Candlemas, Collect (Redub)

God of surprises,

you clothe us with love.

When Jesus was nearly seven weeks old,

Mary and Joseph lovingly

brought him to the Temple.

Anna and Simeon, having waited

decades for your arrival, were amazed.

However new that things may seem,

or however long we have waited for freedom,

bless us, too, today, with the peace of Christ.

Amen.

The Gunning Fog readability index suggests 9.12 years of formal education is required to understand this prayer on a first reading, the Common Worship prayer requires 27.1 years.

Here's the information on how this prayer is a redub.

The Candlemas (Presentation of Christ in the Temple) Collection of 5 prayers is here.

You can also look at the full Index of Prayers.

The project began Advent 2012.

If you want to use the prayers, an acknowledgement of myself as author and, if there's space, the link to my blog would be much appreciated.