The following collects are offered by William Flewelling ©2024 William Flewelling; all rights reserved.
26 May 2024 John 3:1-17
In your great love, O God, you chose to act,
sending Jesus into the world to grant us life,
to bring salvation to the world.
As we look to him, lifted high for us,
grant that we know birth from above
in him whom you have sent.
2 June 2024 Mark 2:23 – 3:6
Your holy day, Lord God, is ours,
made holy for the needs your people bear.
Grant unto us the depth of soul
to find your gift, the Sabbath Day,
as ours to free your longing own.
9 June 2024 Mark 3:20-35
Against the tide of disbelief, O God,
we come in wonder to discover life.
In Jesus are these broken whole
in spite of loathed dismay.
By Holy Spirit are we blessed
to stand with him in hope and joy.
Your own, your family are such
as follow in your sacred word.
Help us converge in awe.
16 June 2024 Mark 4:26-34
By parable, O Lord, you etch upon the soul
the rash parameters that strain imagination
and offer wonder to perceive
the breadth and depth of kingdom’s dawn.
Grant us the openness of heart
that we perceive your gifts in joy,
we know not how.
23 June 2024 Mark 4:35-41
The storm is crashing overboard
and you appear asleep, O Lord.
Awake and calm the storms we fear
that we of little faith may learn
of your exacting presence.
Awake and calm us as the storm
that we acknowledge you in truth.
30 June 2024 Mark 5:21-45
Within the throes of dread, O Lord,
you hear the call of anguish,
all the stress of worried hope.
The desperate arrive; you come.
You turn to notice our despair
that dares to hope.
Now, touching us, O Lord, cry out:
Talitha cumi: little child, arise.
7 July 2024 Mark 6:1-13
Speak wisdom in our midst, O Lord,
to startle our complacency and waken faith
where doldrums cloak our souls.
For in our open faith alone
might we observe your blossoming of grace.
Then might we yet arise unto your call
to speak your kingdom word in love.
14 July 2024 Mark 6:14-29
Imperiled by dismay, O God,
your servant John stood firm
in what is right until the day
when he was slain.
Grant us the courage of the right,
a courage to be gently firm
and tease despair unto your call.
For we seek your sustaining gift
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
21 July 2024 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Take us to a lonely place that we might rest, O God,
where even there the crowds swarm near
to seek your touch in awe.
For in your coming unto us
the many must perceive your gracing touch
and find your focus in our lives.
28 July 2024 John 6:1-21
You strike the eyes as beauty, Lord,
and answer to the needs yet to be recognized.
When you appear,
we walk in hope
so long as we keep eye upon your hand.
Attach our eyes to your desire,
our hearts to your intent
that we recover your delight.
4 August 2024 John 6:24-35
In eagerness, we seek your feeding, Lord,
yet harken to the challenge of your face.
We speak of bread
and you proclaim the bread of life.
Sustain us for the bounty we become
as harbingers of life by your address.
11 August 2024 John 6:35, 41-51
Bread of life beyond confusion,
come from heaven to create life in us,
beyond our kneejerk murmuring, O God,
sustain us that we know, display
this life of your new dawning age.
Life in Liturgy 