A Collection of Prayers

Responsory based on Revelation 21:3

A Responsory is a collection of Scripture passages that are sung or read. A leader reads, the group responds, responds with part of a previous statement, part of the Gloria Patri doxology, and a third repetition, or in some cases a new responsive verse. Responsories were an option in Matins and Vespers. See this article in Wikipedia.

Look! God’s dwelling is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people. Revelation 21:3

Look! God’s dwelling is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people.

God himself will be with them,

…and they will be his people.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Look! God’s dwelling is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people.

Source: Based on a responsory in Cambridge Offices and Orisons, ed. Eric Milner-White, 1921. Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. www.wartburgproject.org.

Responsory Based on Philippians 2:1

If there is any fellowship with the Spirit, be like-minded, having the same love. Philippians 2:1a

If there is any fellowship with the Spirit, be like-minded, having the same love.

If there is any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1b

…be like-minded, having the same love.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

If there is any fellowship with the Spirit, be like-minded, having the same love.

Let the peace of Christ control your hearts,

to which you were also called, in one body. Colossians 3:15

Source: Based on a responsory in Cambridge Offices and Orisons, ed. Eric Milner-White, 1921. Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. www.wartburgproject.org.

Responsory Based on Romans 12:2

Do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Romans 12:2

Do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

That God would strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner self, Ephesians 3:16

…by the renewal of your mind.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17

The former things have passed away. Look, our Lord is making everything new! Revelation 21:4-5

Source: Based on a responsory in Cambridge Offices and Orisons, ed. Eric Milner-White, 1921. Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. www.wartburgproject.org.

Epiphany Prayer

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O Lord Jesus Christ, heavenly King, we thank you that you have brought both Jews and Gentiles to hear your voice, and from their number you have gathered and established your Holy Church, and perfected your praise out of their mouths. Keep us in that wisdom which you revealed to the Wise Men. Grant us your Holy Spirit, that we may always seek you and your kingdom. Enable us to follow your holy Word, as those from the East followed the leading of a star. Give us grace at all times and in all places to confess your holy name. Rule us by your Spirit, so that the joys of your birth may increase in us. Hear our prayers and cries. Accept our offerings, which you yourself have given us: the gold of our faith, the incense of our prayers and the myrrh of our contrite hearts. Deliver us from the destructive ways of error and sin, and by your Holy Spirit lead us in the ways of peace and in the paths of righteousness. Grant us all, when this life is done, a participation in the joys of the Year of Jubilee in heaven, where we shall praise and serve you and the Father who live and reign in unity with the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Wilhelm Loehe, in Liturgy for Christian Congregations of the Lutheran Faith, 1902

Litany of the Incarnation

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Holy are you, O God, holy, Creator, Father most holy:
Have mercy on us.

Holy are you, O God, holy, most mighty, holy Incarnate:
Have mercy on us.

Holy are you, O God, holy, immortal, holy Life-giver:
Have mercy on us.

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.

By the angel’s greeting,
grant us your peace.

By Mary’s glad obedience,
grant us your peace.

By the endless joy of Christmas,
grant us your peace.

By the love your mother Mary showed you,
grant us your peace.

By your lowly birth and lodging,
grant us your peace.

By your bed in a manger,
grant us your peace.

By the song of herald angels,
grant us your peace.

By the worship of poor shepherds,
grant us your peace.

By the offering of the Wise Men,
grant us your peace.

By your holy name of Jesus,
grant us your peace.

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.

Hear your children, O Lord God, and grant that the glad light of the Incarnation may shine throughout the world;
Son of Man, hear us.

That the gospel of your love may win the faith and worship of all hearts;
Son of Man, hear us.

That all kinds of people may know and find their unity at Bethlehem;
Son of Man, hear us.

That the questions of all minds and the desires of all souls may find their peace at Bethlehem:
Son of Man, hear us.

