Collects and Readings for Lent and Holy Week

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.
Scripture 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).

Ash Wednesday

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL (every year): Joel 2:1–2, 12–17 or Isaiah 58:1–12; Psalm 51:1–17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10; Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
BCP 1662: Joel 2:12–19; Psalm 57:1–7; 103:8–14; James 4:6–11; Matthew 6:16–21

Visual aid: Collect for Ash Wednesday (.jpg)

First Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, your blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11
RCL Year B: Genesis 9:8–17; Psalm 25:1–10; 1 Peter 3:18–22; Mark 1:9–15
RCL Year C: Deuteronomy 26:1–11; Psalm 91:1–2, 9-16 Romans 10:8b-13 Luke 4:1-13
BCP 1662: Deuteronomy 8:1–10; Psalm 91:1–8; 9–16; 2 Corinthians 6:1–10; Matthew 4:1–11

Visual aid: Collect for First Sunday in Lent (.jpg)

Second Sunday in Lent

O God, it is your glory to always have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Genesis 12:1–4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1–5, 13–17; John 3:1–17 or Matthew 17:1–9
RCL Year B: Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16; Psalm 22:23–31; Romans 4:13–25; Mark 8:31–38 or Mark 9:2–9
RCL Year C: Genesis 15:1–12, 17–18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17–4:1; Luke 13:31–35 or Luke 9:28–36, (37–43a)
BCP 1662: Joshua 2:1–14; Psalm 25:1–7; 123; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–7; Matthew 15:21–28

Visual aid: Collect for Second Sunday in Lent (.jpg)

Third Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; 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 17:1–7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1–11; John 4:5–42
RCL Year B: Exodus 20:1–17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18–25; John 2:13–22
RCL Year C: Isaiah 55:1–9; Psalm 63:1–8; 1 Corinthians 10:1–13; Luke 13:1–9
BCP 1662: Deuteronomy 12:1–7; Psalm 25:8–15; 25:16–22; Ephesians 5:1–14; Luke 11:14–26

Visual aid: Collect for Third Sunday in Lent (.jpg)

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

RCL Year A: 1 Samuel 16:1–13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8–14; John 9:1–41
RCL Year B: Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Ephesians 2:1–10; John 3:14–21
RCL Year C: Joshua 5:9–12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16–21; Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32
BCP 1662: Deuteronomy 15:1–11; Psalm 122; 125; Galatians 4:26–5:1; John 6:5–14

Visual aid: Collect for Fourth Sunday in Lent (.jpg)

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

RCL Year A: Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6–11; John 11:1–45
RCL Year B: Jeremiah 31:31–34; Psalm 51:1–12 or Psalm 119:9–16; Hebrews 5:5–10; John 12:20–33
RCL Year C: Isaiah 43:16–21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b–14; John 12:1–8
BCP 1662: Isaiah 1:10–20 or Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 43; 143:1–10; Hebrews 9:11–15; Matthew 20:20–28

Visual aid: Collect for Fifth Sunday in Lent (.jpg)

Sunday Before Easter (Passion Sunday/Palm Sunday)

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

RCL Year A, Liturgy of the Palms: Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Matthew 21:1–11
RCL Year A, Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 31:9–16; Philippians 2:5–11; Matthew 26:14–27:66 or Matthew 27:11–54
RCL Year B, Liturgy of the Palms: Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Mark 11:1–11 or John 12:12–16
RCL Year B, Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 31:9–16; Philippians 2:5–11; Mark 14:1–15:47 or Mark 15:1–39, (40–47)
RCL Year C, Liturgy of the Palms: Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Luke 19:28–40
RCL Year C, Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 31:9–16; Philippians 2:5–11; Luke 22:14–23:56 or Luke 23:1–49
BCP 1662: Isaiah 49:1–9; Psalm 118:19–29 or 22:1–11; 22:12–21; Philippians 2:5–11; Matthew 27:1–54 or 21:1–11

Visual aid: Collect for Palm/Passion Sunday (.jpg)

Monday in Holy Week

Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL (every year): Isaiah 42:1–9; Psalm 36:5–11; Hebrews 9:11–15; John 12:1–11
BCP 1662: Isaiah 63:7–9; Psalm 35:1–3; 79:8–10; Galatians 6:1–9; Mark 14

Visual aid: Collect for Holy Monday (.jpg)

Tuesday in Holy Week

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL (every year): Isaiah 49:1–7; Psalm 71:1–14; 1 Corinthians 1:18–31; John 12:20–36
BCP 1662: Isaiah 50:5–9; Psalm 69:17–22; 35:11–16; Romans 5:6–11; Mark 15:1–39

Visual aid: Collect for Holy Tuesday (.jpg)

Wednesday in Holy Week

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL (every year): Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1–3; John 13:21–32
BCP 1662: Isaiah 53:4–7; Psalm 102:1–11; 55:12–15; Hebrews 9:15–28; Luke 22

Visual aid: Collect for Holy Wednesday (.jpg)

Maundy Thursday

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL (every year): Exodus 12:1–4, (5–10), 11–14; Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; John 13:1–17, 31b–35
BCP 1662: Exodus 24:3–11; Psalm 67; 22:22–26; 1 Corinthians 11:23–29; Luke 23:1–49; for the Liturgy of the Garden, Matthew 26:30–46

Visual aid: Collect for Maundy Thursday (.jpg)

Good Friday

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL (every year): Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16–25 or Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9; John 18:1–19:42
BCP 1662: Exodus 12:1–6; 12–14; Psalm 54; Hebrews 10:1–25; John 18:33–19:37

Visual aid: Collect for Good Friday (.jpg)

Holy Saturday

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

RCL (every year): Job 14:1–14 or Lamentations 3:1–9, 19–24; Psalm 31:1–4, 15–16; 1 Peter 4:1–8; Matthew 27:57–66 or John 19:38–42
BCP 1662: Exodus 14:19–22; Psalm 42:1–7; 42:8–14; 1 Peter 3:17–22; Matthew 27:57–66

Visual aid: Collect for Holy Saturday (.jpg)