Ember Day

The following readings are suitable for use on Ember Days:
Numbers 11.16, 17, 24-29 or
Numbers 27.15-end or
1 Samuel 16.1-13a or
Isaiah 6.1-8 or
Isaiah 61.1-3 or
Jeremiah 1.4-10

Psalm 40.8-13 or
Psalm 84.8-12 or
Psalm 89.19-25 or
Psalm 101.1-5, 7 or
Psalm 122

Acts 20.28-35 or
1 Corinthians 3.3-11 or
Ephesians 4.4-16 or
Philippians 3.7-14

Luke 4.16-21 or
Luke 12.35-43 or
Luke 22.24-27 or
John 4.31-38 or
John 15.5-17

Collect

for the ministry of all Christian people

Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

or for those to be ordained

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts,
by your Holy Spirit you have appointed
various orders of ministry in the Church:
look with mercy on your servants
now called to be deacons and priests;
maintain them in truth and renew them in holiness,
that by word and good example they may faithfully serve you
to the glory of your name and the benefit of your Church;
through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

or for vocations

Almighty God,
you have entrusted to your Church
a share in the ministry of your Son our great high priest:
inspire by your Holy Spirit the hearts of many
to offer themselves for the ministry of your Church,
that strengthened by his power,
they may work for the increase of your kingdom
and set forward the eternal praise of your name;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion

Heavenly Father,
whose ascended Son gave gifts of leadership and service to the Church:
strengthen us who have received this holy food
to be good stewards of your manifold grace,
through him who came not to be served but to serve,
and give his life as a ransom for many,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord of the harvest,
you have fed your people in this sacrament
with the fruits of creation made holy by your Spirit:
by your grace raise up among us faithful labourers
to sow your word and reap the harvest of souls;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.