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).
Easter Vigil
O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
See “The Great Vigil of Easter (Sample Liturgy).”
Easter Sunday (Resurrection of the Lord)
O God, who for our redemption 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, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ 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: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for Easter Sunday
Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery 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: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter
Third Sunday of Easter
O God, whose 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: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter
Fourth Sunday of Easter
O God, whose 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: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to 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: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter
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: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter
Ascension Day
Almighty God, whose 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 Year A: Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47 or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15–23; Luke 24:44–53
- RCL Year B: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for Ascension Day
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: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
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, who on this day 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: Coming soon
- RCL Year C: Coming soon
- BCP 1662: Coming soon
Visual aid(s):
- Collect for Pentecost