A Dark And Quiet Room

O Sun of Righteousness,
The lifter of my head and lover of my soul,
Shine on me today through the shadows that surround me,
That I may come, in the end, to see Your deliverance.
Amen.

Since someone asked, I’ll briefly pick apart the format for a collect, using my last one as an example:

O God my Father
Who raised my Lord Jesus Christ from the grave
Raise me from my bed and fill me with your power
That I might be able to serve and love you this day
Hear this groggy morning prayer and answer in Your mercy
Amen

First, there is an address to God by one of His names or titles. This should be connected with the theme of the collect. (O God my Father)

Second, there is a description of an action or attribute of God’s that will be the focus of the collect. (Who raised my Lord Jesus Christ from the grave)

Third, the petition is made, which should be related to the title and attribute of God discussed in the first two parts. (Raise me from my bed and fill me with your power)

Fourth, the results of granting the petition, or failing to do so, are stated. (That I might be able to serve and love you this day)

Fifth, there is a closing appropriate to the overall theme of the collect. (Hear this groggy morning prayer and answer in Your mercy. Amen.)

Thus, the five parts of a collect.

O God my Father
Who raised my Lord Jesus Christ from the grave
Raise me from my bed and fill me with your power
That I might be able to serve and love you this day
Hear this groggy morning prayer and answer in Your mercy
Amen

(Yes, I’m being serious.)

Forgetfulness

“Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!” (Psalm 25:7)

Merciful Christ
Forgiver of iniquity and Advocate of sinners
Grant that we may forgive our enemies as You have forgiven us
That Your Name may be honored in the sight of the nations
Receive the prayer of your servants, which we offer in Your Name
Amen

O Lord God of hosts
Protector of the weak and Stronghold of the righteous
Shield us from the wrath of our enemies
Lest we be overcome and perish from the earth
Hear us, we pray, through Christ Jesus
Amen

Lord Jesus Christ,
Physician of the soul and Healer of the body,
Heal Thy suffering brethren who are stricken by illness
That they may again sing Thy praise in the assembly
For the honor of Thy Name, we pray

Amen

(A collect, inspired by our move)

O God our Father,
Who is the shadow of a great rock in a dry and weary land,
Shelter us by Thy mighty Presence
That we may be preserved from our enemies
Through Christ Jesus, our Savior, we pray

Amen