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  Festivals January to June
     
     
   
The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus
White
    1 January    
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
whose blessed Son was circumcised
in obedience to the law for our sake
and given the Name that is above every name:
give us grace faithfully to bear his Name,
to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit,
and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    Eternal God,
whose incarnate Son was given the Name of Saviour:
grant that we who have shared
      in this sacrament of our salvation
may live out our years in the power
      of the Name above all other names,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
     
    25 January     The Conversion of Paul
White
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
who caused the light of the gospel
to shine throughout the world
through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul:
grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion
may follow him in bearing witness to your truth;
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.
     
    Post Communion
    of Apostles and Evangelists
     
    Almighty God,
who on the day of Pentecost
sent your Holy Spirit to the apostles
with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame,
filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel:
by the power of the same Spirit
strengthen us to witness to your truth
and to draw everyone to the fire of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
    (or)
     
    Lord God, the source of truth and love,
keep us faithful to the apostles' teaching and fellowship,
united in prayer and the breaking of bread,
and one in joy and simplicity of heart,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
     
    19 March Joseph of Nazareth
White
     
    Collect
     
    God our Father,
who from the family of your servant David
raised up Joseph the carpenter
to be the guardian of your incarnate Son
and husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
give us grace to follow him
in faithful obedience to your commands;
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.
     
    Post Communion
     
    Heavenly Father,
whose Son grew in wisdom and stature
in the home of Joseph the carpenter of Nazareth
and on the wood of the cross
      perfected the work of the world's salvation:
help us, strengthened by this sacrament of his passion,
to count the wisdom of the world as foolishness,
and to walk with him in simplicity and trust;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
     
    25 March The Annunciation of Our Lord
Gold or
   
Principal Feast
White
     
    Collect
     
    We beseech you, O Lord,
pour your grace into our hearts,
that as we have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ
      by the message of an angel,
so by his cross and passion
we may be brought to the glory of his resurrection;
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.
     
    Post Communion
     
    God most high,
whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh:
we thank you that in this sacrament of our redemption
you visit us with your Holy Spirit
and overshadow us by your power;
strengthen us to walk with Mary the joyful path of obedience
and so to bring forth the fruits of holiness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
     
    23 April George
Red
   
Martyr, Patron of England, c.304
 
     
    Collect
     
    God of hosts,
who so kindled the flame of love
in the heart of your servant George
that he bore witness to the risen Lord
by his life and by his death:
give us the same faith and power of love
that we who rejoice in his triumphs
may come to share with him the fullness of the resurrection;
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.
     
    Post Communion
     
    Eternal God,
who gave us this holy meal
in which we have celebrated the glory of the cross
and the victory of your martyr George:
by our communion with Christ
in his saving death and resurrection,
give us with all your saints the courage to conquer evil
and so to share the fruit of the tree of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
    (or)
     
    God our redeemer,
whose Church was strengthened
      by the blood of your martyr George:
so bind us, in life and death, to Christ's sacrifice
that our lives, broken and offered with his,
may carry his death and proclaim his resurrection in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
     
    25 April Mark
Red
     
Evangelist
 
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
who enlightened your holy Church
through the inspired witness of your evangelist Saint Mark:
grant that we, being firmly grounded
      in the truth of the gospel,
may be faithful to its teaching both in word and deed;  
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.
     
    Post Communion
     
    One of the Post Communions of Apostles and Evangelists is used.
     
     
    1 May Philip and James
Red
        
Apostles
 
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty Father,
whom truly to know is eternal life:
teach us to know your Son Jesus Christ
as the way, the truth, and the life;
that we may follow the steps
      of your holy apostles Philip and James,
and walk steadfastly in the way that leads to your glory;
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.
     
    Post Communion
     
    One of the Post Communions of Apostles and Evangelists is used.
     
     
    14 May Matthias
Red
      
Apostle
 
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
who in the place of the traitor Judas
chose your faithful servant Matthias
to be of the number of the Twelve:
preserve your Church from false apostles
and, by the ministry of faithful pastors and teachers,
keep us steadfast in your truth;
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.
     
    Post Communion
     
    One of the Post Communions of Apostles and Evangelists is used.
     
     
    31 May The Visit of
White
                       the Blessed Virgin Mary  
      to Elizabeth  
     
    Collect
     
    Mighty God,
by whose grace Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary
and greeted her as the mother of the Lord:
look with favour on your lowly servants
that, with Mary, we may magnify your holy name
and rejoice to acclaim her Son our Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    Gracious God,
who gave joy to Elizabeth and Mary
as they recognized the signs of redemption
      at work within them:
help us, who have shared in the joy of this eucharist,
to know the Lord deep within us
and his love shining out in our lives,
that the world may rejoice in your salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
     
    11 June Barnabas
Red
     
Apostle
 
     
    Collect
     
    Bountiful God, giver of all gifts,
who poured your Spirit upon your servant Barnabas
and gave him grace to encourage others:
help us, by his example,
to be generous in our judgements
and unselfish in our 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.
     
    Post Communion
     
    One of the Post Communions of Apostles and Evangelists is used.
     
     
    24 June The Birth of John the Baptist
White
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
by whose providence your servant John the Baptist
      was wonderfully born,
and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Saviour
by the preaching of repentance:
lead us to repent according to his preaching
and, after his example,
constantly to speak the truth, boldly to rebuke vice,
and patiently to suffer for the truth's sake;
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.
     
    Post Communion
     
    Merciful Lord,
whose prophet John the Baptist
proclaimed your Son as the Lamb of God
      who takes away the sin of the world:
grant that we who in this sacrament
      have known your forgiveness and your life-giving love
may ever tell of your mercy and your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
     
    29 June Peter and Paul
Red
     
Apostles
 
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul
glorified you in their death as in their life:
grant that your Church,
inspired by their teaching and example,
and made one by your Spirit,
may ever stand firm upon the one foundation,
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, where Peter is celebrated alone
     
    Almighty God,
who inspired your apostle Saint Peter
to confess Jesus as Christ and Son of the living God:
build up your Church upon this rock,
that in unity and peace it may proclaim one truth
and follow one Lord, your Son our Saviour Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    One of the Post Communions of Apostles and Evangelists is used.
     
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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