“First Steps,” by Rev. Dr. Shane Green, January 20, 2025″

January 20, 2025

A Collect is a short, structured prayer that is used in liturgical worship.  It serves to “collect” the prayers and intentions of the congregation into a single, focused prayer.  It is typically recited near the beginning of the worship service because it can set the tone for the theme of the day or emphasize what is being celebrated in the service.  

Sometimes, I recite a collect at the beginning of a day or week.  Just as the collect sets the stage for the service, I want the collect to set the stage for the day or week.  For this reason, give this collect an opportunity to set the stage for you:

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

This Week’s Readings:

We are reading the Bible in just a little over a year!  We are now reading Deuteronomy. You may join anytime.  Just mark your Bible on the chapter you started and keep up with the weekly readings.


Things to Pray About:

  • Pray for the continued hope and renewal that the New Year brings.
  • Pray for world peace and harmony.
  • Pray for those less fortunate.
  • Pray for safety and comfort for those who are hurting.
  • Pray for personal commitment during worship.
  • Pray for our absent members and those who are homebound.
  • Pray for comfort for those who mourn.
  • Pray for guidance and wisdom for our church, local, and world leaders.
  • Pray for healing and forgiveness to restore families.
  • Pray for continued strengthening of faith in our community.
  • Pray for a faith that transcends understanding.
  • Pray for spiritual maturity.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6