A Collection of Prayers

Give Our Hearts Faith in Christ’s Work

matthiasgrunewald_thecrucifixion2 Merciful, eternal God,
you did not spare your own Son,
but gave him up for us all
to bear our sins on the cross.
Give our hearts such faith
that we may never be frightened
or despair;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther

Source of this version: Translated for A Collection of Prayers. German source: Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, ….Evangelischer Bücher-Verein, 1866, #600. [Die Gebete Luthers, #293]

Also found inDie pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 288(1).

Original in German:

Barmherziger, ewiger Gott, der du deines einigen Sohnes nicht verschonet hast, sondern für uns alle dahingegeben, daß er unsre Sünde am Kreuz tragen sollte; verleihe, daß unser Herz in solchem Glauben nimmermehr erschrecke noch verzage, durch denselben deinen Sohn, Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen. Luther.

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Home Liturgy for Holy Saturday–Vigil of Easter

There are several traditions for worship on Holy Saturday:

The most ancient is the Vigil of Easter in which lessons are read from the Old Testament that prefigure the redemption and resurrection. The mood of the worship is kept very somber. Then when the prophecies have been read, lights are turned up, bells are rung, the Gloria in Excelsis is sung with a festival setting, and the moment of Christ’s resurrection is celebrated. New Christians are baptized, and Holy Communion is celebrated. The Vigil of Easter is considered the first service of Easter.
Some traditions read the account of Jesus’ burial on Holy Saturday.
Some traditions focus on Jesus’ descent into hell.

This home liturgy combines the themes of Jesus burial (Gospel), Jesus’ descent into hell (1 Peter 3) and how we share in his victory through our baptism into his death and resurrection (prayers and responsory).

Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him by this baptism into his death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too would also walk in a new life.

If we have been united with him in the likeness of his death,
we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5)

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ,
for our sins you endured the cross and the grave,
and on the third day you rose again from the tomb.
Just as you have cleansed us from our sins by your blood,
and as we are buried with you in baptism,
so by your grace, let us share in your resurrection;
through your mercy,
O our God, you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Reading

A reading from 1 Peter, chapter 3.

Indeed, it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, ¹⁸because Christ also suffered once for sins in our place, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in flesh but was made alive in spirit, ¹⁹in which he also went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison. ²⁰These spirits disobeyed long ago, when God’s patience was waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In this ark a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. ²¹And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the guarantee of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. ²²He went to heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel

The holy Gospel according to St. John, the 19th chapter.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him remove Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took Jesus’ body away. ³⁹Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-two pounds. ⁴⁰They took Jesus’ body and bound it with linen strips along with the spices, in accord with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹There was a garden at the place where Jesus was crucified. And in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²So they laid Jesus there, because it was the Jewish Preparation Day, and the tomb was near.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to you O Christ.

Responsory

Christ has been raised from the dead, he will never die again. Death no longer has control over him.
The death he died, he died to sin once and for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. (Romans:6:9-10)

Christ was handed over to death because of our trespasses and was raised to life because of our justification. (Romans 4:25)
The life he lives, he lives to God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
The life he lives, he lives to God.

The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

__________

Prayer “O Lord Jesus Christ, for our sins you endured…” is from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 25 #3

The responsory is based on the traditional responsory for Easter. The traditional responsory also has Alleluias:

Christ has been raised from the dead, he will never die again. Death no longer has control over him.
The life he lives, he lives to God. Alleluia! Alleluia! (Romans:6:9-10)

Christ was handed over to death because of our trespasses and was raised to life because of our justification. (Romans 4:25)
The life he lives, he lives to God. Alleluia!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
The life he lives, he lives to God. Alleluia!

For this Easter Eve home liturgy, we included only one Alleluia at the end of the rite.

Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version, http://www.wartburgproject.org.

