¶		Seasonal Provisions

		For seasonal Prayers over the Water, see here.

		The headings (Epiphany/Baptism of Christ/Trinity, Easter/Pentecost and All Saints) indicate the seasonal emphases of the material. However, these texts may be used on any occasion to meet pastoral circumstances.

		Epiphany/Baptism of Christ/Trinity

		Introduction
		At our Lord's baptism in the river Jordan
		God showed himself to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
		The Father spoke from heaven, the Spirit descended as a dove
		and Jesus was anointed with power from on high.
		Here is the door of faith,
		through which we enter the kingdom of heaven.
		As children of God, we are adopted as his sons and daughters,
		and called to proclaim the wonders of him
		who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

		The Collect

		Lord of all time and eternity,
		you opened heaven's gate and revealed yourself as Father
		by the voice that called Jesus your beloved Son,
		baptizing him, in the power of the Spirit:
		reveal yourself to us now, to claim us as your children,
		and so complete the heavenly work of our rebirth
		in the waters of the new creation;
		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.
All		Amen.

		The Peace

		If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation.
		The old has passed away; the new has come.
		Prayers of Intercession
		God of glory,
		whose radiance shines from the face of Christ,
		give your children such assurance of your mercy
		and such knowledge of your grace,
		that, believing all you promise,
		and receiving all you give,
		they may be transformed ever more closely
		by your Spirit into the image of Jesus, your Son.

		Father of life,
All		make known your glory.

		God of light,
		whose life shines beyond all things,
		give us and all your Church
		the will to follow Christ
		and to bear his peace,
		that the light of Christ
		may bring confidence to the world,
		and faithfulness to all who look to you in hope.

		Father of life,
All		make known your glory.

		God of power,
		whose word gives life to heaven and earth,
		pour your abundant gifts on all your creation,
		that the blind may see, the fallen may be raised,
		and your people find tongues to confess
		your promises of a broken world made new.

		Father of life,
All		make known your glory.

		If Holy Communion does not follow, the prayers end with the Lord's Prayer.

		In baptism God declares that we are his children,
		whom he loves;
		so let us pray:
All		Our Father …

		Eucharistic Prefaces

		Short Preface (contemporary language)
		And now we give you thanks
		because by water and the Holy Spirit
		you have made us a holy people in Jesus Christ our Lord,
		you raise us to new life in him
		and renew in us the image of your glory.

		Short Preface (traditional language)
		And now we give thee thanks
		because by water and the Holy Spirit
		thou hast made us a holy people in Jesus Christ our Lord,
		thou dost raise us to new life in him
		and renew in us the image of thy glory.

		Post Communion

		God of glory,
		you inspire us with the breath of life
		which brought to birth a new world in Christ.
		May we who are reborn in him
		be transformed by the renewal of our lives,
		that the light of your new creation
		may flood the world with your abundant grace;
		through Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.
		The Blessing

		God, who in his Christ gives us a spring of water
		welling up to eternal life,
		perfect in you the image of his glory;
		and the blessing of God almighty,
		the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
		be among you and remain with you always.
All		Amen.

		Easter/Pentecost

		Introduction

		God raised Jesus Christ from the dead
		and sent the Holy Spirit to recall the whole world to himself.
		In baptism we die to sin and rise to newness of life in Christ.
		Here we find rebirth in the Spirit,
		and set our minds on his heavenly gifts.
		As children of God, we are continually created anew,
		as we walk the path of faith,
		and feed on the forgiveness of his healing grace.

		The Collect

		Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
		from whose wounded side flowed life for the world:
		raise your people from sin and death
		and build them as living stones
		into the spiritual temple of your Church;
		through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
		who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
		one God, world without end.
All		Amen.

		The Peace

		The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples
		and said 'Peace be with you'.
		Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.

		(or)

		God has made us one in Christ.
		He has set his seal upon us, and as a pledge of what is to come
		has given us the Spirit to dwell in our hearts.

		Prayers of Intercession

		Father, we thank you that by baptism
		you have raised these your children with Christ
		to new life in the Spirit.
		Guide and protect them with your grace,
		that they may follow you all their days
		and grow in knowledge and love of you.

		Father, by the victory of your Son,
All		give light to the world.

		May Christ who conquered sin and death
		keep his whole Church faithful to his gospel.
		Help us always to hold fast to truth
		and to walk in the way of life.

