The Church of the Advent

Almighty God, who on this day didst open the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of thy 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

O God, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless, but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Savior Christ is gone before; who liveth

Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter: O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we, loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through

O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leadeth to eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of thy people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calleth us each by name, and follow where he doth lead; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our  faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the

Today we celebrate together a neglected and misunderstood moment in our Lord’s life and ministry. It is the Ascension, which concludes Jesus Christ’s work on earth. And we say we believe in the Ascension every time we recite the Nicene Creed, but I doubt whether we are always fully aware of what the Ascension entails.

Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son:  if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. It seems this declaration from Jesus to the apostles leaves them a wide open field to furrow and plant their prayers of petition.  …if you

I have not owned my own car for 23 years. We have been fortunate to live in places where you don’t need one. So I have done a lot of walking in my life. I like to walk. But I have done a lot of walking these past few weeks—more even than I normally would.