Tuesday in +Time+

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Above is our collect or prayer of the day for the upcoming Sunday, 20170903. It dates from Gelasian (8th century), Gregorian (10th century), and Sarum (11th century) liturgies; but then, we are a people who, though currently priding ourselves being on the progressive cutting edge of social issues, churchly speaking love looking back and using worship from the ages of ages; perhaps not unlike decorating an ultramodern house with copies of art from the Dark Ages. 

The collect, a line of it, calls to mind our prayer that, theologically updated, now makes our Prayers of the People for Rite One, revised from:

We beseech thee also, so to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian Rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue.

Artistically a nice touch like the vestments we wear, not sure what I’m ready to trash and replace, whom to trust to decide, whose doggerel to accept as replacements, whom to rely on to decide what is true religion and maintain the same, I’m happy mostly sticking with the ages for now. 

DThos+