Prayers for Various Occasions

		Prayers for Various Occasions

		A Morning Collect

		Almighty and everlasting God,
		we thank you that you have brought us safely
		to the beginning of this day.
		Keep us from falling into sin
		or running into danger,
		order us in all our doings
		and guide us to do always
		what is righteous in your sight;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		An Evening Collect

		Lighten our darkness,
		Lord, we pray,
		and in your great mercy
		defend us from all perils and dangers of this night,
		for the love of your only Son,
		our Saviour Jesus Christ.
All		Amen.

		A Prayer for the Sovereign

		Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,
		bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth,
		and all who are in authority under her;
		that they may order all things
		in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace,
		to the honour of your name,
		and the good of your Church and people;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		A Prayer for the Royal Family

		Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,
		bless, we pray,
		Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Charles Prince of Wales,
		and all the Royal Family.
		Endue them with your Holy Spirit;
		enrich them with your heavenly grace;
		prosper them with all happiness;
		and bring them to your everlasting kingdom;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		A Prayer for Those who Govern

		Eternal God,
		fount and source of all authority and wisdom,
		hear our prayer for those who govern.
		Give to Elizabeth our Queen grace
		as the symbol of loyalty and unity
		for all our different peoples;
		give to the parliaments in these islands,
		and especially to our own Government,
		wisdom and skill, imagination and energy;
		give to the members of the European institutions
		vision, understanding and integrity,
		that all may live in peace and happiness, truth and prosperity;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		A Prayer for Bishops and other Pastors

		Almighty and everlasting God,
		the only worker of great marvels,
		send down upon our bishops and other pastors
		and all congregations committed to their care
		the spirit of your saving grace;
		and that they may truly please you,
		pour upon them the continual dew of your blessing.
		Grant this, O Lord,
		for the honour of our advocate and mediator, Jesus Christ.
All		Amen.

		A Prayer of Dedication

All		Almighty God,
		we thank you for the gift of your holy word.
		May it be a lantern to our feet,
		a light to our paths,
		and a strength to our lives.
		Take us and use us
		to love and serve
		in the power of the Holy Spirit
		and in the name of your Son,
		Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

		Additional Collects

		Where a Collect ends 'through Jesus Christ…', the following longer Trinitarian ending may be added

		who is alive and reigns with you,
		in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
		one God, now and for ever.

		This longer ending is to be preferred at Holy Communion.

		The Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity (contemporary language or traditional language) may be used as a Collect for the ministry of all Christian people.

		The Collect for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity (contemporary language or traditional language) may be used as a Collect for mission and evangelism.

		Further Collects for special occasions are published in the President's edition of Common Worship.

		For the Guidance of the Holy Spirit

		God, who from of old
		taught the hearts of your faithful people
		by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
		grant us by the same Spirit
		to have a right judgement in all things
		and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;
		through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour.

		For the Guidance of the Holy Spirit at a Synod or Parochial Church Council meeting

		Almighty God,
		you have given your Holy Spirit to the Church
		to lead us into all truth:
		bless with the Spirit's grace and presence
		the members of this synod/PCC/etc.;
		keep us/them steadfast in faith and united in love,
		that we/they may manifest your glory
		and prepare the way of your kingdom;
		through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

		For Those who Work on Land or Sea (Rogation)

		Almighty God,
		whose will it is that the earth and the sea
		should bear fruit in due season:
		bless the labours of those who work on land and sea,
		grant us a good harvest
		and the grace always to rejoice in your fatherly care;
		through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

		For Those Engaged in Commerce and Industry (Rogation)

		Almighty God and Father,
		you have so ordered our life
		that we are dependent on one another:
		prosper those engaged in commerce and industry
		and direct their minds and hands
		that they may rightly use your gifts in the service of others;
		through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

		For the Unity of the Church (1)

		Heavenly Father,
		you have called us in the Body of your Son Jesus Christ
		to continue his work of reconciliation
		and reveal you to the world:
		forgive us the sins which tear us apart;
		give us the courage to overcome our fears
		and to seek that unity which is your gift and your will;
		through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

		For the Unity of the Church (2)

		Lord Jesus Christ,
		who said to your apostles,
		'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you':
		look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church
		and grant it the peace and unity of your kingdom;
		where you are alive and reign with the Father
		in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
		one God, now and for ever.

		For the Peace of the World

		Almighty God,
		from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
		kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace
		and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom
		those who take counsel for the nations of the earth
		that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,
		till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love;
		through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

		For Social Justice and Responsibility

		Eternal God,
		in whose perfect realm
		no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness,
		and no strength known but the strength of love:
		so guide and inspire the work of those who seek your kingdom
		that all your people may find their security
		in that love which casts out fear
		and in the fellowship revealed to us
		in Jesus Christ our Saviour.

		For Vocations

		Almighty God,
		you have entrusted to your Church
		a share in the ministry of your Son our great high priest:
		inspire by your Holy Spirit the hearts of many
		to offer themselves for the ministry of your Church,
		that strengthened by his power,
		they may work for the increase of your kingdom
		and set forward the eternal praise of your name;
		through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

		A Text of the Lord's Prayer

		This text may be used on suitable occasions

		As we look for the coming of the kingdom, so we pray

All		Our Father in heaven,
		hallowed be your name,
		your kingdom come,
		your will be done,
		on earth as in heaven.
		Give us today our daily bread.
		Forgive us our sins
		as we forgive those who sin against us.
		Save us from the time of trial
		and deliver us from evil.
		For the kingdom, the power,
		and the glory are yours
		now and for ever.
		Amen.


¶		Endings and Blessings

		1
		The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.
		cf 2 Corinthians 13.13
All		Amen.

		2
		Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, by the power which is at work among us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all ages.
All		Amen.

		3
		The Lord be with you
All		and also with you.

		Let us bless the Lord.
All		Thanks be to God.

		4
		The Lord bless you and watch over you,
		the Lord make his face shine upon you
		and be gracious to you,
		the Lord look kindly on you
		and give you 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.

		5
		The love of the Lord Jesus
		draw you to himself,
		the power of the Lord Jesus
		strengthen you in his service,
		the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
		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
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.