Choral Services

Collect:

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect:

O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee, and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 10)

Collect:

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion, we beseech thee, upon our infirmities, and those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, mercifully give us for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 11)

Today we remember Saint James (the Greater), the brother of John, who along with John and Peter, appeared to be set apart from the other disciples quite frequently. For example, it was Peter, James and John with the Lord at his Transfiguration.

James is "the Greater" to contrast him with the other one of the twelve also named James. James (the Lesser) is commemorated with Saint Philip in May. 

►In 2010, when the Feast of Saint James fell on a Sunday, Fr Austin preached a sermon entitled How to Get Close to Jesus.

Collect:

O gracious God, we remember before thee this day thy servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that thou wilt pour out upon the leaders of thy Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among thy people; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Priest and Ecumenist
Sixth Rector of Grace Church, New York City
b. 1838
d. 1909

Authored the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral which can be found in the historical documents section of the 1979 Prayer Book. He also wrote the collect we use during worship on Monday in Holy Week.

Collect:

O Lord our God, we thank thee for instilling in the heart of thy servant William Reed Huntington a fervent love for thy Church and its mission in the world; and we pray that, with unflagging faith in thy promises, we may make known to all people thy blessed gift of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mary and Martha were the sisters of Lazarus. On this, Scripture is clear. Roman Catholics believe Mary of Bethany is the same person as Mary Magdalene; on this, Scripture is not clear. The Episcopal Church has a separate feast day for Saint Mary Magdalene.

Worth reading (or listening to) is Fr Daniels' 2010 sermon on the siblings entitled Martha and Mary.

Collect:

O God, heavenly Father, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed rest and refreshment in the home of Mary and Martha of Bethany: Give us the will to love thee, open our hearts to hear thee, and strengthen our hands to serve thee in others for his sake; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.