I Come in Confidence in Your Sweet Word

brooklyn_museum_-_the_communion_of_the_apostles_la_communion_des_apc3b4tres_-_james_tissotLord Jesus Christ,
truly I am not worthy that you should come under my roof,
yet I need your help and desire your grace,
that I may attain godliness and salvation.
I come now in no other confidence than this,
that I have heard the sweet words of your invitation to your table,
and though I am unworthy, you promised me
forgiveness of my sins through your body and blood
which I eat and drink in this Sacrament.
O dear Lord, I know that your divine Word and promise are true.
I do not doubt them,
and resting on them,
I eat and drink with you.
Let it be to me according to your word.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers from the collection of the late baron Bunsen, selected [from Versuch eines allgemeinen evangelischen Gesang – und Gebetbuchs] and tr. by C. Winkworth, 1871, p.182

Picture by James Tissot, public domain

Variant:

Lord, it is certainly true that I am unworthy to have you come under my roof, but I am so needy and long for your help and grace so that I may become righteous. Therefore, I come to you, trusting in nothing other than the sweet words which I have heard, with which you invite me to your Table and say to me, who am so unworthy, that I will receive forgiveness of my sins through your Body and Blood if I eat and drink of them in this Sacrament. Amen! Dear Lord, your word is true; this I do not doubt; and on this promise I eat and drink with you; let it be to me according to your will and word. Amen.

Source: Modified from http://www.godrules.net/library/luther/NEW1luther_f7.htm

 

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Feed My Soul, Quicken My Spirit

brooklyn_museum_-_the_communion_of_the_apostles_la_communion_des_apc3b4tres_-_james_tissotO blessed Lord Jesus Christ,
I thank you for your boundless love
for redeeming the human race
by your precious death.
You shed your blood also for me,
a poor sinner.
Feed my soul with your body,
and quicken my spirit with your blood,
that I may always grow in the knowledge of you,
in your fear and love, and in Christian conduct,
and may abide a true member of your body,
your holy Church.
Amen.

Source: Augustine

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers from the collection of the late baron Bunsen, selected [from Versuch eines allgemeinen evangelischen Gesang – und Gebetbuchs] and tr. by C. Winkworth, 1871, p.181-182

Picture by James Tissot, public domain

 

 

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Holy Spirit, Come to Us

hortus_deliciarum_pfingsten_und_die_aussendung_des_heiligen_geistes_auf_die_apostelGod the Holy Spirit,
you are of one essence with the Father and the Son,
and you proceed from them.
You descended on the Lord Christ in the form of a dove,
and on his disciples as tongues of flame.
We thank you, we praise you,
and pray that you would chase from our souls
all the darkness of evil
and kindle in us the light of your grace
and the fire of your love;
you live and reign,
true God forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Augustine

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers from the collection of the late baron Bunsen, selected [from Versuch eines allgemeinen evangelischen Gesang – und Gebetbuchs] and tr. by C. Winkworth, 1871, p.123-124

Graphic:  Hortus deliciarum of Herrad of Landsberg from Wikipedia.com

 

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Jesus, Bread of Life

brooklyn_museum_-_the_communion_of_the_apostles_la_communion_des_apc3b4tres_-_james_tissotSon of the Living God,
you are the true Bread of Life.
You feed and satisfy with your body and blood
all sorrowful souls and aching consciences
and hungering and thirsting hearts,
and you have invited us to this heavenly feast.
Receive us in your grace,
feed and quicken our poor souls
with your body and blood
for eternal life.
Amen.

Source: Augustine

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers from the collection of the late baron Bunsen, selected [from Versuch eines allgemeinen evangelischen Gesang – und Gebetbuchs] and tr. by C. Winkworth, 1871, p.118

Picture by James Tissot, public domain

 

 

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Keep Us Repentant, Keep Us Strong in Faith

HSBlessed Lord,
give us your Holy Spirit
to work in us daily a true and lasting repentance,
and lead us as repentant Christian people,
always willing to acknowledge, mourn and lament our sins,
yet also keep us steadfast and strong in our faith
in the forgiveness of sins
and in our purpose to amend our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Johann Eichhorn, d. 1564

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers from the collection of the late baron Bunsen, selected [from Versuch eines allgemeinen evangelischen Gesang – und Gebetbuchs] and tr. by C. Winkworth, 1871, p.106

Graphic: Church of the Atonement (Crooksville, Ohio), photo by  Nheyob,  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

The Glory of Servanthood

jesus-washing-peters-feet-ford-madox-brown

O Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of man,
you did not come to be served, but to serve.
Give us grace to lay aside all our vanity,
clothe us with your power,
and crown us with your humility,
that finally, in the glory of serving,
we may stand beside your throne,
where with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you reign, one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.

This prayer references Matthew 20:28, John 13:4 and Matthew 10:40-42

Painting by Ford Madox Brown, public domain

For Inward Calm

jesus-stilling-the-tempest-je-sus-calmant-la-tempe-teO Lord Christ,
serene Son of God,
your will subdued the troubled waters
and quieted the fears of your people;
Let your majesty master us,
your power of calm control us;
that despite our fears we may have faith,
and despite our troubles we may find perfect trust in you;
who lives and reigns over all things,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Modified from  A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.

This prayer references Luke 8:22-25

Picture by James Tissot, public domain

You Are the Truth

O God,
through our Lord Jesus Christ
you taught us
that those who remain in your Word
will know the truth that sets them free;
Move us to serve you faithfully
that we may be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God;
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.

This prayer references John 8:31-32 and Romans 8:21

For Quiet Confidence

O God of peace,
you have taught us
in returning and rest we shall be saved,
in quietness and in confidence is our strength;
Lift us to your presence by the might of your Spirit,
where we may be still and know that you are God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.

This prayer references Isaiah 30:15 and Psalm 46:10

A Blessing

The eternal and ever-blessed Father,
source of all light and life,
so fill us with his grace and heavenly benediction,
that + Christ who is the brightness of his glory
may dwell in us, and we in him,
both now and evermore.
Amen.

Source: Modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.