I give thanks to my God,
always,
for you all,
(because) of the grace of God
which has been given to you ,
in Christ Jesus:
because
in all ways
you have been enriched
in him,
-in all speech,
and in all knowledge,
as the testimony of Christ has been confirmed among you –
so that you do not lack any gift,
as you await the revelation of
our lord Jesus Christ.
He will confirm you also
until the end
free from any charge
on the Day of the Lord Jesus.
Faithful is God,
by whom you were called
into a ‘share in the life’ of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

O Lord, in whom is our hope,
remove far from us, we pray thee,
empty hopes and presumptuous confidence.
Make our hearts so right with thy most holy and loving heart,
that hoping in thee we may do good;
until that day when faith and hope
shall be abolished by sight and possession,
and love shall be all in all.

Christina Rossetti (1830-94)

Paul,
– called an apostle of Christ Jesus
through the will of God
and
Sosthenes, the brother

to
God’s church
which is in Corinth
having been sanctified in Christ Jesus
called holy
with all who call upon the name of of our Lord Jesus Christ
in all places
their (Lord) and ours:
Grace to you all,
and peace,
from God, our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth,
in a serious seeking after thee,
and in an affectionate walking with thee,
every day of our lives;
that when thou comest,
we may be found not hiding our talent,
nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished,
but waiting and longing for our Lord,
our glorious King, for ever and ever.

Richard Baxter (1615-1691)