Collects and Readings for Easter

Introduction

A collect (pronounced “cah· lect”) is a short prayer to unite the thoughts and intentions of God’s gathered people.
The Collects below are adapted from the Book of Common Prayer.
Each Sunday includes an Old Testament reading, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel reading.
Readings on a three-year cycle are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL).
Readings from the more traditional, one-year lectionary are taken from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP 1662) with Psalms and an OT readings supplied by the Prayer Book Society of Canada. The first Psalm is the Introit (read/sung as the ministers enter); the second Psalm is the Gradual (read/sung between the Epistle and Gospel).
For more information and resources, see “A Guide to the Easter Season.”

Easter Vigil

See “Collects, Readings, and Canticles for the Great Vigil of Easter.”

Easter Sunday (Resurrection of the Lord)

O God, for our redemption you gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Almighty God, through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ you overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Acts 10:34–43 or Jeremiah 31:1–6; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; Colossians 3:1–4 or Acts 10:34–43; John 20:1–18 or Matthew 28:1–10
RCL Year B: Acts 10:34–43 or Isaiah 25:6–9; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 or Acts 10:34–43; John 20:1–18 or Mark 16:1–8
RCL Year C: Acts 10:34–43 or Isaiah 65:17–25; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; 1 Corinthians 15:19–26 or Acts 10:34–43; John 20:1–18 or Luke 24:1–12
BCP 1662: Isaiah 25:6–9; Psalm 139:1–5, 17–18; Psalm 118:22–25; Colossians 3:1–11; John 20:1–10

Visual aid: Collect for Easter Sunday (.jpg)

Second Sunday of Easter

Almighty and everlasting God, in the Paschal mystery you established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Acts 2:14a, 22–32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3–9; John 20:19–31
RCL Year B: Acts 4:32–35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1–2:2; John 20:19–31
RCL Year C: Acts 5:27–32; Psalm 118:14–29 or Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4–8; John 20:19–31
BCP 1662: Acts 2:41–47; Psalm 81:1–4; Psalm 118:22–25; 1 John 5:4–12; John 20:19–23

Visual aid: Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter (.jpg)

Third Sunday of Easter

O God, your blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Acts 2:14, 36–41; Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19; 1 Peter 1:17–23; Luke 24:13–35
RCL Year B: Acts 3:12–19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1–7; Luke 24:36b–48
RCL Year C: Acts 9:1–6, (7–20); Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11–14; John 21:1–19
BCP 1662: Acts 4:1–12; Psalm 33:1–9; Psalm 63:1–4; 1 Peter 2:19–25; John 10:11–16

Visual aid: Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter (.jpg)

Fourth Sunday of Easter

O God, your Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Acts 2:42–47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19–25; John 10:1–10
RCL Year B: Acts 4:5–12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16–24; John 10:11–18
RCL Year C: Acts 9:36–43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9–17; John 10:22–30
BCP 1662: Acts 4:23–31; Psalm 66:1–6; Psalm 66:7–8; 1 Peter 2:11–17; John 16:16–22

Visual aid: Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (.jpg)

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Almighty God, to know you is truly everlasting life: Grant us to so perfectly know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Acts 7:55–60; Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16; 1 Peter 2:2–10; John 14:1–14
RCL Year B: Acts 8:26–40; Psalm 22:25–31; 1 John 4:7–21; John 15:1–8
RCL Year C: Acts 11:1–18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1–6; John 13:31–35
BCP 1662: Acts 4:32–35; Psalm 98:1–4; Psalm 118:15–18; James 1:17–21; John 16:5–15

Visual aid: Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (.jpg)

Sixth Sunday of Easter

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Acts 17:22–31; Psalm 66:8–20; 1 Peter 3:13–22; John 14:15–21
RCL Year B: Acts 10:44–48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1–6; John 15:9–17
RCL Year C: Acts 16:9–15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22–22:5; John 14:23–29 or John 5:1–9
BCP 1662: Acts 9:32–42; Psalm 107:1–9; Psalm 66:15–19; James 1:22–27; John 16:23–33

Visual aid: Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (.jpg)

Ascension Day

Almighty God, your blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL: Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47 or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15–23; Luke 24:44–53
BCP 1662: Daniel 7:13–14; Psalm 47:1–7; Psalm 68:17–20; Acts 1:1–11; Mark 16:14–20

Visual aid: Collect for Ascension Day (.jpg)

Seventh Sunday of Easter (Sunday after the Ascension)

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

RCL Year A: Acts 1:6–14; Psalm 68:1–10, 32–35; 1 Peter 4:12–14; 5:6–11; John 17:1–11
RCL Year B: Acts 1:15–17, 21–26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9–13; John 17:6–19
RCL Year C: Acts 16:16–34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12–14, 16–17, 20–21; John 17:20–26
BCP 1662: Isaiah 32:14–17; Psalm 27:1–12; Psalm 47:5–10; 1 Peter 4:7–11; John 15:26–16:4

Visual aid: Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (.jpg)

The Day of Pentecost (Whitsunday)

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

O God, on this day you 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 judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Acts 2:1–21 or Numbers 11:24–30; Psalm 104:24–34, 35b; 1 Corinthians 12:3b–13 or Acts 2:1–21; John 20:19–23 or John 7:37–39
RCL Year B: Acts 2:1–21 or Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 104:24–34, 35b; Romans 8:22–27 or Acts 2:1–21; John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15
RCL Year C: Acts 2:1–21 or Genesis 11:1–9; Psalm 104:24–34, 35b; Romans 8:14–17 or Acts 2:1–21; John 14:8–17, (25–27)
BCP 1662: Psalm 68:1–6; Psalm 68:7–10 or 125; Acts 2:1–11; John 14:15–27

Visual aid: Collect for Pentecost (.jpg)