		Father, by the victory of your Son,
All		give light to the world.

		May the Holy Spirit fill the hearts and minds of all nations
		to unite the world in peace and love.
		By your healing power restore all that is broken
		and unite us with you, our God and Father.

		Father, by the victory of your Son,
All		give light to the world.

		If Holy Communion does not follow, the prayers end with the Lord's Prayer.

		Raised again with Christ in the power of the Spirit, we say:
All		Our Father …

		Eucharistic Prefaces

		Short Preface (contemporary language)
		And now we give you thanks
		because by water and the Holy Spirit
		you have made us a holy people in Jesus Christ our Lord,
		you raise us to new life in him
		and renew in us the image of your glory.

		Short Preface (traditional language)
		And now we give thee thanks
		because by water and the Holy Spirit
		thou hast made us a holy people in Jesus Christ our Lord,
		thou dost raise us to new life in him
		and renew in us the image of thy glory.

		Post Communion

		Author of life divine,
		in the resurrection of your Son, you set before us
		the mystery of his triumph over sin and death;
		may all who are washed in the waters of rebirth
		rise to newness of life
		and find the promised presence of your abundant grace;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		The Blessing

		God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead,
		strengthen you by his life-giving Spirit
		to walk with him in the paths of righteousness and peace;
		and the blessing of God almighty,
		the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
		be among you and remain with you always.
All		Amen.

		All Saints

		Introduction

		In baptism, God calls us to be his friends
		and to make us holy in his Son Jesus Christ.
		On this journey of faith we have no abiding city,
		for we have the promise of the heavenly Jerusalem,
		where the whole creation is brought to a new birth
		in the Holy Spirit.
		Here we are united in the company of all the faithful,
		and we look for the coming of the eternal kingdom.
		As children of God, we look through this passing age
		for the signs of the dawn of everlasting glory.

		The Collect

		Almighty Father,
		you have made us heirs through hope of your everlasting kingdom,
		and in the waters of baptism you have promised
		a measure of grace overflowing to all eternity.
		Take our sins and guilt away,
		and so inflame us with the life of your Spirit
		that we may know your favour and goodness towards us,
		and walk in newness of life, both now and for ever;
		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.
All		Amen.

		The Peace

		May the God of peace make you perfect and holy,
		that you may be kept safe and blameless in spirit, soul, and body,
		for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

		(or)

		We are fellow-citizens with the saints
		and of the household of God
		through Christ our Lord,
		who came and preached peace to those who were far off
		and those who were near.

		Prayers of Intercession

		Heavenly Father,
		receive into the arms of your mercy
		all who have been baptized
		and make them your own for ever;
		that, having tasted of your goodness,
		they may ever hunger for your continuing presence
		in their walk of faith.

		Your kingdom come.
All		Your will be done.

		Stir up within your Church the zeal that inspires
		your saints in every generation.
		Give us a due sense of your grace,
		and the strength to do your will.
		You measure us by our needs;
		may we never measure you by our impatience.

		Your kingdom come.
All		Your will be done.

		Surrounded by so great a company of witnesses,
		may we honour your blessings
		in all the ages that have gone before,
		and live in joyful expectation
		of your promises in the ages yet to come.

		Your kingdom come.
All		Your will be done.

		If Holy Communion does not follow, the prayers end with the Lord's Prayer.

		Remember us Lord in your heavenly kingdom
		as we your children unite our prayers with your Son:
All		Our Father …

		Eucharistic Prefaces

		Short Preface (contemporary language)
		And now we give you thanks
		because by water and the Holy Spirit
		you have made us a holy people in Jesus Christ our Lord,
		you raise us to new life in him
		and renew in us the image of your glory.

		Short Preface (traditional language)
		And now we give thee thanks
		because by water and the Holy Spirit
		thou hast made us a holy people in Jesus Christ our Lord,
		thou dost raise us to new life in him
		and renew in us the image of thy glory.

		Post Communion

		Lord, in the vision of your heavenly kingdom
		you reveal among us the promise of your glory;
		may that glory be ours
		as we claim our citizenship in the kingdom
		where you are alive and reign, one God, for ever and ever.
All		Amen.

		The Blessing

		May God, who kindled the fire of his love in the hearts of the saints,
		give you joy in their fellowship,
		and strengthen you to follow them in the way of holiness;
		and the blessing of God almighty,
		the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
		be among you and remain with you always.
All		Amen.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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