Grant me,
O merciful God,
to study prudently,
to understand rightly,
and to fulfill whatever is pleasing to you perfectly,
to the praise and glory of your name.
You are the King of glory, O Christ.
You are the everlasting Son of the Father.
Source: Thomas Aquinas, d. 1274
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
O Lord,
I pray that the fiery and sweet strength of your love
may draw my soul to you from all things that are under heaven,
that I may die for love of your love
as you did die for the love of my love. Amen.
Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
Lord Jesus,
you did choose your apostles to the number of twelve,
and if one of them did betray you,
the others, remaining united to you,
preached your holy Gospel,
filled with one and the same inspiration.
O Lord, look on your church now,
and remember the former days,
when you called your people into one family to uphold faith,
that by them the mystery of your Gospel may be accomplished.
Who will take their place if they give themselves up to the works of darkness
instead of fulfilling their mission and being shining examples for all? Amen.
Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
O Lord,
look on us in our need.
Show us your Son’s glory
as we hear your Word,
and open our lips
to sing your praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Paul C. Stratman, © 2019
based on Psalm 40
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.
Be gracious to me, God, according to your mercy.
Erase my acts of rebellion according to the greatness of your compassion. (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
Yes, our rebellious deeds are many before you, and our sins testify against us. Our rebellious deeds are with us, and as for our guilty deeds, we are aware of them. 13 Those deeds are rebellion and treachery against the Lord. We turn back from following our God. We incite oppression and apostasy. We conceive and mutter deceitful words from our hearts. 14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away, for truth stumbles in the city square, and honesty cannot enter it. 15 The truth is missing, and anyone who turns from evil makes himself prey. The Lord looked and saw something evil— there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no one. He was appalled that there was no one who could intervene. So his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness supported him. 17 He clothed himself with righteousness like armor and wore a helmet of salvation on his head. He dressed in garments for vengeance, and he wrapped himself with zeal like a cloak. 18 He will repay in full what they have earned, namely, wrath to his foes and full payment to his enemies. He will repay even the distant coastlands. 19 From the west they will fear the Lord’s name, and from the rising of the sun they will fear his glory, for he will come like a raging river, driven by the Spirit of the Lord. 20 Then a redeemer will come for Zion and for those in Jacob who turn from rebellion. This is the declaration of the Lord. (EHV)
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.
__________
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 Evangelical Heritage Version. www.wartburgproject.org
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.
Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
reveal your glory to us
in our Lord Jesus Christ,
so that we may lay
our sin and guilt
and all the burdens of life
on him,
and find in him
our true rest;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Paul C. Stratman, © 2019 from Now and Forever: New Collects for Modern Lectionaries, Collect for Proper 9 / Pentecost 7, Year A, based on Matthew 11:25–30.
By ancient usage this Prayer was specially appointed for Good Friday.
This prayer is intended to be read by an assisting minister at a lectern and by the presiding minister or pastor standing at the altar.
A short pause of silence should be observed between the bid and the prayer.
The congregation responds with Amen after each section.
Brothers and sisters, let us pray for the whole Christian Church, that our Lord God would keep and defend it against all the assaults and temptations of the devil, and keep it always on the true foundation, Jesus Christ.
Silent prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, you have revealed your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ and the Word of his truth. Keep your people in safety, that your church, spread throughout all nations, may serve you in true faith and remain steadfast in the confession of your name; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Let us pray for all servants of the Word and for all the people of God.
Silent prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, you govern and sanctify the whole body of the church by your Holy Spirit. Receive the prayers we offer you, that all members of your church in their vocations and ministries may serve you in truth and godliness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Let us pray for those instructed in the Christian faith, that our Lord God would open their hearts and pour out his mercy, that having received the forgiveness of all their sins by the washing of rebirth, they may remember their baptism and remain firm in the faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Silent prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, you always cause your Church to grow, and with your light and grace you strengthen the hearts of those you have given new birth through water and the Spirit. Grant that those instructed in the Christian faith increase in faith and knowledge, that they may rejoice in their baptism and grow as members of the holy body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Let us pray for all in authority, and especially for the government of the United States, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Silent prayer.
