Grant us the faith to know you and love you

Grant us the faith to know you and love you

Faith is a gift from God. In the Common Worship Baptism service, at the Presentation of the Candidates, the president, addressing the whole congregation, reminds us that, “Faith is the gift of God to his people.”

It’s through faith in God that we can know his love. Although God still loves each one of us, even when we don’t have faith in him (nothing can separate us from that): without faith we can’t really experience his love for ourselves. It would sound somewhat odd to say, “I don’t really believe you exist, but nevertheless, it’s good that you love me” — in fact, it sounds pretty daft! So we need the gift of faith to appreciate the gift of love.

God fully loves each and every one of us, as if we were the only ones too love. So much so, that he died on a cross for us. But without faith, we could not experience it. With faith, we can truly know it.

And that is quite simply, amazing!

True and humble king,
hailed by the crowd as Messiah:
grant us the faith to know you and love you,
that we may be found beside you
on the way of the cross,
which is the path of glory. Amen.

Additional Collect for Palm Sunday
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Give us the will to be the servant of others

Give us the will to be the servant of others

It’s a shame that such wonderful words as can be found in today’s (Fifth Sunday of Lent) Post Communion prayer, are hidden away in a place where they won’t always get the attention they deserve. But it isn’t unusual to find such good examples of Anglican doctrine shining forth from the liturgy we use.

At Godmanchester we do try very hard to give the Post Communion prayer its proper place within the liturgy. But, as much as we aim for a short period of silence, it rarely happens fully — there’s usually some sort of background hum to be heard; and the Deacon and servers will sometimes still be doing the ablutions. The result is that sometimes these are just more words said by the Celebrant, and, I’m sure, missed by many in the congregation.

I wasn’t there today, so don’t know if things went the same as normal. But I do hope some heard, and were able to pray with the Celebrant, today’s Post Communion prayer. It says so much about the pastoral heart of our Church. One of those real gems we sometimes come across within our liturgy.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you have taught us
that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters
we do also for you:
give us the will to be the servant of others
as you were the servant of all,
and gave up your life and died for us,
but are alive and reign, now and for ever. Amen.

Post Communion Prayer for the Fifth Sunday of Lent
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council