Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner (of war) greets you all
– and Mark,
the cousin of Barnabas
(about whom you have received instructions,
when he comes to you,
welcome him),
– and Jesus,
who is called Justus,
these are from the circumcision,
(they are they only ones
amongst my fellow-workers for the Kingdom of God,)
they have been a comfort to me.

Epaphras, who is one you,
greets you
– a slave of Christ Jesus,
– he is always struggling in prayer for you all,
so that you might stand
mature
and fully assured in all the will of God.
For I bear him witness
that he works hard for you
and those in Laodicea
and Hierapolis.

Luke, the beloved, the doctor greets you,
and Demas.

The brothers/sisters in Laodicea
and Nympha
and the church of her house,
greet you.

And when (this) letter is read among you,
make (sure) it is also read in (the church) of the Laodiceans
and that you read the letter from Laodicea* too.

And say to Archippus:
‘Mark the ministry which you have received from the Lord
-that you complete it.’

This greeting
by my hand
of Paul.
Remember my chains.
Grace be with you all.

*(i.e. the letter Paul wrote to them)

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today – tonight -forever
Amen.

St Columba

Tychicus, will make known to you my circumstances:
-He is, the beloved brother
and faithful servant and fellow-slave in the Lord
-whom I am sending to you,
for this very thing:
that you may know about our situation
and that he might encourage your hearts,
– together with Onesimus,
the faithful and beloved brother,
who is one of you.

They will make known to you all the things (going on) here.

O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.

Gertrude the Great

Persevere in prayer,
be wide awake
in it (prayer)
with thanksgiving.
At the same time,
pray for us too
that God might open for us
a door for the word
to speak of the mystery, (that is) Christ,
because of which I am, in fact, bound,
(and pray) that I will openly speak it,
as I must.
With wisdom, walk (live) with outsiders
snapping up every opportunity.
Let your speech be always with grace,
seasoned with salt
so that you might know
how you should
reply to each one.

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

St Ignatius

Slaves, obey
in all things
your earthly masters,
not only when being watched
like people-pleasers
but (obey) with sincere hearts
out of reverence for the Lord.
Whatever you are doing,
work from the soul
as for the Lord
and not for people,
knowing that you will receive from the Lord
‘the inheritance’ as a reward.
Serve the Lord Christ.
For the one who does wrong
will be repaid for the wrong they did
and there is no favouritism.
Masters give your slaves
justice and fairness
knowing you too have a master in heaven.

Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Amen

St Anselm

Wives, be subject to your husbands,
as has been proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives
and do not be harsh on them.
Children, obey your parents
in all things,
for it is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not embitter your children,
that they might not become discouraged.

Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.

Thomas More (c.1478-1535)

So put to death
your limbs
‘used for earthly things’:
sexual immorality
impurity
lustful passion
evil desire
and especially greed
which is idolatry,
because of these things
comes the wrath of God,
in which you also formerly walked.
when you lived in these (sins).
But now you also put off all these things:
wrath,
rage,
spite,
slander
dirty talk from your mouth.
Do not lie to one another,
having put off the old humanity
with its deeds
and having put on the new (humanity)
– being made new again
(until s/he reaches full) knowledge
according to the likeness of the Creator
where there is not
Greek or Judean
Circumcised or uncircumcised
barbarian,
Scythian,
slave, free person,
but Christ is all
and is in all (of you?)

O Lord Jesus Christ,
stay beside me to defend me,
within me to guide me,
before me to lead me,
and above me to bless me,
that with you and in you,
I may live, and move and have my being,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

(unknown)

So, if you have been raised with Christ
keep seeking the things above
where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God.
keep thinking about the things above-
not the things upon the earth.

For you have died,
and your life is hidden
with Christ,
in God.

When Christ appears,
-your life,
then also you will appear
with him
in glory.

Take from us,
O God, all pride and vanity,
all boasting and self-assertion,
and give us the true courage that shows itself in gentleness,
the true wisdom that shows itself in simplicity,
and the true power that shows itself in modesty.

Charles Kingsley

If you have died with Christ
from the spiritual forces of the world
why do you submit to decrees
as if living in the world? –
‘Do not handle’
‘-nor taste’
‘-nor touch’
these things that are all for destruction
by being used (up)
according to human rules and doctrines.
which to be sure have the reputation of wisdom-
by would-be-wisdom
and false humility
– (to be) severe discipline of the body
but they do not have any value
for (dealing with) the flesh.

Steer the ship of my life, good Lord, to your quiet harbour,
where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict.
Show me the course I should take.
Renew in me the gift of discernment,
so that I can always see the right direction in which I should go.
And give me the strength and the courage to choose the right course,
even when the sea is rough and the waves are high,
knowing that through enduring hardship and danger in your name
we shall find comfort and peace.
Amen

Basil of Caesarea (c.329-379)

So, let no-one judge you
– in matters of eating and drinking
or with regard to a festival
or new moons or sabbaths,
which are shadows of what is to come
– the substance is (the things of) Christ.
Let no-one disqualify you
taking pleasure in false humility
and in the worship of angels.
which they have seen
and go on about
being puffed up
without cause
and by their unspiritual mind
and not holding onto the head (i.e. Christ)
from whom all the body
through the joints and ligaments
being nourished
and held together
grows with a growth that is from God.

O thou, who art the light of the minds that know thee,
the life of the souls that love thee,
and the strength of the wills that serve thee;
help us so to know thee that we may truly love thee;
so to love thee that we may fully serve thee,
whom to serve is perfect freedom.
Amen