Greeting: Christ is risen!
Response: He is risen indeed!
Variant:
Greeting: The Lord is risen!
Response: He is risen indeed!
Source: Ancient Christian greeting.
Original in Greek:
Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
Latin:
Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere!
German:
Christus ist auferstanden! Er ist wahrhaft auferstanden! or
Der Herr ist auferstanden! Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden!
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.
Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
From all evil, O Jesus, deliver us.
From sudden, unprepared, or evil death,
from the snares of the devil,
from anger, hatred, or ill will,
from everlasting death, O Jesus, deliver us.
By the mystery of your holy incarnation,
by your most holy life and work,
by your most bitter passion and death,
by your agony and bloody sweat,
by your thrice repeated prayer,
by the resignation of your human will,
by your bonds and stripes,
by your sacred body buffeted and smitten,
by your cruel mocking and scourging,
by the spitting upon your adorable face,
by the false judgment pronounced on you by Caiaphas,
by being disregarded by Herod,
by the shameful stripping off of your garments,
by your painful crown of thorns,
by your purple robe of mockery,
by your most unjust condemnation,
by your bearing your own cross,
by your footprints traced in blood,
by the tearing off of your garments,
by the cruel straining of your sacred limbs,
by your dread crucifixion,
by the upraising of your cross,
by the anguish you suffered,
by the insults you endured,
by your prayers and tears,
by the shedding of your most precious blood,
by your patience and humility,
by the love wherewith you loved us to the end, O Jesus, deliver us.
We sinners pray, hear us, Lord Jesus.
That being dead to sin, we may live for righteousness,
that we may not glory except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that we may take up our cross daily and follow you,
that your blood may cleanse us from dead works, to serve the living God, that looking to your example, we may follow your steps,
that being partakers of your sufferings, we may also partake of your glory, O Jesus, hear us.
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.
We adore you, O Jesus, we bless you.
Because by your cross and passion you have redeemed the world.
Remember your mercy, O Lord,
and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
Lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cries come before you.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Father…
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, you were lifted up on the cross for the redemption of the world, and you shed your blood for the forgiveness of our sins. By virtue of the merits of your most holy life, passion and death, let us enter the gates of paradise with joy; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Source: Slightly modified from Litany of the Passion in The Priest’s Prayerbook, 1906.
Now about the Eucharist, this is how to give thanks: First in connection with the cup:
We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David, your servant, which you have revealed through Jesus, your Son. To you be glory forever.
Then in connection with the piece broken off the loaf:
We thank you, our Father, for the life and knowledge which you have revealed through Jesus, your Son. To you be glory forever.
As this piece of bread was scattered over the hills and then was brought together and made one, so let your Church be brought together from the ends of the earth into your Kingdom. For yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.
You must not let anyone eat or drink of your Eucharist except those baptized in the Lord’s name. For in reference to this the Lord said, “Do not give what is sacred to dogs.”
After you have finished your meal, say grace in this way:
We thank you, holy Father, for your sacred name which you have lodged in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which you have revealed through Jesus, your Son. To you be glory forever.
Almighty Master, you have created everything for the sake of your name, and have given people food and drink to enjoy that they may thank you. But to us you have given spiritual food and drink and eternal life through Jesus, your Son.
Above all, we thank you that you are mighty. To you be glory forever.
Remember, Lord, your Church, to save it from all evil and to make it perfect by your love. Make it holy, and gather it together from the four winds into your Kingdom which you have made ready for it. For yours is the power and the glory forever.
Let grace come and let this world pass away.
Hosanna to the God of David!
If anyone is holy, let him come.
If not, let him repent.
Our Lord, come!
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from The Didache, ed. Cyril Richardson, 1953. CCEL. The Didache also known as The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, is a brief anonymous early Christian treatise, dated by most modern scholars to the first century. Some elements of The Didache are similar to the Gospel of Matthew, some seem to be apocryphal additions.
“As this piece of bread…” is similar in thought to 1 Corinthians 10:17.
“Do not give what is sacred to dogs” is from Matthew 7:6.
“But you have given spiritual food… is similar to 1 Corinthians 10:3.
“Remember, Lord, your Church, to save it from all evil…” is similar to
Matthew 6:13.
“Make it holy, and gather it together from the four winds…” is similar to
Matthew 24:31
“To you be glory forever” and “For yours is the power and the glory forever” is similar to Romans 11:36, Revelation 1:6, and many doxological phrases in the New Testament.
These short meditations may be used as personal devotions, school devotions, or devotions at the beginnings of church meetings.
