– So that you also may know
the things about me,
what I am doing,
Tychicus
the beloved brother
and faithful servant in the Lord
will make known everything to you
whom I am sending
for this thing,
that you might know
the things about us
and be encouraged in your hearts.

Peace
to the brothers/sisters and
love
with faith
from God, the Father, and
the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace
be with all those who love our Lord
Jesus Christ,
with immortality.

O Lord
Open our eyes to your presence
Open our minds to your grace
Open our lips to your praises
Open our hearts to your love
Open our lives to your healing
And be found among us.
Amen.

(Stand firm….)
with all prayers and petitions
by praying at all times
by (the) Spirit
and to this end, being alert,
with all perseverance and petitions
concerning all the saints
and me particularly
– that a word might be given to me
when I open my mouth
with boldness
to make known the mystery of the Gospel.
concerning which I am an ambassador
in chains
– that I might speak boldly
as is necessary for me speak.

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

So stand firm
by having wrapped around your waist
the (belt which is) truth
and by having put on the breastplate, which is righteousness,
and by having shod your feet with
the readiness (to) proclaim the gospel
which is is peace.
In every circumstance
having taken up the shield which is faith,
by which you can put out every flaming arrows
of the evil one.
And receive the helmet, which is salvation,
and the sword from the Spirit
which is the word of God.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

From now on,
be strengthened
in the Lord
and in the strength of his might.
put on the ‘whole armour’ of God
so that you might be able to stand against
the stratagems of the devil.
Because our struggle is not against blood and flesh,
but against the rulers,
against powers,
against the world rulers over this darkness,
against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Because of this
take up the ‘whole armour’ of God
so that you might hold your ground
on the evil day
and having done everything, stand.

Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing –
a grateful heart.

George Herbert

Slaves,
obey your – according to the flesh- lords
with fear and trembling
with sincerity in your hearts
as Christ,
not according to ‘eye-service’
or as people-pleasers
but as slaves of Christ
doing the will of God,
from the soul,
with wholehearted service
as to the Lord, and not humans.
-knowing that each person
if they do something good,
will be received by the Lord
whether slave or free.

And the Lords,
do the same to them,
stopping using threats,
knowing that
over them and over you
is the same Lord in heaven
and there is no favouritism with him.

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

Children,
obey [in the Lord] your parents.
For this is right.
‘Honour your father and your mother’
– this is the first commandment with a promise –
‘that it might be well for you,
and you be long-lived in the land’
And fathers, do not make your children angry,
but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.

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

So
watch carefully how you walk
not as foolish people
but as wise people
by making the most of the time
because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be ignorant,
but understand what is the will of the Lord
and do not get yourselves drunk with wine
which is debauchery,
but be filled by the Spirit,
speaking to one another
in psalms and hymns and songs – of the Spirit
singing and making music
in your heart
to the Lord
constantly giving thanks
for all things
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
to God the Father,
being submissive to one another
in the fear of Christ…

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

So
do not become their partners,
for you were once darkness
but now are light
in the Lord.
‘Walk’ as children of the light.
For the fruit of light
(is) in
all
goodness
and righteousness
and truth,
by discerning
what is pleasing to the Lord.
And do not take part in the useless works
(that come from) darkness
but rather expose them.
For to speak of the things done
by them
in secret
is shameful.
But all things illumined
by the light
are made visible.
For everything being revealed
is light
therefore it says:
‘Get up, O sleeper!
And rise from the dead ones,
and Christ will shine on you.’

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)

Then,
do not even speak about sexual immorality,
any kind of impurity
or greed
among you,
as it is not fitting for saints,
and neither obscenity
or foolish speech
or vulgar talk
which are not proper
but rather (speak) thanksgiving.
For you certainly know this:
that everyone who is immoral
or unclean
or greedy
– (greed) is idolatry –
do not have an inheritance
in the Kingdom of Christ, and God.
Let nobody deceive you
with empty words.
for beause of these things
the wrath of God is coming
on the the children of disobedience.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen