Thomas Cranmer loved the Church of England and worked hard to keep her prayers (and prayer book) pleasing to God.  Here’s how Tim Keller describes the impact of Cranmer (with a little background):

Years ago when I wanted to become more skillful in public prayer, I was fortunate to come across the collects of Thomas Cranmer, the writer of the original Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. The “collects” (the stress is on the first syllable) that Cranmer wrote were brief but extremely ‘packed’ little prayers that tied together the doctrine of the day to a particular way of living. They were prayed by the minister on behalf of the people, or prayed in unison by the whole congregation.

As I have read them over the years they have brought me two great benefits. First, they have given me a basic structure by which I can compose good public prayers, either ahead of time, or spontaneously. Cranmer’s collects consist of 5 parts:
1. The address – a name of God
2. The doctrine – a truth about God’s nature that is the basis for the prayer
3. The petition – what is being asked for
4. The aspiration – what good result will come if the request is granted
5. In Jesus’ name – this remembers the mediatorial role of Jesus

So, what do we make of this?  Well, it’s encouraging because of the collects related to Christmas Day (and this year, we have a Christmas Day on a Sunday) and you can read these collects, with history, and a meditation here.

Christmas Day

The First Collect

God, which makes us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ; grant that as we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge, who liveth and reigneth, &c.

The Second Collect

Almighty God, which has given us thy only begotten son to take our nature upon him, and this day to be born of a pure Virgin; grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost now and ever. Amen.

I like Paul Zahl’s summary: “The two Collects for Christmas are so arranged as to give priority in time to the for-ness of Christ.  The prayer for the First Communion of Christmas stresses the Atonement.  But Christ’s with-ness is also celebrated, in the prayer for the Second Communion of the Day, which stresses the Incarnation.”

So, Cranmer and Christmas helps us see these amazing theological themes wed: that Jesus became like us to do something for us, specifically save us from our sin.  I hope you’re building up to have a Merry Christmas.

Here’s the prayer that helped me along this past Sunday, reflecting on the 4th Week of Advent and Peace (from the Austin Stone Story Team):

MY GOD, MY PROMISE KEEPER,

Amen.

Here’s the prayer I included in my opening prayer for Week 3 of Advent on Joy from the Austin Stone Story Team:

O GIVER OF LIFE AND GOD OF INFINITE JOY,

Long ago we hid our faces in pity and fear, terrified at the reach of Your holiness.

Our overburdened hearts lay heavy with despair, aching with the lack of Your presence.

We were bathed in wickedness and shadowed by fear,

A hopeless people, drunk on worldly pride and self-indulgent pleasures.

We sought to gratify our desires with everything but You

Until we had only tears and foolishness as our feeble companions.

And yet,

You wrote a story of joy eternal before we even drew a breath,

That a human baby, born to the world in straw and dust

Would carry the name of salvation and the mantle of triumphant peace.

You have set our King before us, and His name is Jesus.

And all the lowly and exalted of the earth rejoice together

That a miracle was birthed for us

On a starry night foretold by prophets.

And now, through Him, You have made a way for all Your children

To fall headlong into the grace You freely supplied.

O God of our Salvation, Your love flows unabated and all-consuming.

Your love never fails and forever mends our hearts,

To swell with the fullness of joy.

His kingdom is of everlasting joy, founded on unshakeable truth.

All His ways are peace, and there is no shame in them.

All His ways are joy, and we are enriched by His promises.

He is the Rock upon which we are built; and He will not be moved.

He is mighty, and He is gentle; He is power, and He is joy!

You have set our King before us, and His name is Jesus.

Amen.