scripture readings
textweek resources
• collect/opening prayer reflection for July 17 and the week following (NZPB)
• collect/opening prayer reflection for July 17 and the week following (Common Worship CofE)
Collect from BCP (TEC):
Almighty God,
the fountain of all wisdom,
you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking:
Have compassion on our weakness,
and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not,
and for our blindness we cannot ask;
through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Bible Sunday
As well as our NZ church’s usual inability to have an agreed title for our Sunday (choose from 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Proper 11, or 5th Sunday after Pentecost), we can also celebrate National Bible Sunday (on a different date to other countries). This has its own set of readings! (But no collect! Remember: NZ, for reasons beyond me, has abandoned one of the best-known Cranmer collects: “…read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest…”). Clearly every Sunday should be Bible Sunday. But can someone in simple words explain to me why people abandon the international, ecumenical reading of the scriptures to talk about the value of the Bible?!!! Last Sunday I preached about the Bible as well as preaching on the readings set from the Bible. If you cannot do that – you shouldn’t be preaching! Pick up the concept of Bible Sunday by all means; do it in the prayers, hymns, sermon – but don’t abandon the normal RCL readings that we share around the world and ecumenically.
A more interesting approach is No Bible Sunday
BCP 1662
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.
BCP TEC
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Common Worship CofE
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
help us so to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast
the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
You can share any comments as well as any resources, ideas, sermon-starters, children’s activities, hymns, prayers, etc. in the comments section below.
Bible Sunday! How cool! (I’m also a preacher, studying for my doctorate in preaching & I know I’m biased!) Had never heard of it before. I REALLY like the Cranmer collect, maybe I’ll hear it as I am preaching at my Episcopal churches this Sunday!