O God,
you led our ancestors
to this land
where they found
refuge from oppression
and freedom to worship you.
Always guide our nation
in the way of your truth and peace,
so that we enjoy
the blessing you have promised
to the people whose God is the Lord;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Paul Zeller Strodach, 1917, slightly modified from the Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, 1917
Lord,
preserve your people.
Maintain righteous government everywhere,
so that all things may take place
in an orderly way
and peace may not be destroyed
by revolution or secret enmity,
nor the eternal good order
be corrupted by debased living
or disturbed by other offenses.
Amen.
Source: Attributed to Martin Luther, modified slightly from http://www.antiochchurch.ca/famousQuotes.html
Almighty God,
you have given us a land
where we are free to read and hear your Word,
confess your name
and work together
for the extension of your kingdom.
May the liberty given us
be continued to our children
and our children’s children,
that the power of the gospel
may here increase
to the blessing
of all the nations of the earth
and to your eternal glory;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Henry Eyster Jacobs, 1917, slightly modified from the Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church (1917, 1918)
Original in traditional English:
ALMIGHTY God, Who hast given us a land, wherein we are free to read and hear Thy Word, to confess Thy Name, and to labor together for the extension of Thy Kingdom: Grant, we beseech Thee, that the liberty vouchsafed unto us, may be continued to our children and our children’s children, and that the power of the Gospel may here abound, to the blessing of all the nations of the earth, and to Thine eternal glory; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Lord, have mercy.
In all our needs…
In all all our hurts…
In all our anxiety…
Lord, have mercy.
With all our questions…
With all we know…
With all we don’t know…
Lord, have mercy.
For healing…
For peace…
For a stronger trust in your Word and promise…
Lord, have mercy.
To calm our doubts…
To soothe our fears…
To bear our griefs and carry our sorrows…
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, forgive, strengthen and heal us by your grace.
Amen.
Source: Free prayer, reproduced from memory. © 2017 Paul C. Stratman. Some influence from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
Quote: “When ‘Lord, have mercy’ is all you can say, it’s what you must say.”
O Lord, our God,
you have commanded us
to speak righteousness,
and to judge fairly;
Grant that no sin may be found in our mouths,
nor wickedness in our minds,
but that, from pure hearts,
we may speak those things that are right;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 31 #1 (Trinity 3)
“you have commanded us to speak righteousness” is a reference to Psalm 37:30, Proverbs 8:8,
“and to judge fairly” is a reference to John 7:24
“no sin may be found in our mouths” is a reference to Psalm 39:1, Psalm 59:12, Ecclesiastes 5:6
“pure hearts” is a reference to Psalm 24:4, 1 Timothy 1:5, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 1:22
Dearest God and Lord,
strengthen and uphold us
in your pure, precious Word
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
and help us to show and live our thanks
with our fruits of faith
to your praise and thanks
forever.
Amen.
Source: Martin Luther, translated for A Collection of Prayers from Die Gebete Luthers, #195.
Original in German:
Ach lieber Gott und Herr, stärcke und behalte uns inn deinem lieben reynen wort durch Jesum Christum, unsern Herren, und hilff uns, das wirs danckbarlich erkennen und kräfftiglich mit guten Früchten bezeugen und zieren, dir sei lob und danck inn ewigkeit.
Dear God,
let your Word
shine in our hearts
by your Holy Spirit.
Make it
so bright and warm
that we always find
our comfort and joy
in it.
Amen.
Source: Martin Luther, translated for A Collection of Prayers from Die Gebete Luthers, #195.
Lieber Gott, verklere dein wort inn unsern hertzen durch deinen heiligen Geyst und mache es so liecht und heyß, das wir trost und freude davon empfinden.
Dear Lord Christ,
give us your Holy Spirit and gifts
not for our own glory
but for the service and edifying
of all Christendom.
This is the only reason,
you give your Spirit,
as St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12,
“you give to each one
according to your will,”
that is,
not for our our shame
or sin or vanity,
but for your praise and glory
and love and thanks
for your inexpressible grace and gifts
forever.
Amen.
Source: Martin Luther, translated for A Collection of Prayers from Die Gebete Luthers, #200.
Lieber Herr Christe, gib uns deinen Geyst und gaben nit zu unserm Rhum, sondern zu nutz und besserung der Christenheyt, dazu auch alleyne der Geyst gegeben wird, wie Sanct Paulus spricht 1. Cor. 12: “auff das es gleich und recht außgeteilet werde,” nemlich uns schand und scham für unser sünd und untugent, dir aber lob und ehr, lieb und danck für deine unaußsprechliche gnade und gaben in ewigkeyt.
Luther did not quote 1 Corinthians 12:11 directly. In the prayer, the quote reads “so that [the gifts] may be distributed equally and correctly.” ESV’s translation of 1 Corinthians 12 is “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” Luther seems to be recalling and summarizing the whole chapter.
Dearest Lord Christ,
you have enlightened my heart
with your truth.
Give me also
your Holy Spirit
and power,
that I may know and do
what pleases you.
Amen.
Source: Martin Luther, translated for A Collection of Prayers from Die Gebete Luthers, #201.
Original in German:
Lieber Herr Christe, der du mein hertz mit deiner warheit erleuchtet hast, wöllest mir auch deinen H[eiligen] Geyst und krafft geben, zu thun und zu lassen, was deinem gnedigen willen wolgefellet.
Translation note:
“..that I may know and do what pleases you.” is more literally translated “that I may do and allow what pleases your gracious will.
Lord,
now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.
Luke 2:29-32 (ESV)
Almighty and eternal God,
we humbly pray,
grant that we may know
and praise your dear Son
as holy Simeon did,
who took him up in his arms,
spiritually knew and confessed him;
through the same, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source of the prayer: Martin Luther [Die Gebete Luthers, #12, #309]
Source of this version: http://www.godrules.net/library/luther/NEW1luther_f7.htm
See also Luther’s Works (American Edition), Volume 53, p. 132.
The Nunc Dimittis sung to the tune from the Pomeranian Agenda.
from Book of Hymns (WELS, 1913)
Original prayer in German:
Allmechtiger ewiger Gott, wir bitten dich herzlich, gib uns, das wir deinen lieben Sohn erkennen und preisen wie der heilige Simeon in leiblich in die armen genommen und geistlich gesehen und bekant hat, durch denselben deinen son Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn.
Source: Die Kirchenordnung. Albertinisches Sachsen. Die Evangelischen Kirchenordnung des XVI. Jahrunderts
A Collection of Prayers 