Saints’ Days and Other Special Days
Jump to: Regional Commemorations, For a Martyr, For a Bishop or Pastor, For a Missionary, For a Teacher or Confessor of the Faith, For a Monastic or Other Religious, For Any Saint, Holy Cross Day, All Souls, Mothering Sunday
Regional Commemorations (see page 9)
Sentence
Praise the Lord all you nations, acclaim the Most High all you peoples; for great is God’s love for us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Psalm 117:1,2
Collects
Almighty God,
you call witnesses from every nation
and reveal your glory in their lives;
make us thankful for their example,
and strengthen us by their fellowship
that like them we may be faithful
in the service of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God of earth and heaven,
on your Church the sun is always rising;
we commend to you our sisters and brothers in ....
Be with them in the work they do,
as you are with us.
Psalms67;87
Readings
| Isaiah 52:7-10 | Ecclesiasticus 2:10-18 | Ecclesiasticus 44:1-15 |
| 2 Corinthians 4-5-12 | Hebrews 11:32-12:2 | Hebrews 13:7,8,15,16 |
| John 12:20-26 | John 15:16-27 | John 17:18-23 |
Post Communion Sentence
You Lord have made known your victory; you have displayed your saving power to all the nations. Psalm 98:3 (adapted)
For a Martyr
Sentence
Those who want to save their life will lose it; but those who lose their life for the sake of Christ and the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35
Collects
Everloving God,
by your grace and power
your holy martyr N triumphed over suffering
and was faithful even to death;
strengthen us with your grace
that we may faithfully witness
to Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Jesus our Redeemer,
you gave your life to ransom us;
you have called us to drink your cup
and undergo your baptism.
Thank you for N’s witness;
may we have faith and resolution too.
Almighty God,
you gave your servant N
courage to confess Jesus Christ
and to die for this faith;
may we always be ready
to give a reason for the hope that is in us
and to suffer gladly for Christ’s sake.
Psalms3;116
Readings
| 2 Chronicles 24:17-21 | Isaiah 43:1-7 | Wisdom 3:1-9 |
| Hebrews 11:32-40 | 1 Peter 4:12-19 | Revelation 12:10-12 |
| Matthew 10:16-22 | Luke 12:2-12 | John 15:18-21 |
Post Communion Sentence
Blessed are those who have suffered for the cause of right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:10
For a Bishop or Pastor
Sentence
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good tidings, who publish salvation. Isaiah 52:7
Collects
Good and gracious God,
the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls,
you set your servant N to be a bishop/priest in your Church
to feed your sheep with your word
and to guide them by her/his example;
give us grace to keep the faith s/he taught
and to follow in her/his footsteps.
Good Shepherd, king of love,
accept our thanks and praise
for all the love and care we have received;
and for your servant, N.
May our care for each other grow constantly
more reverent and more discerning.
Psalms15;99
Readings
| Jeremiah 1:4-10 | Ezekiel 3:16-21 | Ezekiel 34:11-16 |
| Acts 20:28-35 | 2 Corinthians 4:1-10 | 1 Peter 5:1-4 |
| Matthew 24:42-47 | John 10:11-16 | John 21:15-19 |
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus said to Peter, ‘Feed my sheep.’ John 21:15
For a Missionary
Sentence
Proclaim God’s glory to the nations, God’s marvellous deeds to all the peoples. For the Lord is great and highly to be praised. Psalm 96:3,4
Collects
Everlasting God,
you have sent your messengers
to carry the good news of Christ
into the world;
grant that we who commemorate N
may know the hope of the gospel in our hearts
and show forth its light in all our ways;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus, incarnate God,
good news for all who have ears to hear;
thank you for N,
and for all who bring the gospel to ....
Hasten the time, we pray,
when the earth is filled with your glory
as the waters cover the sea.
Almighty God,
we thank you for N,
whom you called to preach the gospel
to the people of .....
Raise up in this and every land
heralds and evangelists of your kingdom,
that your Church may make known
the immeasurable riches of our Saviour Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Psalms67;96
Readings
| Isaiah 49:1-6 | Isaiah 52:7-10 | Isaiah 61:1-3 |
| Acts 16:6-10 | Acts 17:22-31 | Romans 15:17-21 |
| Matthew 9:35-38 | Matthew 28:16-20 | Luke 10:1-9 |
Post Communion Sentence
To all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. Jeremiah 1:7b
For a Teacher or Confessor of the Faith
Sentence
Jesus said, ‘Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.’ John 12:26
Collects
Almighty God,
you have enlightened your Church
by the teaching of your servantN;
enrich it evermore with your heavenly grace,
and raise up faithful witnesses,
who by their life and teaching
may proclaim to all people
the truth of your salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus Christ, invincible light of the world,
thank you for N,
and for all whose vision has enlightened us
and brought us near to you.
