pastorstratman

Sanctify, Calm, Cleanse, Strengthen

Lord God,
Father of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ,
your name is great,
your nature is wonderful,
your goodness is inexhaustible,
you are God and Master of all things,
and are blessed forever.
You sit between the cherubim,
and are glorified by the seraphim.
Before you stand thousands of thousands
and ten thousand times ten thousand,
the hosts of holy angels and archangels.
Sanctify our souls and bodies and spirits,
calm our fears
cleanse our consciences,
and drive out every evil thought,
every selfish desire,
envy, pride, hypocrisy,
falsehood, deceit, anxiety,
covetousness, arrogance, laziness,
malice, anger, grudges,
blasphemy, deeds or thoughts
that are contrary to your holy will.
O Lord, since you love us all,
give us the strength to boldly call on you
in the freedom of Christ,
without condemnation,
with a pure heart and a contrite soul,
with undivided attention
and with sanctified lips,
as our holy God and Father in heaven.

Source: Liturgy of St. James, from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 1#1.

“…in the freedom of Christ” was an addition for doctrinal reasons and for emphasis.

“between the cherubim” may be a reference to Exodus 25:22

“glorified by the seraphim” may be a reference to Isaiah 6:2

“ten thousand times ten thousand” may be a reference to Jude 1:14 or Revelation 5:11

“drive out every evil thought…” and what follows resembles Galatians 5:19-21

“pure heart” may be a reference to Psalm 24:4, 2 Timothy 2:22 or Hebrews 10:22

“sanctified lips” may be a reference to Isaiah 6:7

You Are Life, Help, Hope and Cleansing

Coptic[1] — A Coptic Christian inscription.

O Lord our God,
you are great, eternal,
and wonderful in glory.

You keep your covenant and promises
for those who love you
with their whole heart.
You are the Life of all,
the Help of those who flee to you,
the Hope of those who cry to you.
Cleanse us from our sins,
secret and open,
and from every thought displeasing to your goodness.

Cleanse our bodies and souls,
our hearts and consciences,
that with a pure heart and a clear soul,
with perfect love and calm hope,
we may venture confidently
and fearlessly to pray to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Source: Coptic Liturgy of St. Basil, from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 2#1.

Note:
“…through Jesus Christ our Lord” was added, both because it completes the prayer and it points to the source of the love, cleansing and fearlessness.

“You keep your covenant and promises” may be a reference to 1 Kings 8:23 or 2 Chronicles 6:14.

“Cleans us from our sins, secret…” may be a reference to Psalm 19:12.

“we may venture confidently” may be a reference to Ephesians 3:12.

The Light of Your Heavenly Grace Has Renewed Us

O Lord,
hear the morning prayers of your people,
and enlighten our hearts with your healing goodness,
that no dark desires may trouble us
since the light of your heavenly grace has renewed us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Gelasian, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. WIlliam Bright, p. 7#1

Canticle: A Longer Sanctus

Image result for russia lutheran christus pantocrator — Christos Pantokrator, Russian Icon, 18th century

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God almighty!
Heaven and earth
are full of your glory.

We worship you.
We give you thanks for your marvelous deeds,
Lord God, heavenly King,
God and Father, Almighty Lord.

Jesus Christ, only Son of the most high,
Holy Spirit, Spirit of peace, truth and grace,
to you, eternal God, be praise for all your works.

Your might is eternal,
and your love unwavering.
Look with mercy on your people
who gather in your sanctuary to worship you,
to thank you for all your benefits for body and soul,
to implore your grace
to enlighten us in knowledge of you
and to instruct our hearts,
that we may bring the holy offerings
of devout obedience to you.

Source: Agende für die Evangelisch-Lutherischen Gemeinden im Russischen Reiche, 1832, an alternative canticle to the Gloria in Excelsis, p. 6-7

This canticle seems to blend the Trisagion, an opening hymn in Eastern Orthodox worship, with the Gloria in Excelsis, along with some other elements.

Original in German:

Heiliger! Heiliger! Heiliger! HErr! Gott! Allmächtiger! Himmel und Erde sind Deiner Herrlichkeit voll; wir beten Dich an, wir danken Dir für Deine Wunder, HErr Gott! himmlischer König! Gott Vater! Allmächtiger HErr! eingeborner Sohn des Allerhöchsten! Jesus Christus! Heiliger Geist! Geist des Friedens, der Wahrheit und der Gnade! Dich, ewiger Gott, loben alle Deine Werke; ewig , wie Du selbst, ist Deine Macht, unwandelbar Deine Liebe; blicke mit Milde herab auf Dein Volk, welches versammelt ist in Deinem Heiligthutne, Dich anzubeten, Dir zu danken für Deine Wohlhaten, und für sich, im Geistigen und Leiblichen, Deine Gnade zu erflehen ; erleuchte unsern Verstand zu Deiner Erkenntniss und lehre unsere Herzen, die heiligen Opfer eines ächten Gehorsams darzubringen!

Redeem Us for Your Mercies’ Sake

O Christ, Son of the living God,
have mercy.

