Archive for September, 2019

Collect for Purity

2019/09/12

The Collect is a short opening prayer in a service of worship before the Epistle is read. It may be an invocation, petition, or an affirmation of God’s glory. In the Methodist Church, it is a short prayer with a very precise form. It contains an address to God referring to some attribute of God, a petition relating to that attribute, a reference to the desired results of the petition, and closing words stating that the prayer is through Jesus Christ. The term is derived from the gathering of private petitions from several members of a congregation into a single public prayer. The collectar is a medieval liturgical book containing the collects used in Divine Offices. There are many Collects published in the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer.

The following Collect for Purity is an ancient prayer.

Deus Cui omne cor patet, et omnis voluntas loquitur, et Quem nullum latet secretum; purifica per infusionem Sancti Spiritus cogitationes cordis nostri; ut Te perfecte diligere, et digne laudare mereamur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Sarum Sacramentary (Latin, c. 1085)

God, unto whom alle hertes ben open, and unto whom alle wille spekith , and unto whom no privé thing is hid : I beseche thee so for to clense the entent of myn heart with the unspekable gift of thi grace that I may parfiteliche love thee, and worthilich preise thee. Amen.
Introduction to The Cloud of Unknowing (14th Century)

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer (Traditional, 1549)

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: 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.
Book of Common Prayer (Contemporary, 1979)

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Prayer of the Harvest

2019/09/12

Lord of the fields, the Bible says that when a farmer reaps the harvest of the land, they should not reap the very edges of the field or gather the gleanings of the harvest.

Jesus, you said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Today in America, 40% of all food goes uneaten. Send modern-day gleaners to grocery stores and restaurants to gather food that would otherwise go to waste. Fill our food pantries with your bountiful harvest and love for the needy and stranger among us.

In your precious name, we pray.
Amen.

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