and what is the surpassing great power
          toward us who believe
        according to the working of his mighty strength…

…which (God) accomplished
   in regard to Christ
  by raising him from the dead people
and
  by seating him at his right
    in the heavenly places
      far above
        every ruler
        and authority
        and power
        and dominion
        and every name
          that is named
          not only in this age
          but also in the one to come
and h e subjected every thing
  under his feet
and he gave him as head
  over all things
to the church
  which is his body,
       the fullness
        from the one who fills all things
       in all ways.

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

Because of this,
I, too,
  having heard
    of your faith in the Lord Jesus,
    and (your) love for all the holy ones
   do not stop
    giving thanks for you
      making mention (of you)
        at my prayers.

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

(in whom we have
  redemption
    through his blood…)

also in whom we have been ”chosen as (God’s) portion’
    having been ‘chosen beforehand’
  according to the purpose
    of him who works everything
      according to the purpose of his will,
so that we
  - the ‘first to hope’ in Christ –
    might be for the praise of his glory.

In whom you also
  having heard the word of truth
    the good news of your salvation
in whom
  having also believed
    you have been marked
    with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.
      who is a down payment of our inheritance
until the ‘redemption of possession’
        for the praise of his glory.

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

(as he chose us…)

…having made known to us
  the mystery of his will,
   according to his good pleasure
  which he intended
      in him
  to the arrangement
   in the fullness of the times
  to sum up
   all things in Christ
     things in the heavens and
     things on the earth
    in him.

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

… the beloved,
in whom we have
redemption
through his blood,
the forgiveness of trespasses
according to the riches of his grace,
which abounds in us
in all wisdom and insight

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)

Blessed is the God
and father of our Lord
Jesus Christ
who has blessed us
in every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places
in Christ
as he chose us
in him
from the creation of the world
to be holy and faultless
in his presence
in love
having chosen us beforehand
for adoption
through Jesus Christ
for himself
according to the good pleasure
of his will
for the praise of the glory of his grace
which is freely bestowed on us
in (by) his beloved…

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;
and where there is sadness, joy.
For your mercy and your truth’s sake
Amen.

after St. Francis of Assisi

Paul,
an apostle of Christ Jesus,
through the will of God
to the saints who are in Ephesus
and those who believe in Christ Jesus.
Grace to you all,
and peace from God our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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)