Several people have asked recently about the source of the collect which we pray together at the beginning of the service. The Book of Alternative Services contains the traditional collects. These are meant to be used with the readings in the BAS, based on the Common Lectionary, which is a three-year pattern of Bible readings used by most Christian churches. In 1992, the Common Lectionary was replaced with the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), which meant that the BAS collects no longer reflected the themes found in the daily readings. The Consultation on Common Texts (the theologians and liturgists who compiled the RCL) subsequently published a book of Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, and that is the source of the collects which we pray here at St John's. For more information, visit www.commontexts.org.

The collect is a special prayer distinguished both by its function and its form. At the beginning of the celebration, the presider calls the people to prayer, saying "Let us pray." Then there is a silence for individual prayer. The silent prayers are then "collected" together in the Collect of the Day - hence the name "collect". Traditionally the collect is said by the priest alone. Here at St John's it is prayed aloud by everyone together.

As a literary form, the collect contains five elements. (1) It first addresses God; then (2) it describes a particular aspect of God; then follows (3) a petition for blessing, followed by (4) a description of the good which should flow from the blessing sought; and finally (5) an ascription of praise. Consider how the well-known Collect for Purity reflects the five poetic elements of a collect.

1. Almighty God



2. to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden



3. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,



4. that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name;



5. through Christ our Lord. Amen.