Collect (pronounced KAH-lekt):

A collect is a short, structured prayer that gathers (“collects”) the prayers and intentions of the congregation into a single petition. In the Episcopal Church, collects are used throughout the liturgy—most notably at the beginning of the Holy Eucharist, Morning Prayer, and Evening Prayer.

Structure:
A traditional collect follows a five-part structure:

1. Address – Naming or invoking God.
2. Acknowledgment – Stating something true about God’s nature or actions.
3. Petition – Asking for a specific blessing or grace.
4. Aspiration – Expressing the hoped-for result of the petition.
5. Conclusion – Ending with a doxology, often invoking Jesus Christ or the Trinity.

Example:
Here is the Collect for Purity from the Book of Common Prayer (p. 355):

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Purpose and Use:
The collect “collects” the prayers of the people and focuses the worship on a particular theme or season. Each Sunday and feast day has its own collect, found in the Book of Common Prayer (pp. 211–261), and many other collects are appointed for various occasions.

Theological Significance:
Collects are prized for their concise beauty and theological depth. They help the congregation focus their minds and hearts, providing a shared language for prayer that connects us with Christians across time and place.

Source: Book of Common Prayer (1979), pp. 211–261; An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church (Church Publishing).

Kyrie:

The Kyrie is a short prayer used in Christian worship that means “Lord, have mercy.” In the early church the Greek supplication Kyrie eleison was the common response to intercessory biddings addressed to the people.

It is now used in the eucharist at the entrance rite and the general intercessions. The full phrase in Greek is Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison—which translates to “Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.” In the liturgy, the Kyrie is often sung or said in place of or in addition to the Gloria in excelsis in Rite 1 services, as a prayer for God’s compassion and forgiveness. The chant may be sung or said threefold, sixfold, or ninefold, in Greek or in English.

Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) is the response in the prayers of the people, which are based on early eastern prayers.

Source: An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church (Church Publishing).