Not the God of the Dead but of the Living

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In some branches of Christianity, November 2 is celebrated as ‘All Souls Day,’ or ‘Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.’  In some countries it is also called ‘The Day of the Dead.’ This prayer reminds us that those who die in faith live in Christ.

O eternal God and Father,
you are not the God of the dead but of the living,
and all who put their trust in you,
who rest in their chambers under the earth,
live in you.
Be merciful to us, dear Father,
do not let us be afraid of the power and sting of death,
but keep us in the true faith in your dear Son,
who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Uphold us with your Holy Spirit,
and give us a clear conscience,
that we may live our Christian lives,
and finally fall asleep in peace and joy
when we leave this valley of tears,
and rest in peace until you open our graves
and awaken us with the sound of the last trumpet;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Order for Burial, found in Allgemeines evangelisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch zum Kirchen und Hausgebrauch,Hamburg, 1846, p. 760#2.

A similar prayer appears in Christian Worship: Occasional Services in the burial rite.

Original in German:

O ewiger Gott und Vater, der Du nicht bist ein Gott der Todten, sondern der Lebendigen, denn in Dir leben alle, so unter der Erden in ihren Kammern ruhen: wir bitten Deine väterliche Güte, Du wollest uns des Todes Gewalt und Stachel nicht lassen erschrecken, sondern uns in Deinem Sohne, welcher ist der Weg, die Wahrheit und das Leben, in rechtem Glauben und gutem Gewissen gnadiglich mit Deinem Geiste erhalten, damit wir christlich leben, und seliglich von diesem Iammerthal abscheiden und in Fried und Freude einschlafen, und sanft ruhen können, bis Du unsere Graber eröffnest, und durch der Posaunen Stimme uns wieder zum Leben aufweckest, durch Jesum Christum unsern Herrn. Amen.

 

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All Saints Day

On November 1, the Christian church remembers those who have died in faith, and now enjoy eternal pleasures at Christ’s right hand as his church triumphant. We, too, are his saints, but in the church militant.

O Lord Jesus Christ,
you are the Resurrection and the Life,
and through your victory
you have attained
eternal righteousness, joy,
and holiness for us.
As you have promised,
we pray,
come soon to judge,
and bring us
a joyful resurrection to life
and a homecoming
in the eternal paradise
of our Father’s kingdom.
You, Jesus, are arisen from death,
and rule with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Prayer for the Order of Burial, found in Allgemeines evangelisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch zum Kirchen und Hausgebrauch,Hamburg, 1846, p. 758.

O Herr Jesu Christe, der Du bist die Auferstehung und das Leben, und hast uns durch Deinen Sieg eine ewige Gerechtigkeit, Freude und Heiligkeit erworben: wir bitten Deine milde Güte, Du wollest bald zum Gerichte kommen, und uns eine fröhliche Auferstehung des Lebens verleihen, und in das ewige Paradies und Vaterland uns heimholen, der Du vom Tode bist erstanden, und herrschest mit dem Vater und heiligem Geiste, von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen.

 

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A Home Liturgy for All Saints Day

In the history of the Christian Church, All Saints Day, November 1, is a time for visiting graves and remembering the faithful departed. The following may be used at home or when visiting the grave of a family member or friend.

We know that the one who raised the Lord + Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us into his presence. (2 Corinthians 4:14)
Amen.

The following Scriptures or other passages may be read:

Now we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal home in heaven, which is not made by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor powerful forces, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you told Mary and Martha
that you are the Resurrection and the Life.
You promised your disciples
that you would prepare a place for them.
You promised the repentant thief
that he would be with you in Paradise.
And through the disciple John,
you revealed to us
that you will wipe away every tear from our eyes
in the Day when there is no death or sorrow or crying or pain.
Fill our hearts
with these firm and certain promises.
Comfort us with the assurance
that those who have died in faith
now see you face to face.
Strengthen us
with these words of your gospel;
you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
surrounded by a great multitude that no one can count,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

How blessed are those who live in your house.
They are always praising you.

How blessed is everyone whose strength is found in you.
The highways to Jerusalem are in their hearts.

As they pass through the Valley of Weeping,
it becomes full of springs. 

They go from strength to strength.
Each one will appear before God in Zion.

