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Give Us Highest Comfort in Your Grace

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in your fatherly grace you did not spare you only Son
but gave him up to death on the cross.
Pour your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that we may find our highest comfort in your grace.
Protect us from temptations to sin more,
and help us patiently bear whatever hardships may come,
so that through him we may have eternal life.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 6 / Palm Sunday

This revision/translation of The Collects of Veit Dietrich is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

Give Us Comfort that We Will Never See Death

Lord God, heavenly Father,
your dear Son, our Redeemer Christ Jesus said,
‘Whoever remains in my word will never see death.’
Pour out your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that your Son’s Word may come to us
and that we may hear it, hold it,
and commit ourselves to it with our whole heart,
and in the midst of death find comfort
that we will never see eternal death,
for the sake of your Son,
our Redeemer Christ Jesus.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 5

Preserve Us from Greed and the Cares of this Life

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in the wilderness your Son fed over five thousand people
with five loaves and two fish.
Graciously remain with us and bless us.
Preserve us from greed and the cares of this life
that we may seek first your kingdom and your righteousness
and in all things remember your Fatherly goodness;
through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 4

Preserve Us in All Temptations

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you sent your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
to take on himself our flesh
that he might overcome the devil’s tyranny
and defend us poor sinners.
We give you thanks for your merciful help.
Be present with us in your grace in all temptations,
preserve us from worldly security
and by your Holy Spirit keep us
in your Word and your fear,
that we may be delivered from the enemy
and obtain eternal salvation;
through your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 3

Confirm our Faith and Hope in Your Grace and Mercy

Lord God, heavenly Father,
may your Holy Spirit strengthen our hearts
and confirm our faith and hope
in your grace and mercy.
Although we have reason to fear because of our conscience,
our sin and our unworthiness,
we may nevertheless, with the woman of Canaan,
hold fast to your grace
and in every trial and temptation
find you a very present help and refuge;
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 2

Help Us against the Adversary

Lord God, heavenly Father,
just as the adversary continually afflicts us
and as a roaring lion walks about,
seeking to devour us,
for the sake of the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ,
help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit
and strengthen our hearts by your Word,
that our enemy may not prevail over us,
but that we may always abide in your grace
and be preserved to eternal life,
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 1

In Trouble and Turmoil, Be Our Peace

Lord of the nations,
God in whom we trust,
you alone are holy,
good, wise,
and the source of every blessing.

In trouble and turmoil,
be our peace.
In our hearts and minds
give us the peace that surpasses understanding.
In our mouths
put words of peace,
and make us peacemakers
that we may be called your children.

Let the truth of your Word
govern and guide us
when we are inclined
to be like Pontius Pilate
and say, “What is truth?”

When we are unsure of all things,
draw us to you,
our faithful God,
steadfast in love,
our rock, refuge and fortress.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, January 6, 2021.

Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save. Psalm 146:3

Filled with His Love and Spirit of Self-Sacrifice

Heavenly Father,
let your blessing be on us
as we pass through these holy days
in which we remember
the sufferings and death
of our dear Lord.
Set his example before us,
that we may follow him
in willing obedience,
learn his gracious humility,
and be filled with his love
and spirit of self-sacrifice,
and learn the lessons of a life
pleasing to you
and helpful to our neighbors;
through him who loved us
and gave himself for us,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from The Parish School Hymnal, Board of Publication of the Lutheran Church in America, 1926.

Christmas Day

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Glorious Father,
you have revealed your glory,
your grace and your truth
by sending your only Son
to become flesh and dwell among us.
Enlighten darkened hearts
with this true light
that shines on everyone,
that all might hear, believe, and receive
the right to become children of God;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Christmas Eve

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O Lord,
you have filled this holy night
with the brightness of the true Light,
Jesus Christ.
You have revealed
your peace and goodwill through him
and have given us blessed hope.
Increase our joy
with that news that a child is born to us,
a Son is given to us;
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.