Collects: (ii) Contemporary Language

 

Here are prayers addressed to the Father in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the health of the Church of God which is the Body of Christ and Household of Faith. With a little consideration and meditation, they are easily made to have immediate reference to the North American churches and members of the Anglican Way, who in penitence and faith approach the Throne of Grace in the Name of Jesus Christ, seeking for divine help and heavenly blessing.

 

O Gracious Father, we humbly pray  for Your holy Catholic Church; that You would be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever lives to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen

 

We humbly ask You, O Father, mercifully to look upon our spiritual and physical weaknesses; and, for the glory of thy Nam,  turn away from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved; and grant, that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in Your mercy, and evermore serve You in holiness and purity of life, to Your  honor and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Almighty and everlasting God, from whom comes every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our Bishops, and other clergy, and upon the dioceses and  congregations committed to  their care, the healthful Spirit of Your grace; and, that they may truly please You, pour upon them the continual dew of Your blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace to be fully aware of  the great spiritual dangers we are in because of our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and fellowship: that as there is but one Body  and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may all be of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and love, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify You; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Blessed Lord, You who have caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our education and instruction; Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which You have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

O God, You who know that we are placed amongst so many and great dangers, and that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

O Lord, we ask You to keep Your Church and household continually in Your true religion; that they who rest in the hope of  Your heavenly grace may evermore be defended by Your mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Almighty God, You who see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Almighty God, You who show to them that are in error the light of Your truth, so  that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s household and family, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to this membership, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

O Almighty God, You who alone can control the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto Your people, that they may love the thing which You command, and desire that which You promise; that so, among the many and various changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Send we ask You, Almighty God, Your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may direct and rule us according to Your  will, comfort us in all our afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

O God, the protector of all that trust in You, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us Your mercy; that, You being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

O God, You who have prepared for those who love You such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward You, that we, loving You  above all things, may obtain Your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Lord of all power and might, You who are the author and giver of all good things; Graft into our hearts the love of Your Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Keep, we ask You, O Lord, Your  Church, with Your never changing  mercy; and, because human frailty without You cannot but fall, keep us always by Your help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

O Lord, we ask You, let Your continual mercy and grace cleanse and defend Your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without Your continual protection,  preserve it evermore by Your help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Lord, we ask You to keep Your household the Church in continual godliness; that through Your  protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve You  in good works, to the glory of Your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Stir up, we ask You, O Lord, the wills of Your  faithful people; that they, bringing forth the fruit of good  works, may by You be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

We commend to You, Almighty God, the whole membership of the Anglican Way in North America. Bless all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the grace and power of the Holy Spirit fill every member, so that all your people may bear witness for You on the earth. Heal, we ask of You, the divisions of your people, disposing the wills of all to a true union in the truth, for the work of the one Lord. And above all we pray for the unity of the Spirit through whom alone we are guided into all truth and led into all holiness; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

Almighty and everliving God, [you] who guided your servant Thomas Cranmer, with others, to present the worship of your Church in a language which the people understood and which was true to biblical teaching: Make us always thankful for this our heritage as Anglicans, and help us, in being guided by it, so to pray in the Spirit and with the understanding also, that we may worthily exalt your holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. /i>. Amen