All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way,
but the LORD has laid on him the guilt of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)
Almighty God, we fail in so many adversities because of our weakness. Restore us by the Passion and intercession of your only Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus taught in the Temple courts and was challenged by his enemies.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “Then how can David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet’?” “So if David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (EHV)
O God, Son of God, you took on yourself our nature and suffered death on the cross for us. By your Passion you have set us free from eternal death. Preserve us in your grace; through your mercy, O our God, you are blessed, and live and govern all things, now and forever.
Amen.
The LORD is good to all. His compassion extends over all he has made. (Psalm 145:9)
Amen.
He was pierced because of our rebellious deeds. He was crushed because of our guilt.
The punishment to bring us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
Almighty and eternal God, grant that we may celebrate the mysteries of our Lord’s Passion and find there the pardon of our sin; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
On Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus taught in the Temple courts and instructed his disciples about faithfulness.
“No one knows when that day and hour will be, not the angels of heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man returns. In fact, in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the very day that Noah entered the ark. And they did not realize what was coming until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man returns. “At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. So be alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: If the master of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. You also need to be ready for this reason: The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he returns. Amen I tell you: He will put him in charge of all that he has. But if that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will return on a day when he does not expect it and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (EHV)
O God, Son of God, you took on yourself our nature and suffered death on the cross for us. By your Passion you have set us free from eternal death. Preserve us in your grace; through your mercy, O our God, you are blessed, and live and govern all things, now and forever.
Amen.
May your mercy, O Lord, be on us, even as we wait confidently for you. (Psalm 33:22)
Amen.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.
Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent in the presence of her shearers, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
Almighty God, we are continually afflicted by our evil deeds. Free us by the Passion of your only Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
On Wednesday of Holy Week, Jesus may have rested. Matthew gives us a flashback to Jesus being anointed at Bethany and Judas beginning his plot.
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days it will be the Passover, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas. They plotted together how to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the Festival, or else there might be a riot among the people.” When Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, a woman approached him holding an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on his head as he was reclining at the table. But when his disciples saw this, they were upset and said, “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor.” Jesus was aware of this and said to them, “Why are you causing trouble for this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You are always going to have the poor with you, but you are not always going to have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Amen I tell you: Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.” Then one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on Judas was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. (EHV))
O God, Son of God, you took on yourself our nature and suffered death on the cross for us. By your Passion you have set us free from eternal death. Preserve us in your grace; through your mercy, O our God, you are blessed, and live and govern all things, now and forever.
Amen.
Blessed be God, who has not turned aside our prayer or turned aside his mercy from us! (Psalm 66:20)
Amen.
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These meditations are downloadable as a pdf here.
All Scripture is taken or modified from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version.
The opening prayers are the Historic Collects for the days of Holy Week, freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnal.
The closing prayer is a Mozarabic Collect for Holy Week.
The Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book was the English hymnal of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, published in 1912. It was published in text only and text and music editions. In its liturgical texts, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book was very similar to The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church. Since Common Service Book was published in 1917 and 1918, five or six years later, ELHB displays an older version of the Common Service and other texts. CSB seems to have undergone a revision and expansion of personal prayers, propers, and other rites. In 1941, The Lutheran Hymnal mostly retained the older forms in ELHB rather than use the updated texts in CSB.
The services in Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book included “The Order of Morning Service, or the Communion,” and “The Order of Evening Service, or Vespers.” The text only edition also contained “The Order of Early Service, or Matins.”
The Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book used Scripture texts from the King James Version of the Bible, used the British spelling of Saviour, and capitalized pronouns referring to the Deity, including Who/Whom.
For this electronic edition, different editions were consulted, so the files below may not be exactly the same as any one print edition. These files were made by modifying and correcting the texts that were generated by the pdf files of the original books and putting them into a usable format. Headings and rubrics were put in red, even though they were printed black in the original books.
The updated liturgical material combined elements from Common Service Book, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, and other resources. Rubrics are simplified. More updated liturgical material can be seen and downloaded at our Common Service Book page.
To properly display the docx files, you will need the fonts Old English Text MT and Liturgy. Updated contemporary versions also use the Liturgikon symbol font (embedded in the docx documents).
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This short devotional liturgy can be used in the home, or for the beginning of a school day or a church meeting. It can also be used at any time during the Lenten season.
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out our transgressions. (Psalm 51:1)
O God,
you do not desire the death of sinners,
but you want them to turn to you and live.
Look with pity on the weakness of our mortal nature.
We confess that we are but ashes,
and for our wickedness we deserve to return to the dust.
Forgive all our sins,
and give us the blessings that come with true repentance;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Isaiah 59 or another portion of Scripture is read.
