End of Trinitytide

We are coming to the end of the “Sundays after Trinity.” The number of Sundays designated in this way varies from year to year, depending on the date of Easter in that year.

The last Sunday in the season of Trinity (included no matter how many or how few Sundays there are in the season) is called “the Sunday next before Advent.” It has traditionally been known as “stir up Sunday,” so named because of the first two words of the collect. This was also the Sunday on which people might “stir up” the traditional Christmas pudding, which needed to be made several weeks in advance of Christmas.

With the end of the Sundays after Trinity the Church Year also ends, beginning again the next week with the first Sunday in Advent.

Collect for the twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity

O Lord, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

The collect for the Sunday next before Advent

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.