Liturgical Moment of the Week: The Weekly Collect

By Fr. Brian+

We Episcopalians sure like to pray a lot. So much so, that we build pre-written prayers into our worship service. 

Imagine you are a pastor standing in front of and leading people all the time. You prayed ABC last week. You’ll pray XYZ this week. What about next week? Next year? Believe it or not, the words don’t always come.

Now, if you have the opportunity to pray prayers that have been thoughtfully written, tested and proven useful for generations, that would be a nice option. More than that, what if you planned the whole service to coordinate with one idea, one theme, and give the church one main idea to take home with them?

Last week, in the gospel reading from John 10, Jesus told us that he is the Good Shepherd, and that his sheep know his voice. 

There’s a collect for that.

Last week’s collect - the prayer that we prayed near the beginning of the service, addressed Jesus as our good shepherd. The prayer asked God to help us to hear the voice of Jesus:

“Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name and follow where he leads.”

What a beautiful prayer. Lord, help us to hear your voice, to recognize your voice - the voice of the God of the universe who is calling you, calling me - and to follow you wherever you lead.

Pray that prayer at the beginning of a worship service and see what amazing things God does in your heart and mind.

Here’s the trick. If Fr. Frans or I are praying that prayer, it is your place to listen carefully to the words, or follow them in the bulletin, as if you are praying them right along with us. Heaven forbid that you would let precious words slide by your mind without a trace. 

Instead, take in the prayers from our beautiful ancient liturgy, and watch the God of the universe bless your socks off.