Collects

There is a collect for each week of the church's year, used in the Eucharist services in order that we might 'collect' our thoughts and focus together on the teaching for the week. 

The collects for the lesser festivals are also useful in helping us to focus on the lives and example of those who have gone before us. 

     3 February      Anskar :Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865
    
           God of grace and might,
who sent your servant Anskar
to spread the gospel to the Nordic peoples:
raise up, we pray, in our generation
      messengers of your good news
      and heralds of your kingdom
that the world may come to know
      the immeasurable riches of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.		  
 14 February     Cyril and Methodius :Missionaries to the Slavs, 869 and 885

            Lord of all,
who gave to your servants Cyril and Methodius
the gift of tongues to proclaim the gospel to the Slavs:
make your whole Church one as you are one
that all Christians may honour one another,
and east and west acknowledge
      one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
and you, the God and Father of all;
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.
 
          

 
 17 February     Janani Luwum :Archbishop of Uganda, Martyr, 1977
    
            God of truth,
whose servant Janani Luwum walked in the light,
and in his death defied the powers of darkness:
free us from fear of those who kill the body,
that we too may walk as children of light,
through him who overcame darkness by the power of the cross,
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.		  
 23 February     Polycarp: Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c.155
               
            Almighty God,
who gave to your servant Polycarp
boldness to confess the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ
      before the rulers of this world
and courage to die for his faith:
grant that we also may be ready
to give an answer for the faith that is in us
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.		  
            
                    27 February     George Herbert : Priest, 1633

            King of glory, king of peace,
who called your servant George Herbert
from the pursuit of worldly honours
to be a priest in the temple of his God and king:
grant us also the grace to offer ourselves
with singleness of heart in humble obedience to your service;
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.