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Collects and Readings for Epiphany

Introduction

  • The feast of Epiphany (also called “The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles”) is always January 6. The season after the Epiphany is sometimes called Epiphanytide or simply “Epiphany.” See “Guide for Celebrating Epiphany” (coming soon).
  • In some churches, Epiphany is celebrated on the first Sunday after January 1.
  • The number of Sundays after the Epiphany depends on the date of Easter.
  • If the Feast of the Transfiguration is to be observed during the season after the Epiphany (that is, before Lent), the Collect and readings for the “Last Sunday after the Epiphany” must be used on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. Alternatively, the Feast of the Transfiguration may be observed on the more traditional date of August 6.

The Epiphany (January 6)

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

  • RCL: Isaiah 60:1–6; Psalm 72:1–7, 10–14; Ephesians 3:1–12; Matthew 2:1–12
  • BCP 1662: Isaiah 60:1–6; Psalm 72:1–7; 8–11; Ephesians 3:1–12; Matthew 2:1–12

Visual aid: Collect for the Epiphany (.jpg)

First Sunday after Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord

Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

  • RCL Year A: Isaiah 42:1–9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34–43; Matthew 3:13–17
  • RCL Year B: Genesis 1:1–5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1–7; Mark 1:4–11
  • RCL Year C: Isaiah 43:1–7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14–17; Luke 3:15–17, 21–22
  • BCP 1662 (Baptism of Christ): Isaiah 42:1–8; Psalm 98:1–4; 98:8–10; Galatians 3:23–29; Mark 1:1–11
  • BCP 1662 (First Sunday after Epiphany): Proverbs 1:1–9; Psalm 100; 84:1–4; Romans 12:1–5; Luke 2:41–52

Visual aid: Collect for the Baptism of our Lord (.jpg)

Second Sunday after Epiphany

Almighty God, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

  • RCL Year A: Isaiah 49:1–7; Psalm 40:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–9; John 1:29–42
  • RCL Year B: 1 Samuel 3:1–10, (11–20); Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18; 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; John 1:43–51
  • RCL Year C: Isaiah 62:1–5; Psalm 36:5–10; 1 Corinthians 12:1–11; John 2:1–11
  • BCP 1662: Isaiah 61:10–62:4; Psalm 66:1–3; 107:8–9; Romans 12:6–16; John 2:1–11

Visual aid: Collect for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany (.jpg)

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

  • RCL Year A: Isaiah 9:1–4; Psalm 27:1, 4–9; 1 Corinthians 1:10–18; Matthew 4:12–23
  • RCL Year B: Jonah 3:1–5, 10; Psalm 62:5–12; 1 Corinthians 7:29–31; Mark 1:14–20
  • RCL Year C: Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12–31a; Luke 4:14–21
  • BCP 1662: 1 Kings 8:22, 30, 41–43; Psalm 148:1–6; 102:15–18; Romans 12:16–21; Matthew 8:1–13

Visual aid: Collect for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany (.jpg)

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

  • RCL Year A: Micah 6:1–8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18–31; Matthew 5:1–12
  • RCL Year B: Deuteronomy 18:15–20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13; Mark 1:21–28
  • RCL Year C: Jeremiah 1:4–10; Psalm 71:1–6; 1 Corinthians 13:1–13; Luke 4:21–30
  • BCP 1662: Job 38:1–18; Psalm 98:1–7; 98:8–10; Romans 13:1–7; Mark 4:35–41

Visual aid: Collect for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (.jpg)

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

O God, set us free from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

  • RCL Year A: Isaiah 58:1–9a (9b–12); Psalm 112:1–9 (10); 1 Corinthians 2:1–12 (13–16); Matthew 5:13–20
  • RCL Year B:
  • RCL Year C: Isaiah 6:1–8, (9–13); Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11; Luke 5:1–11
  • BCP 1662: Daniel 12:1–4; Psalm 97:1–6; 126:5–7; Colossians 3:12–17; Matthew 13:24–30

Visual aid: Collect for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (.jpg)

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

O God, you are the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

  • RCL Year A:
  • RCL Year B:
  • RCL Year C: Jeremiah 17:5–10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12–20; Luke 6:17–26
  • BCP 1662: Isaiah 63:15–19; Psalm 99:1–5; 99:6–9; 1 John 3:1–8; Matthew 24:23–31

Visual aid: Collect for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (.jpg)

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

  • RCL Year A:
  • RCL Year B:
  • RCL Year C: Genesis 45:3–11, 15; Psalm 37:1–11, 39–40; 1 Corinthians 15:35–38, 42–50; Luke 6:27–38
  • BCP 1662:

Visual aid: Collect for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (.jpg)

Eighth Sunday after Epiphany

Most loving Father, it is your will for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

  • RCL Year A:
  • RCL Year B:
  • RCL Year C:
  • BCP 1662:

Visual aid: Collect for the Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany (.jpg)

Last Sunday after Epiphany (Transfiguration Sunday)

If the Feast of the Transfiguration is to be observed during the season after the Epiphany, the following Collect and readings must be used on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

O God, before the passion of your only-begotten Son you revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

  • RCL Year A: Exodus 24:12–18; Psalm 2 or Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16–21; Matthew 17:1–9
  • RCL Year B: 2 Kings 2:1–12; Psalm 50:1–6; 2 Corinthians 4:3–6; Mark 9:2–9
  • RCL Year C: Exodus 34:29–35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2; Luke 9:28–36, (37–43a)
  • BCP 1662:

Visual aid: Collect for the Transfiguration (.jpg)

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