O LORD, God of Armies, hear my prayer.
Give ear, O God of Jacob.

One day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather wait at the doorway of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

The LORD is a sun and shield.
God gives grace and glory.

The LORD does not withhold any good thing from those who walk with integrity.
O LORD of Armies, how blessed is everyone who trusts in you. (from Psalm 84)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. (Revelation 5:13)

How blessed are those who live in your house.
They are always praising you.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ + Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Amen.

__________

This short rite is based in part on the outline of a short rite in Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers © 2007 by the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, you told Mary and Martha…” and the responsory from Psalm 84 are newly composed. “Valley of Weeping” is in the footnote. Biblical text reads “Valley of Baca.” All Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version, © 2017.  www.wartburgproject.com

This “Home Liturgy for All Saints Day” has been translated into Portugese, available at lecionario.com website, and viewable below:

Na história da Igreja Cristã, o Dia de Todos os Santos e o Dia de Finados, 1º e 2 de novembro, são momentos para visitar túmulos e lembrar os fiéis que partiram. A liturgia seguinte pode ser usada em casa ou ao visitar o túmulo de um membro da família ou de um amigo.

Sabemos que Aquele que ressuscitou o Senhor + Jesus também nos ressuscitará com Jesus e nos levará à sua presença. (2 Coríntios 4:14 )
Amém.

As seguintes escrituras ou outras passagens podem ser lidas:

Sabemos que, se esta nossa tenda, nossa casa terrena, for destruída, temos um edifício da parte de Deus, uma casa eterna no céu, não feita por mãos humanas. (2 Coríntios 5:1)

Pois tenho certeza de que nem morte, nem vida, nem anjos, nem autoridades celestiais, nem coisas do presente nem do futuro, nem poderes, nem altura, nem profundidade, nem qualquer outra criatura poderá nos separar do amor de Deus, que está em Cristo Jesus, nosso Senhor. (Romanos 8:38–39)

Palavra do Senhor.
Graças a Deus.

Oremos
Senhor Jesus Cristo,
tu disseste a Maria e a Marta
que tu és a ressurreição e a vida.
Tu prometeste aos teus discípulos
que tu prepararias um lugar para eles.
Tu prometeste ao ladrão arrependido
que ele estaria contigo no paraíso.
E através do discípulo João,
tu nos revelaste
que enxugarás cada lágrima dos nossos olhos
no dia em que não haverá morte, nem tristeza, nem choro, nem dor.
Enche nossos corações
com essas firmas e certas promessas.
Conforta-nos com a garantia
de que aqueles que morreram na fé
agora te veem face a face.
Fortalece-nos
com estas palavras do teu evangelho;
tu, que vives e reinas com o Pai e o Espírito Santo,
cercado por uma grande multidão que ninguém pode contar,
um só Deus, agora e sempre.
Amém.

Como são felizes os que habitam em tua casa,
sempre cantando louvores a ti!

Como são felizes os que de ti recebem forças,
os que decidem percorrer os teus caminhos.

Quando passarem pelo vale do Choro,
ele se transformará num lugar de fontes revigorantes;

Eles continuarão a se fortalecer,
e cada um deles se apresentará diante de Deus, em Sião.

Ó Senhor, Deus dos Exércitos, ouve minha oração;
escuta, ó Deus de Jacó!

Um só dia em teus pátios é melhor que mil dias em qualquer outro lugar.
Prefiro ser porteiro da casa de meu Deus
a viver na morada dos perversos.

Pois o Senhor Deus é nosso sol e nosso escudo;
ele nos dá graça e honra.

O Senhor não negará bem algum àqueles que andam no caminho certo.
Ó Senhor dos Exércitos, como são felizes os que confiam em ti!
(do Salmo 84, NVT)

Glória ao Pai e ao Filho e ao Espírito Santo.
Ao que está assentado no trono e ao Cordeiro sejam o louvor,
a honra, a glória e o domínio pelos séculos dos séculos! 
(Apocalipse 5:13)

Como são felizes os que habitam em tua casa,
sempre cantando louvores a ti!

A paz de Deus, que ultrapassa todo entendimento, guardará o vosso coração e os vossos pensamentos em Cristo + Jesus. (Filipenses 4:7).
Amém.

