Christian Prayer – Page 26 – A Collection of Prayers

The Lighting of an Advent Wreath (Home / Devotional Liturgy)

This is intended to be a short devotional liturgy which may be used at home, in a Sunday School or Christian school, or in any small gathering.

All gather around the Advent wreath.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

Reading and Prayer: First Week “Readiness”

Romans 13:10-12

Love does no harm to a neighbor, so love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this since you understand the present time. It is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost over, and the day is drawing near. So let us put away the deeds of darkness and put on the weapons of light.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Keep us watchful and ready for the signs of your return, keep us from being overcome with anxiety and sorrow, and keep us faithful to the end; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Reading and Prayer: Second Week “Repentance”

Matthew 3:1-3

In those days, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near!” Yes, this is he of whom this was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

O God of hope, give us endurance, encouragement, joy and peace. Move us to repentance, change our hearts with your eternal Word, and dwell with us forever; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Reading and Prayer: Third Week “Rejoicing”

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to joy. Lift up our heads from the dust and adorn us with your righteousness, that we may rejoice and testify that our Lord has come; for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Reading and Prayer: Fourth Week “Revealing”

Galatians 4:4-5

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son to be born of a woman, so that he would be born under the law, in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would be adopted as sons.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

O Lord, you promised in your Holy Scriptures to send your Son Jesus Christ as the Son of David, and your own Son. Reveal this saving promise also to us and move our hearts to faith and obedience; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

As the leader lights the Advent candle(s), the leader and group say this responsive verse:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
On those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

Let us pray.

We praise you, O Lord our God, for giving us every spiritual blessing through your beloved Son. Enlighten our hearts and minds that we may shine as lights in this dark world, to the praise of your glorious grace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

May the wisdom of the Wonderful Counselor direct us,
the strength of the Mighty God protect us,
the love of the Everlasting Father embrace us,
the peace of the Prince of Peace surround us.
Amen.

A stanza of the hymn, “Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel” may be sung.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2019. Prayers are from Now and Forever.

Scriptures from the Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. www.wartburgproject.org.

Christmas Day (Christmas II)

Almighty God,
grant that we who are are bathed
in the new light of your incarnate Word
may reflect the faith
that shines in our hearts
in all we do;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for Christmas Day (Christmas II), Gregorian, 10th Century.

Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in Latin:

Da, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut dum nova incarnati Verbi tui luce perfundimur, hoc in nostro resplendeat opere, quod per fidem fulget in mente.

Bosco Peters gives the original with various translations in this article.

Sunday after Christmas

Almighty and eternal God,
direct our actions with what pleases you,
that in the name of your beloved Son
we may be made to abound in good works;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for the Sunday after Christmas, Gregorian, 10th Century

Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers

Original in Latin:

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, dírige actus nostros in beneplácito tuo, ut in nómine dilécti Fílii tui mereámur bonis opéribus abundáre. Per Dóminum.

Christmas Day (Christmas III)

Almighty God,
grant that the new birth
of your only Son in the flesh
may set us free
from our old slavery under sin;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for Christmas Day (Christmas III), Gelasian, 8th Century.

Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in Latin:

Concede, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati iugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per…

Christmas Eve (Christmas I)

O God,
you have made this holy night
shine with the brightness
of the true Light.
Grant that we
who have known the mysteries of that Light
here on earth
may come to the fullness
of his joys in heaven;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for Christmas Eve (Christmas I), Gelasian, 8th Century

Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers

Original in Latin:

Deus, qui hanc sacratissimam noctem veri luminis fecisti illustratione clarescere, da, quaesumus, ut, cuius in terra mysteria lucis agnovimus, eius quoque gaudiis perfruamur in caelo. Qui tecum…

Bosco Peters gives the original with various translations in this article.

Advent 4

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.
Help us by your great might,
that whatever is hindered by our sins
may be speedily accomplished for your glory;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, Gelasian, 8th Century

Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers

Original in Latin:

Excita, quæsumus, Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: et magna nobis virtute succurre: ut per auxilium gratiæ tuæ quod nostra peccata præpediunt, indulgentia tuæ propitiationis acceleret. Qui vivis…

See this article by Bosco Peters.

Advent 3

Lord, hear our prayers,
and lighten the darkness of our hearts
by your gracious appearing;
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent, Gregorian, 10th Century

Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers

Original in Latin:

Aurem tuam, quæsumus, Dómine, précibus nostris accómmoda: et mentis nostræ ténebras, grátia tuæ visitatiónis illústra; Qui vivis…

See this article by Bosco Peters.

Advent 2

Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to make ready the way of your only Son,
so that by his coming we may worship you with pure minds;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent, Gelasian, 8th Century

Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers

Original in Latin:

Excita, Dómine, corda nostra ad præparándas Unigéniti tui vias: ut per ejus advéntum, purificátis tibi méntibus servíre mereámur. Qui tecum vivit et regnat.

Advent 1

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.
Rescue and protect us
from the threatening perils of our sins by your might;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for the First Sunday in Advent, Gregorian, 10th Century

Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers

Original in Latin:

Excita, quaesumus Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: ut ab imminentibus peccatorum nostrorum periculis, etmereamur protegente eripi, te liberante salvari. Qui vivas et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: per omnia saecula saeculorum.

Litany of Thanksgiving

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

O God, you have decreed from eternity to do good to us,
you have employed your power, wisdom, and love for our benefit,
moment by moment you bestow new blessings on us,
you have not withdrawn your generous hand from us; have mercy on us.

Because you have made us in your own image,
because you have raised us up to a goal beyond this life,
because you have given us an immortal soul,
because you have made it possible to know you, love you, and enjoy you forever,
because you have given so many creatures for our service,
because you have kept and nourished us to this day in your fatherly goodness,
because you have given us the holy apostles as our shepherds and teachers,
because you have redeemed us from the captivity of hell by the Passion of your dear Son,
because you have made us members of your holy Christian Church,
because you have given us the holy Sacraments for our salvation,
because you have given us your means of grace,
because you have not rejected and condemned us for so many past sins,
because you have saved us from innumerable sins of soul and body; we thank you, O Lord.

For all your gifts and blessings, natural and supernatural,
for all our inward and outward sufferings,
for all your fatherly correction and discipline,
for all your gifts and blessings which we have never yet fully known,
for all your gifts and blessings which we have never yet duly treasured up,
for all your gifts and blessings which we have so often sinfully misused,
for all your gifts and blessings which you have bestowed on our relatives, benefactors, friends and enemies,
for all your gifts and blessings which you have bestowed on all the family of mankind; we thank you, O Lord.

In unity with the Church militant here on earth, we give you thanks now, and until the end of the world. We thank you, O Lord.

In unity with the Church triumphant in heaven, we give you thanks now, and will give you thanks forevermore. We thank you, O Lord.

Son of God, we pray, hear us, Lord Jesus.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Our Father…

You are my God, and I will thank you.
You are my God, and I will praise you.

All your works praise you, O Lord,
and your saints give thanks to you.

The Lord be with you,
And also with you.

Let us pray.
O God, you have shown us the riches of your love and generosity in all their greatness. Show us also your priceless grace and blessing, that we may always truly know, treasure and employ them for your honor and our salvation. Through holy use of your Word and grace, and in thankful love for them, bring us at last where with all your saints and elect, we shall praise and bless your boundless goodness and mercy for evermore; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: The Priest’s Prayerbook, 1906, p. 180, freely modified.