Prayers: Ember Days
Collect 351
For the ministry of all Christian people:
Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctifi ed:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
or for those to be ordained:
Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts,
by your Holy Spirit you have appointed
various orders of ministry in the Church:
look with mercy on your servant(s)
now called to be deacon(s)/priest(s)/a bishop;
maintain him/her/them in truth and renew him/her/them in holiness,
that by word and good example he/she/they may faithfully serve you
to the glory of your name and the benefit of your Church;
through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
or for vocations to Holy Orders:
Almighty God,
you have entrusted to your Church
a part in the ministry of your Son our great High Priest:
inspire by your Holy Spirit the hearts of many
to offer themselves for ordination in your Church,
that strengthened by his power,
they may work for the increase of your kingdom
and set forward the eternal praise of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
or for the inauguration of a new ministry:
God our Father, Lord of all the world,
through your Son you have called us into the fellowship
of your universal Church:
hear our prayer for your faithful people
that in their vocation and ministry each may be an
instrument of your love,
and give to your servant N. now to be …(installed, instituted, etc.)
the needful gifts of grace;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Post Communion Prayer 352
Heavenly Father,
whose ascended Son gave gifts of leadership and service
to the Church:
strengthen us who have received this holy food
to be good stewards of your manifold grace,
through him who came not to be served but to serve,
and give his life as a ransom for many,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
or
Lord of the harvest,
you have fed your people in this sacrament
with the fruits of creation made holy by your Spirit:
by your grace raise up among us faithful labourers
to sow your word and reap the harvest of souls;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the gifts
God, our strength and our redeemer,
you call us to leave the past behind
and follow wherever you lead;
receive these gifts for the good of all your faithful people.
Following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ,
may we make your love known in word and deed
through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.