2014-15 Almanac
Each year since 2002 I have produced a downloadable calendar for the forthcoming liturgical year, according to the rules of the Church of England’s Common Worship Calendar and Lectionary.
The 2014–15 Almanac is now available for Outlook, Apple desktop and iOS Calendar, Google Calendar, Android devices and other formats, with your choice of Sunday, weekday, eucharistic, office, collects, Exciting Holiness lections, for Common Worship and BCP.
Speaking of the coming liturgical year, below are the R.C. collect for Christ the King and the Anglican collect for Reign of Christ. I think the R.C. collect is preferable, hands down.
Roman Catholic Collect
Almighty and merciful God,
you break the power of evil and make all things new
in your Son Jesus Christ, the King of the universe.
May all in heaven and earth
acclaim your glory and never cease to praise you.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Anglican collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
whose will it is to restore all things
in your well-beloved Son, our Lord and King,
grant that the peoples of the earth,
now divided and enslaved by sin,
may be freed and brought together
under his gentle and loving rule;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Interesting note, Rod. That may be the collect used for this Sunday in the (American) Episcopal Church and the Canadian BAS, but it isn’t the one used in England or some other provinces.
The Church of England, along with its sister Churches in these islands provides the following Collect:
Eternal Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven
that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
My comparison is based on the Canadian (BAS) collect. The American collect is only slightly different, not really any better. The collect you posted from the U.K. compares quite favorably to the R.C. one. I’ve always thought the Canadian collect to be somewhat sappy, and not a great fit with the Gospel reading from Matthew ( sheep and goats) when it rolls around. One of the few things from the old BCP I have missed is the “Stir Up Sunday” collect ending the church year. Always thought a modest revision of the same could have fit in quite well with Reign of Christ (the King). The BAS Advent I Prayer Over the Gifts, uses the wording “God of love and power your word stirs within us the expectation of the coming of your Son.” But again, the wording is not as gripping as the old collect which may have inspired it.
Episcopal Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well¯beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.