast of St Francis on October 4. By this is not meant some tiresome, month-long preaching against evolution, but an examination of how we humans live within this created world, and a recommitment to living appropriately, as God intends. And all this is seen as an essential part of mission, in partnership with others who share concern for “our common home”.
If you have ideas and resources for this month, please put them in the comments below.
This site is committed to the three year lectionary (RC) and its derivative, the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). Rather than departing from that lectionary, in previous years resources have been provided on this site for a “creation reading” of our shared biblical texts. This approach takes seriously the claim that our relationship with creation is a thread throughout the Bible.
A creation reading of the lectionary for the Sunday between 4 and 10 September:
The First Testament readings and psalms has creation like clay in the potter’s hand. We are known and formed – my inward parts – you knit me together in my mother’s womb. They speak of land, heaven, and earth, life and death, trees planted by streams of water. The gospel speaks of calculating the cost and simplifying our lifestyle.
Resources beyond this site:
Textweek
Girardian Reflections on the Lectionary
Resourcing Preaching Down Under