© 2017 Paul C. Stratman and A Collection of Prayers.

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We Thank You for Your Precious, Saving Gospel

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Lord God, heavenly Father,
you did not spare your only Son,
but gave him up for us all to be our Savior,
and along with him
you have graciously given us all things.
We thank you for your precious, saving gospel,
and we pray that you would help us to believe
in the name of our Savior
faithfully and steadfastly,
for he alone
is our righteousness and wisdom,
our comfort and peace,
so that we may stand on the day of his appearing;
through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Collect for Reformation, found in Allgemeines evangelisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch zum Kirchen und Hausgebrauch, Hamburg, 1846, p. 694.

Original in German:

Herr Gott, himmlischer Vater, der Du uns Deinen Sohn zum Heiland und in ihm Alles geschenket hast, wir danken Dir für dies theure, seligmachende Evangelium, und bitten Dich: Hilf uns treu und festiglich glauben in den Namen unsers Heilandes, der allein unsere Gerechtigkeit und Weisheit, unser Trost und Friede ist, auf daß wir können bestehen am Tage seiner Zukunft: durch Jesum Christum, Deinen lieben Sohn, unser Herrn. Amen.

Prayers from the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage by [Stratman, Paul]This prayer is from Prayers from the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage, available from Amazon.com, and also available for Amazon Kindle. It is a collection of prayers from the history of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church from Luther to Loehe. The collection includes prayers by Johannes Bugenhagen, Georg C. Dieffenbach, Veit Dietrich, Matthias Flacius, Wilhelm Loehe, Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, Joachim Mynsinger, Johann G. Olearius, Johann Jacob Rambach, and the early agendas and prayer books of the Austrian, Brunswick, Hamburg, Lueneberg, Norwegian, Nuremberg, Pomeranian, Riga, Russian, Saxon, Schleswig-Holstein, and Swedish Evangelical-Lutheran churches.

Pentecost 21

O Lord Jesus Christ,
make us live sober,
righteous and godly lives in this present world
as we expect the blessed hope
and your glorious appearing.
May we run in the way of your commandments,
and receive your heavenly promises;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed, and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for Trinity 20, The New Mozarabic Collects, #72

 

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Prayers from the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage

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A collection of prayers from the history of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church from Luther to Loehe. The collection includes prayers by Johannes Bugenhagen, Georg C. Dieffenbach, Veit Dietrich, Matthias Flacius, Wilhelm Loehe, Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, Joachim Mynsinger, Johann G. Olearius, Johann Jacob Rambach, and the early agendas and prayer books of the Austrian, Brunswick, Hamburg, Lueneberg, Norwegian, Nuremberg, Pomeranian, Riga, Russian, Saxon, Schleswig-Holstein, and Swedish Evangelical-Lutheran churches.

Now available on Amazon.com

In paperback
and on Kindle.

Pentecost 20

O Lord Jesus Christ,
you are the Light of the blind,
the Way for those who stray,
and the resurrection of the dead.
Enlighten the darkness of our hearts and minds,
bring sinners to repentance,
so that we may live in you and for you;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
we worship and glorify you,
ever one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for Trinity 19, The New Mozarabic Collects, #71

 

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Pentecost 19

O Christ,
the alpha and the omega,
the beginning and the ending,
the root and the offspring of David,
our King and our Savior,
may we serve you faithfully here,
and continue to be yours forever;
through your merits, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for Trinity 18, The New Mozarabic Collects, #70

 

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Prayer Reflecting on the Shooting in Las Vegas, October 1

Guard us, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve us from violent men.
Psalm 140

O Lord, you know the minds of all,
and your plans are often hidden from us.
But you have given us this promise:
“For those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)
We cry out to you,
calm the rage of all who plan evil.
Heal the wounded.
Comfort those who mourn.
Strengthen those who serve.
Draw us closer to you.
Move our hearts to love and mercy,
and our actions to compassion and service.
Remind us all that
“the present form of this world is passing away,” (1 Corinthians 7:31)
and that around your throne,
Good Shepherd,
you will wipe every tear from our eyes. (Revelation 7:17)
Amen.

© 2017 Paul C. Stratman
on A Collection of Prayers