O merciful Father in heaven, you hold in your hand all the might of the nations, and you have established the authorities that exist for the punishment of evildoers and for the commending of those who do what is right. Yours is all rule and authority in the kingdoms of the world. Graciously regard your servants, the President of the United States, the governor of this state, our judges and officers, and all the rulers of the earth, that all who receive the sword as your servants, may bear it according to your commands; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Let us pray to our Lord God almighty, that he would deliver the world from all error, take away disease, ward off famine, free those in bondage, grant a safe return to the travelers, health to the sick, and a safe harbor for those at sea.
Silent prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, the comfort of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak: Graciously hear the prayers of those who cry to you in any trouble or distress, that in all their needs they may see and receive your great help and comfort; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Let us pray for those who do not know Christ, that those who walk in darkness may see his glorious light.
Silent prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, you do not desire the death of a sinner but want all people to repent and live. Hear our prayers for those who do not know you. Turn their hearts from idols and empty things to the living and true God, and gather them into your holy Church for the glory of your name; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Let us pray for peace, that we may come to the knowledge of God’s holy Word, and walk before him as is fitting for Christians.
Silent prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by your Spirit all things are governed, by your providence all things are ordered. You are the God of peace, and the Author of all concord. Grant us your heavenly peace and unity, that we may serve you in true fear, to the praise and glory of your name; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Let us pray for our enemies, that God would remember them in mercy, and graciously give them whatever is needful for them and profitable for their salvation.
Silent prayer.
Almighty and eternal God, through your only Son, our blessed Lord, you commanded us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us and to pray for those who persecute us. Lead all our enemies to true repentance, that they may have the same love and be of one mind and heart with us and with your whole Christian Church; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Let us pray for the fruits of the earth, that God would send down his blessing on them, and graciously move our hearts to enjoy them in submission to his holy will.
Silent prayer.
O Lord, Father almighty, by your Word you created and bless and uphold all things. Reveal to us your Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would dwell in our hearts, and that by your grace we may receive your blessing on all the fruits of the earth and whatever we need for body and life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
+
Finally, let us pray for all those things for which our Lord would have us ask, saying:
Our Father…
Notes:
Source: The Bidding Prayer is modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, 1917, 1918 The United Lutheran Church in America, now in the public domain.
This modification © 2021 Paul C. Stratman and http://www.acollectionofprayers.com.
The bid and petition for the catechumens was reworked and newly composed in part for this version of the Bidding Prayer.
The bid and petition for the those who do not know Christ was reworked and newly composed for this version of the Bidding Prayer.
This modification of the Bidding Prayer from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.
Almighty, most holy,
most high, and supreme God,
highest good, all good, wholly good,
you alone are good,
to you we render all praise, all glory,
all thanks, all honor, all blessing,
and we shall always ascribe all good to you.
Almighty, eternal, just, and merciful God,
help us wretches to do for you
what we know is your will
and always desire whatever is pleasing to you.
Purify us within, enlighten us within,
kindle us with the flame of your Holy Spirit,
so we may be able to follow in the footsteps of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
and by your grace alone
come to you, the Most High,
who in perfect Trinity and simple unity lives and reigns and glorifies God Almighty for ever and ever. Amen.
Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
Almighty, most holy, most high and supreme God,
holy and just Father,
Lord, king of heaven and earth,
we give thanks to you because by your holy will,
and by your only Son
you created all things spiritual and corporal in the Holy Spirit,
made us in your image and likeness and placed us in paradise,
where we fell by our own fault.
We give you thanks
that just as you created us by your Son,
so by your true and holy love,
you sent him as true God and true man,
to be born….
And we give you thanks because your Son himself
will come again in the glory of his Majesty
… to say to all who have known you and adored you,
and served you in repentance:
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Since we wretches and sinners are not worthy to name you,
we humbly pray
that our Lord Jesus Christ,
your beloved Son
in whom you are well pleased,
together with the Holy Spirit,
the Counselor,
may give thanks to you as it is pleasing to you.
Amen.
Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
God,
almighty, eternal, righteous, and merciful,
help us poor sinners do all that we know of your will,
and to will always what pleases you,
so that inwardly purified, enlightened, and kindled
by the fire of the Holy Spirit,
we may follow in the footprints of your well-beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
A Collection of Prayers 