Prayers For An Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare

The Sunday prayers — known as “collects” in the Anglican tradition — follow the three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary. The author uses expansive and inclusive language and imagery to address and describe God, to describe God’s presence and action in the world, and to describe the people of God. Ideal for use at weekday celebrations, including the Book of Common Prayer Order for Eucharist.

 Sample Prayer:

                           Palm Sunday
(Matthew 21.1–11 and 26.14–27.66 or 27.11–54)

Lord, your love is broken open
among cheering crowds and traitor’s coins,
deserting friends and hands washed clean,
the mockery of power and the baying mob:
as we follow your way of passion,
give us the faith
to bring our weak and divided hearts
to the foot of the cross
and the door of the guarded tomb
that they might be opened,
astonished and healed;
through Jesus Christ, who carries the
weight of the world. Amen.