A Communion Prayer

A Collection of Prayers

veit-dietrich

O Lord God, heavenly Father,
we praise and thank you for your grace
that through your Son Jesus Christ
you established this supper
in which we eat his body and drink his blood.
By your Holy Spirit, help us
to use this gift worthily,
to confess and forsake our sins,
to confidently believe that we are forgiven through Christ,
and to grow in faith and love day by day
until we come at last to the joy of eternal salvation,
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich, 1506-1549

Source of this version: Freely paraphrased from http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/

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For Love

A Collection of Prayers

Coptic[1]

O God of love,
giver of concord,
through your only Son
you have given us a new commandment
that we should love one another
even as you have loved us,
the unworthy and the wandering,
and gave your beloved Son for our life and salvation.
Lord, in our time of life on earth
give us a mind forgetful of past ill-will,
a pure conscience and sincere thoughts,
and hearts to love one another;
for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Coptic Liturgy of St. Cyril

“love one another as you have loved us” is a reference to John 15:12

“and you gave your beloved Son” is a reference to John 3:16 and Matthew 3:17

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A Prayer for Cleansing

A Collection of Prayers

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

O Jesus, my feet are dirty.
Come even as a slave to me,
pour water into your bowl,
come and wash my feet.
In asking such a thing I know I am overbold
but I dread what was threatened when you said to me,
“If I do not wash your feet I have no fellowship with you.”
Wash my feet then, because I long for your companionship.
And yet, what am I asking?
It was well for Peter to ask you to wash his feet,
for him that was all that was needed for him to be clean in every part.
With me it is different:
though you wash me now I shall still stand in need of that other washing,
the cleansing you promised when you said,
“there is a baptism I must needs be baptized with.”

Source: Origen (c. 185–254)

Source of this version: http://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/02/footwashing-prayer-origen.html

Part also found…

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About the Eucharist, from the Didache

A Collection of Prayers

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…

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Litany of the Blessed Sacrament

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,
hidden God and Savior,
Sacrifice once for all,
Lamb without blemish,
living Bread from heaven,
Cup of blessing,
Word made flesh and dwelling within us,
Fullness of divine love,
Priest and Victim,
Hope of penitents,
Refreshment of souls,
Comfort of the dying,
Promise of glory in the life to come, have mercy on us.

From the desires of the flesh,
from the lust of the eye,
from the pride of life,
from all occasions to sin, good Lord, deliver us.

By your deep humility as you washed your disciples’ feet,
by your great love as you instituted this holy Sacrament,
by your body and blood, which you have given and poured out for us,
by the wounds which you received for us,
and by your death on the cross, good Lord, deliver us.

We sinners pray, hear us, Lord Jesus.

To prepare our hearts whenever we receive your holy Supper,
to move us to a sincere confession of our sins,
to partake of your body and blood often,
to strengthen and preserve us in faith,
to comfort and defend us when our last hour comes; hear us, good Lord.

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.

The cup of blessing that we bless is a communion of the blood of Christ.
The bread that we break is a communion of the body of Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us your holy Supper so that we could remember you, taste and touch the forgiveness of our sins. Strengthen and preserve us in the true faith, for you have established your covenant of love by giving your own body into death and by shedding your blood on the cross; now you live and reign with your Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Notes:

Commendation of the Dying

A Collection of Prayers

When a Christian is near death, the following Order may be used. If no Minister is present it may be used by the head of the family or by any other Christian.

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

Then shall all present say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not…

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The Seven Words from the Cross

A Collection of Prayers

'Christ_Nailed_to_the_Cross'_by_Giovanni_Battista_Cremonini,_LACMA[1].JPG 1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”Luke 23:34

O God in heaven,
give us patience
that we do not strike back
with revenge for any false accusations
or ridicule we endure from your enemies.
Guide us to remain faithful to your Word,
to follow your divine will,
and to forgive all who have done us harm;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

matthiasgrunewald_thecrucifixion2 2. “Woman,behold, your son!” John 19:26

O God,
your Son displayed compassion
for his grieving mother
when he placed her into the care
of his beloved disciple, John.
Take us into your care with compassion.
Guard and shield us
from all the assaults of the evil foe
and from all enemies and persecutors
who seek to take Christian lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

titian_-_christ_and_the_good_thief_-_wga22832 3. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

O God in heaven,
from this vale of tears

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A Prayer for Love

A Collection of Prayers

O blessed Lord, you have commanded us to love one another. Just as we have received your undeserved blessings, may we love everyone in you and for you.

We ask your kindness for all, but especially for the friends whom your love has given to us. Love them, O fountain of love, and move them to love you with all their heart, that they may will, and speak, and do only those things which are pleasing to you.

Our prayer is cold, because our love is so feeble, but you are rich in mercy. Do not measure your goodness to them by the dullness of our devotion, but as your kindness surpasses all human affection, so let your hearing transcend our prayer. Do what is best for them, according to your will, that being ruled and protected by you always and everywhere, they may receive eternal life in the end…

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