You sit at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy.

Arise, O Christ, for our help,
and redeem us for your mercies’ sake.

Source: Opening Preces from Morning Suffrages for Sundays, modified from Liturgy for Christian Congregations of the Lutheran Faith by Wilhelm Löhe, p. 101

Prayer for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

O Christ, our Lord and our eternal Redeemer,
as we follow you and share in your sufferings,
fill us with your Holy Spirit,
that we subdue the old self to the new,
and the new self to you,
and at last share the glory of your resurrection;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 31 #2 (Trinity 4)

“share in your sufferings” is a reference to 2 Corinthians 1:5, Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 4:13

“fill us with your Holy Spirit” is a reference to Acts 2:4, Ephesians 5:18

“that we subdue the old self to the new, and the new self to you” is a reference to Colossians 3:9-10. See also Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Ephesians 4:23

“share the glory of your resurrection”is a reference to Philippians 3:10, Revelation 20:6

A Prayer Reflection on Psalm 73

comeuntome Lord Jesus,
your parting words to your disciples
were, “Surely I am with you always,”
and then you ascended
to sit at your Father’s right hand.

“Yet I am always with you.
You hold me by my right hand.
With your guidance you lead me,
and afterward, you will take me to glory.
Who else is there for me in heaven?
And besides you, I desire no one else on earth..”

You came to bear our infirmities,
griefs, and sorrows.
You healed many people of their sicknesses
of body and spirit,
and you restored sinners
with your words of forgiveness:
“Neither do I condemn you…”
“Take heart! Your sins are forgiven..”

“My flesh and my heart fail,
but God is the rock of my heart
and my portion forever.“

Draw me nearer to you.
Fix my heart on your Word,
your commands,
your forgiveness,
your promise.

“Those who are far from you will perish…
As for me, God’s nearness is good for me.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so that I can tell about all your works..”

Remind me of your Word, your presence,
…and that nothing else matters.

Arise and Shine in My Heart

wilhelm_loehe O Lord Jesus,
Creator of all things,
light of the glory
of the Father in heaven.
I thank you for letting me see
the light of a new day!
Bright Sun of Righteousness,
arise and shine in my heart,
so that I may walk as a child of light as in the day,
and finally see you
in the eternal light of joy everlasting.
Amen.

Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#12)

“O Lord Jesus, Creator of all things,” is a reference to John 1:3

“light of the glory of the Father in heaven” is a reference to John 1:14

“Bright Sun of Righteousness” is a reference to Malachi 4:2

“arise and shine in my heart” is a reference to 2 Peter 1:19

“so that I may walk as a child of light” is a reference to Ephesians 5:8 and 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Original in German:

O Herr Jesu, Du Schöpfer aller Dinge, Du Glanz der Herrlichkeit Deines himmlischen Vaters, ich danke Dir von Herzen, daß Du mich das fröhliche Sonnenlicht wieder schauen lässest. O Du helle Sonne der Gerechtigkeit, geh auch in meinem Herzen auf, damit ich in Deinem Glanze als ein Kind des Lichtes und als am Tage wandeln und Dich dermaleins im ewigen Freudenlichte selig schauen möge! Amen

https://books.google.com/books?id=yw5kAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR12&dq=Samenk%C3%B6rner+des+Gebets&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijxLn63v7UAhXKPz4KHax4C9UQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Awaken Us from the Grave of our Sins

christ-898330_640 Merciful, holy and faithful Lord Jesus Christ,
you died for our sins
and were raised for our justification,
in view of your resurrection,
we ask that you would awaken us also
from the grave of our sins and iniquities,
and grant us your grace
that we may partake
in your resurrection
at the final resurrection of all the dead.

Source: Attributed to St. Augustine, 354-430, in Allgemeines evangelisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch zum Kirchen und Hausgebrauch, Hamburg, 1846, p. 818#57

Du gütiger, frommer und getreuer Herr Jesu Christ, der du unserer Sünden halben gestorben bist und unserer Gerechtigkeit wegen bist wieder auferstanden: ich bitte dich durch deine heilige Auferstehung, daß du mich auch wollest erwecken aus dem Grabe der Sünden und Missethat, und mir deine Gnade verleihen, daß ich in der Auferstehung der Todten auch deiner Auferstehung möge theilhaftig werden. Amen.

Christ, You Are the True Light

Christ,
you are the true Light,
who has come into the world
to enlighten and sanctify all people.
Let the light of your face shine on us,
that we may appear
in your unapproachable light;
and make our paths straight
so that we may walk in your commands.
Amen.

Source: Morning prayer, attributed to the Greek Church, found in Allgemeines evangelisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch zum Kirchen und Hausgebrauch, Hamburg, 1846, p. 706#3

From the German source:

Christe, du wahres Licht, das jeden Menschen, der in die Welt kommt, erleuchtet und heiliget, laß leuchten über uns das Licht deines Antlitzes, auf daß wir in ihm das Licht schauen, dahin niemand kommen kann; und mache richtig unsere Stege, auf daß wir in deinen Geboten wandeln. Amen.