Join me on my other blog for Twenty-Five Carols in Twenty-Five Days.
https://pastorstratman.wordpress.com/category/twenty-five-carols-in-twenty-five-days/
Some history, memories and devotional thoughts on my top 25 Christmas carols.
Category: Christian Prayer
Advent Prayer
O God,
by your holy prophets
you promised that your only Son
would come in the flesh for us
and be born of a virgin.
In these last days you have fulfilled your Word.
When he who came to redeem the world
comes to be our judge,
let us not be put to shame;
through the merits of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Mozarabic Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent, freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p.15 #2
May We always Watch and Pray
Lord God, heavenly Father, by your Son you have revealed to us that heaven and earth will pass away, that our bodies will rise again and that we all must appear before the judgment throne. Keep us by your Holy Spirit in your Word, establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, that our hearts may not be obsessed with carousing, drunkenness, and foolish cares, but that we may always watch and pray and trust fully in your grace, await with joy the glorious coming of your Son and at last, 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. Amen.
Source: Veit Dietrich
Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Advent 2)
Make Us Watchful
O Lord our God,
make us watchful and heedful
as we await the coming of your Son,
Christ our Lord,
that when he comes and knocks,
he will find us not sleeping in sins
but awake and rejoicing in his praises;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Gelasian Sacramentary
Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 16 #4
Purify Our Consciences
O Lord,
purify our consciences by your daily presence,
that when your Son, our Lord comes,
he may find in us a place prepared for himself;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Gelasian Sacramentary
Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 16 #3
Stir Up Our Hearts
Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to prepare the way for your only Son.
By his advent we may be enabled
to serve you with purified minds
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Gelasian Sacramentary
Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 16 #2
Advent Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ,
at your first coming you humbled yourself because of our sins.
At your second coming our sins will be done away by your mercy,
and we will be numbered with your saints in glory everlasting;
through your merits, O blessed Savior,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.
Source: Mozarabic Collect for the First Sunday in Advent, freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p.15 #1
Stir Up Your Power and Come
O
Lord,
stir up your power and come.
Mercifully fulfill all you have promised your Church
to the end of the world.
Source: Gelasian Sacramentary
Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 16 #1
You Gave Us a Meek and Righteous King
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you, we bless you and praise you forever that you sent your Son to rule over us poor sinners, who justly deserve to remain in the tyranny of sin and Satan, but in Jesus, you gave us a meek and righteous King, who by his death became our Savior from sin and eternal death. Enlighten, govern and direct us by your Holy Spirit, that we may always remain faithful to this righteous King and Savior and not like the rest of the world, be offended with his humble form and despised Word, but firmly believing in him, 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. Amen.
Source: Veit Dietrich
Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Advent 1)
Rule and Govern Our Hearts
O Lord God,
rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit
that we may always be mindful of the end of all things
and the day of your last judgment,
and be stirred up to holiness of living here
and dwell with you forever hereafter;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Swedish Psalm Book, 1677, Historic Collect for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Trinity
Source of this version: Translation © 2016 Paul C. Stratman
This translation 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.
A Collection of Prayers 