Keep us imaginative, expectant
and willing to learn,
so that we may come even closer to the light.
Psalms34:11-17;119:97-104
Readings
| Nehemiah 8:1-10 | Proverbs 4:1-9 | Ecclesiasticus 39:1-10 |
| 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 | 1 Corinthians 3:5-11 | 1 Timothy 4:1-8 |
| Matthew 5:13-19 | Matthew 13:52-58 | John 16:12-15 |
Post Communion Sentence
If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31,32
For a Monastic or Other Religious
Sentence
You Lord are all that I have; I have promised to keep your Word. I have sought your favour with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promises. Psalm 119:57,58
Collects
Gracious and eternal God,
by your grace N,
kindled with the fire of your love,
became a burning and a shining light in your Church;
inflame us with the same spirit of discipline and love
that we may always walk before you as children of light;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus, Son of God,
thank you for N, and for all
who strive for holiness;
grant us also a readiness to strive
and an obedience to suffer,
for the joy of being one with you.
Psalms27:1-8;119:161-168
Readings
| 1 Kings 19:9-18 | 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 | Jeremiah 17:7-10 |
| 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 | Philippians 3:7-14 | 3 John 2-8 |
| Matthew 6:24-33 | Matthew 19:23-30 | Luke 12:32-37 |
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus said, ‘Anyone who has left brothers or sisters, father, mother, or children, land or houses for the sake of my name will be repaid many times over, and given eternal life.’ Matthew 19:29
For Any Saint
Sentence
Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, who have not set their minds on falsehood, or sworn and deceitful oath, shall receive blessing from the Lord and recompense from God their saviour. Psalm 24:4,5
Collects
Almighty God,
you have built up your Church
through the love and devotion of your saints;
we give you thanks for your servant N
whom we commemorate today.
Inspire us to follow her/his example
that like her/him we may in our day rejoice
in the vision of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus, founder and member
of the reconciled society,
thank you for N,
whom you called to a forgiving and forgiven life,
and for the success
with which you crowned her/his work.
May we too reflect the glory
we receive from you.
Almighty God,
by your grace
you surround us with so great a cloud of witnesses;
may we, encouraged by the example of your servant N,
persevere and run the race you set before us,
until at last, through your mercy,
we with her/him attain to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalms34;119:1-8
Readings
| Proverbs 8:1-11 | Micah 6:6-8 | Ecclesiasticus 2:1-11 |
| 2 Corinthians 4:11-18 | Ephesians 6:11-18 | Philippians 4:4-9 |
| Matthew 19:16-21 | Matthew 25:31-46 | Luke 6:17-23 |
Post Communion Sentence
Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. Ephesians 5:2a
Holy Cross Day
14 September
Sentence
We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world is crucified to us and we to the world. Galatians 6:14
Collects
Almighty God,
in the passion of your blessed Son
you made an instrument of shameful death
to be for us the means of life;
grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ
that we may gladly suffer for his sake,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Jesus, crucified and risen,
you have turned a criminal’s cross
into release and reconciliation.
Let us who are marked with the cross
be not ashamed to witness to you.
Psalms2;98
Readings
| Isaiah 45:20-25 |
| Philippians 2:5-11 |
| John 12:31-36a |
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus said, ‘When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.’ John 12:32
All Souls
2 November
Sentence
We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1 Thessalonians 4:14
Collects
Merciful God,
your Son is the resurrection and the life
of all the faithful;
raise us from the death of sin
to the life of righteousness,
that at the last,
with all your faithful servants,
we may come to your eternal joy,
through our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, Lord of the living and dead;
with each generation
your body of believers grows and grows.
Thank you for all who have gone before us,
for what they achieved and what they learned.
Give us strength to do your will,
to be your body now.
Psalms16;116
Readings
| Isaiah 25:6-9 |
| 1 Peter 1:3-9 |
| John 11:21-27 |
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever lives and believes in me will never die.’ John 11:25,26
Mothering Sunday
Sentence
‘As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem,’ says the Lord. Isaiah 66:13
Collects
Everloving God,
your care for us is greater
even than a mother’s love for her child;
teach us to value a mother’s love
and see in it an expression of your grace,
that we may ever feel more deeply your love for us
in Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Blessed are you, God of strength and patience;
yours is the love our mothers showed us,
yours the care we need;
as we learn to care for one another
and to share your love,
may it be with our mother we share it
first of all.
Psalms84;122
Readings
|
Isaiah 49:13-16 |
A mother’s love |
|
Ephesians 3:14-21 |
Christ lives in our hearts |
|
Luke 2:40-52 |
The Holy Family |
Post Communion Sentence
Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. Galatians 4:26