When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, they got the 'Our Father.' When people asked the assemblers of the Book of Common Prayer how to pray, they got something nearly as memorable: the Collects.
Collects are short prayers and a distinctive part of Anglican worship, liturgy, and theology. Episcopalians have long subscribed to the conviction of 'lex orandi, lex credendi' or 'praying shapes believing.' This means that the way we pray carries great significance.
