Ordinary Time (Before Lent)

The Fifth Sunday before Lent
Green

This provision is always used from the day after the Presentation of Christ in the Temple until the first of the Sundays before Lent.

Collect

Almighty God,

by whose grace alone we are accepted

and called to your service:

strengthen us by your Holy Spirit

and make us worthy of our calling;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

(or)

God of our salvation,

help us to turn away from those habits which harm our bodies

and poison our minds

and to choose again your gift of life,

revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Post Communion

God of truth,

we have seen with our eyes

and touched with our hands the bread of life:

strengthen our faith

that we may grow in love for you and for each other;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Fourth Sunday before Lent
Green
Collect

O God,

you know us to be set

in the midst of so many and great dangers,

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 your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

(or)

Lord of the hosts of heaven,

our salvation and our strength,

without you we are lost:

guard us from all that harms or hurts

and raise us when we fall;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Post Communion

Go before us, Lord, in all we do

with your most gracious favour,

and guide us with your continual help,

that in all our works

begun, continued and ended in you,

we may glorify your holy name,

and finally by your mercy receive everlasting life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Third Sunday before Lent
Green
Collect

Almighty God,

who alone can bring order

to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity:

give your people grace

so to love what you command

and to desire what you promise,

that, among the many changes of this world,

our hearts may surely there be fixed

where true joys are to be found;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

(or)

Eternal God,

whose Son went among the crowds

and brought healing with his touch:

help us to show his love,

in your Church as we gather together,

and by our lives as they are transformed

into the image of Christ our Lord.

Post Communion

Merciful Father,

who gave Jesus Christ to be for us the bread of life,

that those who come to him should never hunger:

draw us to the Lord in faith and love,

that we may eat and drink with him

at his table in the kingdom,

where he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

The Second Sunday before Lent
Green
Collect

Almighty God,

you have created the heavens and the earth

and made us in your own image:

teach us to discern your hand in all your works

and your likeness in all your children;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things,

now and for ever.

(or) **

Almighty God,

give us reverence for all creation

and respect for every person,

that we may mirror your likeness

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Post Communion

God our creator,

by your gift

the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise,

and the bread of life at the heart of your Church:

may we who have been nourished at your table on earth

be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross

and enjoy the delights of eternity;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Sunday next before Lent
Green

This provision is not used on or after Ash Wednesday.

Collect

Almighty Father,

whose Son was revealed in majesty

before he suffered death upon the cross:

give us grace to perceive his glory,

that we may be strengthened to suffer with him

and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

(or)

Holy God,

you know the disorder of our sinful lives:

set straight our crooked hearts,

and bend our wills to love your goodness

and your glory

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Post Communion

Holy God,

we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ:

may we who are partakers at his table

reflect his life in word and deed,

that all the world may know his power to change and save.

This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Common Worship: Collects and Post Communions, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.

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