Nativity Stained Glass from Bayeux Cathedral, for The History of the Christmas Collects

The History of the Christmas Collects

Posted on December 24, 2024
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We expect the Christmas Collects to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and they do. But they also surprise us by repeatedly applying the birth of Christ to the life of the Christian believer. Because he is light, we can know light. Because he was born, we can be born again. Because he shared the life…

The History of the Lent Collects

Posted on February 20, 2024
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The theme of the Lent collects is human sinfulness and our need for God. We โ€œacknowledge our wretchedness.โ€ We are โ€œtempted,โ€ and our resistance is โ€œweak.โ€ We have โ€œno power in ourselves to help ourselves.โ€ We have โ€œdisordered affectionsโ€ and โ€œunruly wills.โ€ And so, what we need above all is โ€œnew and contrite hearts,โ€ for…

"Anger of the Seas" for "Psalms and Prayers in the Storm."

Psalms and Prayers in the Storm

Posted on September 29, 2022
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When hurricanes, tornadoes, and other storms come our way, we naturally become afraid. These forces are so much stronger than we are, and we tremble in awe and fear for our lives and those around us. During these times, we can find comfort in the Lord of all creation, who not only has spoken out…