Isaiah 59:12-20
For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities: 13 transgressing, and denying the Lord, and turning back from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words. 14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. 15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. 19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives. 20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. (ESV)
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Let us pray.
Lord God, heavenly Father,
as the result of his rebellion,
you told father Adam,
“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
We have followed Adam in his rebellion,
and have earned the same reward.
Lift us up from this dust of death
by the rising of your Son Jesus Christ.
Restore us to life with you
by forgiveness through his blood.
Empower us to walk with him in newness of life,
and in the obedience that leads to righteousness.
Finally, on the Last Day,
raise us from the dust of death
to live in the joy of your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.
Amen.
During these days of Lent, may the Lord focus our hearts on our Lord Jesus Christ as we look to him for cleansing from all our sin and follow him in his obedience.
The blessing of almighty God, the Father, the + Son and the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.
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This devotional liturgy and original prayers are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.
This devotion can be downloaded as a pdf here.
All scripture is taken from the English Standard Version.
The opening prayer is freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, and can also be read here.
The closing prayer is newly composed by Paul C. Stratman © 2017, and can also be read here.
The short exhortation was written for this devotional liturgy.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord.
It is right and just.
We give thanks to you God,
through your beloved son Jesus Christ,
whom you sent to us in former times
as Savior, Redeemer, and Messenger of your Will.
He is your inseparable Word,
through whom you made all,
and in whom you were well-pleased.
You sent him from heaven into the womb of a virgin,
who, being conceived within her, was made flesh,
and appeared as your Son,
born of the Holy Spirit and the virgin.
It is he who, fulfilling your will
and acquiring for you a holy people,
extended his hands in suffering,
in order to liberate from sufferings
those who believe in you.
Who, when he was delivered to voluntary suffering,
in order to dissolve death,
and break the chains of the devil,
and tread down hell,
and bring the just to the light,
and set the limit,
and manifest the resurrection,
taking the bread, and giving thanks to you, said,
“Take, eat, for this is my body which is broken for you.”
Likewise he took the cup, saying,
“This is my blood which is shed for you.
Whenever you do this, do this in memory of me.”
Therefore, remembering his death and resurrection,
we set before you the bread and the cup,[1]
giving thanks to you, for you have made us worthy
to stand before you and to serve you.
And we pray that you would send your Holy Spirit
on the offering of your Holy Church.
In their gathering together,
give to all those who partake of your holy mysteries the fullness of the Holy Spirit,
toward the strengthening of the faith in truth,
that we may praise you and glorify you,
through your son Jesus Christ,
through whom to you be glory and honor,
Father and Son,
with the Holy Spirit,
in your Holy Church,
now and always.
Amen.
Source: The Anaphora of Hippolytus, third century
Note:
Original in Latin:
Dominus vobiscum.
Et cum spiritu tuo.
Sursum corda.
Habemus ad Dominum.
Gratias agamus Domino.
Dignum et iustum est.
Et sic iam prosequatur. Gratias tibi referimus, Deus per dilectum puerum tuum Jesum Christum, quem in ultimis temporibus misisti nobis salvatorem et redemptorem et angelum voluntatis tuae. Qui est Verbum tuum inseparabile, per quem omnia fecisti et bene placitum tibi fuit. Misisti de calo in matricem Virginis, quique in utero habitus incarnatus est et Filius tibi ostensus est ex Spiritu Sancto et Virgine natus. Qui voluntatem tuam complens et populum sanctum tibi adquirens extendit manus cum pateretur, ut a passione liberaret eos qui in te crediderunt. Qui cumque traderetur voluntariae passioni ut mortem solvat et vincula diaboli dirumpat et infernum calcet et iustos inluminet et terninum figat et resurrectionem manifestet, accipiens panem gratias tibi agens dixit: Accipite, manducate: hoc est corpus meum, quod pro vobis confringetur. Similiter et calicem dicens: Hic est sanguis mcus qui pro vobis effunditur. Quando hoc facitis, meam commemorationem facitis. Memores igitur mortis et resurrectionis eius offerimus tibi panem et calicem gratias tibi agentes quia nos dignos habuisti adstare coram te et tibi ministrare. Et petimus ut mittas Spiritum tecum Sanctum in oblationem sancta Ecclesiae. In unum congregans des omnibus qui percipiunt sanctis in repletionem Spiritus Sancti ad confirmationem fidei in veritate, ut te landemus et glorificemus per puerum tuum Jesum Christum, per quem tibi gloria et honor Patri et Filio cum Sancto Spiritu in sancta Ecclesia tua et nunc et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
