The quarterly Embertides are short periods of prayer for the Church's ministry. They have always had both the character of intercession and penitence. This is doubly appropriate in an era when so much of the Church's public witness seems clouded by scandal, dissension, and veniality. Below is a litany (adapted from the Book of Common Prayer's Litany at Ordinations) and additional prayers for either public or personal use.
The importance of holding the ministry (lay and ordained) of the Church in prayer is difficult to overestimate. When we pray for ministry, we are put in mind of how God has entrusted so much to us as frail vessels, and how that ministry may only be exercised authentically in a spirit of humility and prayerfulness.
The Embertides also make clear that the clergy, while not "professional Christians" forming a superior caste in the Church, are icons of Christ in a particular way--both for the Faithful and for non-believers. It is important that this fact not be minimized or trivialized, as the consequences of a slovenly opinion of Holy Orders is a culture of decadence and decline in the Church.
Finally, the Ember Days point out that the Church is a Body, not merely an institution. It has a deeply interdependent life of mutuality and love derived from the Holy Trinity. Its very existence depends upon its ongoing communion with God the Trinity. When we allow institutional language, "process," and "fixes" to be substituted for the life and language of Church as the Mystical Body of Christ, we have nothing to say to a secular culture utterly weary of "execu-speak" and corporate gimmickry.
An Embertide Litany
For use on Ember Days or other
occasions for the Prayers of the People at
the Eucharist, following the Collects in the Daily Office, or as a separate devotion.
God the Father,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
We pray to you, Lord Christ.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the holy Church of God, that
it may be filled with truth and love, and be found without fault at the Day of
your Coming,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For all members of your
Church in their vocation and ministry, that they may serve you in a true and
godly life,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For Justin, Archbishop of
Canterbury, Katharine, our Presiding Bishop, N., our Diocesan Bishop, and for all
bishops, priests, and deacons, that they may be filled with your love, may
hunger for truth, and may thirst after righteousness,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For all preparing for
ordination in your Church,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
That they may faithfully
fulfill the duties of this ministry, build up your Church, and glorify your
Name,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
That by the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit they may be sustained and encouraged to persevere to the end,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For their families that they
may be adorned with all Christian virtues,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For all who fear God and believe
in you, Lord Christ, that our divisions may cease and that all may be one as
you and the Father are one,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the mission of the
Church, that in faithful witness it may preach the Gospel to the ends of the
earth,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who do not yet
believe, and for those who have lost their faith, that they may receive the
light of the Gospel,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the peace of the world,
that a spirit of respect and forbearance may grow among nations and peoples,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For those in positions of
public trust, that they may serve justice and promote the dignity and freedom
of every person,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For a blessing upon all human
labor, and for the right use of the riches of creation, that the world may be
freed from poverty, famine, and disaster,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the poor, the persecuted,
the sick, and all who suffer; for refugees, prisoners, and all who are
in danger; that they may be relieved and
protected,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For ourselves; for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the grace
of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For all who have died in the communion of your Church, and those
whose faith is known to you alone, that, with all the saints, they may have
rest in that place where there is no pain or grief, but life eternal,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of the ever-blessed Virgin
Mary,(blessed N.) and all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one
another, and all our life to Christ our God.
To you, O Lord our
God.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
For the Diocese
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a
goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop(s) N. [and N.], and other clergy,
and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard,
your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit,
fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may
show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Amen.
For the Parish
Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and
earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse
the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our
common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy
Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
For those to be ordained
Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine
providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace,
we humbly pray, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for your
people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with
holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of
your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
For the choice of fit persons for the
ministry
O God, you led your holy apostles to ordain ministers in
every place: Grant that your Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may
choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold
them in their work for the extension of your kingdom; through him who is the
Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For all
Christians in their vocation
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body
of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications
and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church,
that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you;
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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