(From) Paul,
a slave of Christ Jesus,
called (to be an) apostle
set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised beforehand
through his prophets
in the Holy Scriptures
concerning his son
–who (was) became of the seed of David,
according to the flesh
–appointed the ‘Son of God in power’
according to the Holy Spirit
by resurrection from the dead people
Jesus Christ,
our Lord.
through whom
we have received grace
and apostleship
for the obedience of faith (ie. consisting in faith),
among all the Gentiles
for the sake of his name
(among whom you are,)
called Jesus Christ’s

God be in head and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes and in my looking;
God be in my mouth and in my speaking;
God be in my heart and in my thinking;
God be at my end and at my departing.

To the one who has power to strengthen you all
– into an alignment with my gospel,
– that is the preaching about Jesus Christ
– that is the revelation of the mystery
silenced for long time,
but now revealed
(and through the prophetic scriptures)
according to the command of the eternal God
– the obedience of faith
having been made known
among all the Gentiles
to the only wise God,
through Jesus Christ,
be glory for ever.
Amen.

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.

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
    who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
    from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
    to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth…

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)

Having got ready,
Mary, in those days
went to the hill country
with haste
to a town of Judah,
and she went
to the house of Zechariah,
and greeted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass
as Elzabeth heard Mary’s greeting
the baby moved in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
and she exclaimed with a great cry,
and said:
‘Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And why me, why this?
that the mother of my Lord has come to me?
For, look
as the sound of your greeting came to my ears,
the baby in my womb
moved with joy.
And blessed is she who has believed
that there would be fulfilment
of the things spoken to her
by the Lord.

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.

Always rejoice,
constantly pray.
Give thanks
in all situations
– for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus
for you all.

Do not extinguish the Spirit,
do not despise prophecies.
But test all things,
Hold fast to the good.
Abstain from every kind of evil

Then
may the God of peace himself
sanctify you completely,
and may
your whole spirit, soul and body
be kept blamelessly
in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will do it.

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

George Herbert

Therefore I encourage you
first of all
to make
petitions,
prayers,
intercessions
and thanksgivings
for all people,
for kings
and for all who are in positions of authority,
that we might lead a peaceful and quiet life.
in all godliness and seriousness.
This is good and pleasing to God, our saviour,
who wishes all people to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God,
and one mediator,
between God and humanity
(the) man Jesus Christ
who gave himself as a ransom for everyone
a testimony at the proper time.

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