That your birth as truly human may hallow the life of all humanity:
Son of Man, hear us.

That we may ever wear in honor the robe of flesh you have worn:
Son of Man, hear us.

That you for whom an inn could find no room may not again be crowded from our lives:
Son of Man, hear us.

That you for whom a stable-place sufficed will also dwell within our hearts:
Son of Man, hear us.

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.

Therefore with angels and archangels, with patriarchs and prophets, with Mary and Joseph, with Wise Men and shepherds, with all people and all creatures, let us bless the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest.

For to us a child is born. To us a son is given. The authority to rule will rest on his shoulders;
Hosanna in the highest.

He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace;
Hosanna in the highest.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;
Hosanna in the highest.

The Word became flesh and dwelled among us.
Hosanna in the highest.

We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth;
Hosanna in the highest.

God the Father, our maker,
God the + Son, born among us,
God the Holy Spirit, sanctifying us,
bless, preserve, and keep us, evermore and evermore. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Cambridge Offices and Orisons, Eric Milner-White, B. T. D. Smith, 1921

Note: The listing of various events in the life of Christ and the prayer for Christ to give us peace by them is a common feature of many litanies. As we meditate on these events and truths we read and hear from God’s Word, his gospel does indeed grant us peace.

The phrase: “That you for whom a stable-place sufficed…” is taken from stanza 2 of the carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter.”

The phrase: “…evermore and evermore” is from the ancient Christmas hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”

Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. www.wartburgproject.org.

The original in traditional English can be found here: https://tonusperegrinus.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-litany-of-incarnation.html

You Make Us Glad

O God,
you make us glad
with the yearly expectation
of the birthday of Christ,
your only Son.
Grant that we,
who hail him with joy
as our Redeemer,
may also behold him without fear
when he comes to be our Judge;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Gelasian
Source of this version: Freely modified from A Century of Collects, [4] selected and translated by Atwell M. Y. Baylay, 1913.

The Lighting of an Advent Wreath (Home / Devotional Liturgy)

This is intended to be a short devotional liturgy which may be used at home, in a Sunday School or Christian school, or in any small gathering.

All gather around the Advent wreath.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

Reading and Prayer: First Week “Readiness”

Romans 13:10-12

Love does no harm to a neighbor, so love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this since you understand the present time. It is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost over, and the day is drawing near. So let us put away the deeds of darkness and put on the weapons of light.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Keep us watchful and ready for the signs of your return, keep us from being overcome with anxiety and sorrow, and keep us faithful to the end; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Reading and Prayer: Second Week “Repentance”

Matthew 3:1-3

In those days, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near!” Yes, this is he of whom this was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

O God of hope, give us endurance, encouragement, joy and peace. Move us to repentance, change our hearts with your eternal Word, and dwell with us forever; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Reading and Prayer: Third Week “Rejoicing”

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to joy. Lift up our heads from the dust and adorn us with your righteousness, that we may rejoice and testify that our Lord has come; for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Reading and Prayer: Fourth Week “Revealing”

Galatians 4:4-5

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son to be born of a woman, so that he would be born under the law, in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would be adopted as sons.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

O Lord, you promised in your Holy Scriptures to send your Son Jesus Christ as the Son of David, and your own Son. Reveal this saving promise also to us and move our hearts to faith and obedience; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

As the leader lights the Advent candle(s), the leader and group say this responsive verse:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
On those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

Let us pray.

We praise you, O Lord our God, for giving us every spiritual blessing through your beloved Son. Enlighten our hearts and minds that we may shine as lights in this dark world, to the praise of your glorious grace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

May the wisdom of the Wonderful Counselor direct us,
the strength of the Mighty God protect us,
the love of the Everlasting Father embrace us,
the peace of the Prince of Peace surround us.
Amen.

A stanza of the hymn, “Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel” may be sung.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2019. Prayers are from Now and Forever.

Scriptures from the Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. www.wartburgproject.org.