For Light

Gerard Seghers (attr) - The Four Doctors of the Western Church, Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430).jpg

O Lord,
you are the Light,
the Way, the Truth, the Life.
In you there is no darkness,
error, vanity, or death—
the Light without which there is darkness,
the Way without which there is wandering,
the Truth without which there is error,
the life without which there is Death.
Lord, say, “Let there be Light,”
and I will see Light and renounce the darkness.
I will see the Way and avoid wandering.
I will see the Truth and shun error.
I will see Life and escape death.
Enlighten, O enlighten my blind soul
which sits in darkness and the shadow of Death,
and direct my feet into the way of peace. Amen.

Source: St. Augustine of Hippo, d. 430

Source of this version: Freely modified from  Prayers of the Early Church,  ed.  J. Manning Potts,  The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.)

 

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Awaken Us

Advent 1

Dear Lord God,
awaken us,
that we may be ready
when your dear Son comes,
that we may receive him with joy
and serve you with pure hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 282. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

This prayer has also been attributed to Martin Luther. [Die Gebete Luthers, #10]

Original in German:

Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf, daß wir bereit sind, wenn dein lieber Sohn kömmt, ihn mit Freuden zu empfahen, und dir mit reinem Herzen zu dienen, durch denselbigen deinen Sohn Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen.

 

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For Right Blessings

Basil of Caesarea.jpg

O Lord our God,
teach us to ask you for the right blessings.
Steer the vessel of our life toward yourself,
the tranquil haven of all storm-tossed souls.
Show us the course we should go.
Renew a willing spirit within us.
Let your Spirit curb our wayward senses
and guide and empower us to our true good,
to keep your laws,
and in all we do always rejoice in your glorious, joyful presence;
for yours is the glory and praise from all your saints forever and ever. Amen.

Source: Basil of Caesarea, d. 379

Source of this version: Freely modified from  Prayers of the Early Church, ed.  J. Manning Potts,  The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.)

 

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Grace for the Future

Advent 1

Awaken us,
O Lord God,
with your grace for the future.
As you graciously forgive our sins,
protect and strengthen us
from all danger
of future sins,
so that we may serve you
with a clear conscience,
and joyfully receive
our Lord Jesus Christ
when he comes again in glory;
he lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 282. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Erwecke uns, O Herr Gott, mit der Zukunft deiner Gnaden, und wie du uns gnädiglich unsere Sünden verzeihest, also bewahre und stärke uns für aller Gefährlichkeit der zukünftigen Sünden, auf daß wir dir mit reinem Gewissen dienen, und unsern Herrn Jesum Christum, wenn er in seiner Herrlichkeit kommen wird fröhlich empfangen mögen der mit dir lebet und regieret, in Einigkeit des heiligen Geistes wahrer, Gott immer und ewiglich, Amen.

Prayers from the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage by [Stratman, Paul]This prayer is from Prayers from the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage, available from Amazon.com, and also available for Amazon Kindle. It is a collection of prayers from the history of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church from Luther to Loehe. The collection includes prayers by Johannes Bugenhagen, Georg C. Dieffenbach, Veit Dietrich, Matthias Flacius, Wilhelm Loehe, Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, Joachim Mynsinger, Johann G. Olearius, Johann Jacob Rambach, and the early agendas and prayer books of the Austrian, Brunswick, Hamburg, Lueneberg, Norwegian, Nuremberg, Pomeranian, Riga, Russian, Saxon, Schleswig-Holstein, and Swedish Evangelical-Lutheran churches.

Advent 1

Advent 1

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.
Keep us watchful and ready for the day and hour of your return.
Empower us with the gifts and strength we need,
and keep us faithful to the end;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, newly composed, © 2017

Now and Forever: Contemporary Collects

Two Advent Prayers

Advent 1

Dear God,
protect us and keep us in your grace
that we may be that little flock,
which gladly receives Christ,
singing, “Hosanna! God be praised,”
that we receive him as our King,
and that we may be Christians.
We know why we are called Christians,
namely, after our King Christ,
since we are baptized in his name
and washed in his blood.
Help us remain in him.
Amen.

O dear God, heavenly Father,
give prosperity and salvation
to the Son of David,
your dear Son Christ Jesus,
and to his kingdom.
Let him also
come to us
in your name,
that we also may be blessed.
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, #553, 554.

Originals in German:

553 Lieber Gott, behüte uns und gieb uns deine Gnade, daß wir das Häuflein sind, die Christum gern wollen annehmen und singen: Hosianna, Gott sei gelobet, daß wir diesen König haben und Christen sind und heißen: wir wissen, warum wir also heißen, nämlich von unserm König Christo, daß wir in seinen Namen getauft und in seinem Blut gewaschen sind; hilf daß wir dabei bleiben. Amen. Luther.

554 Ach du lieber Gott, himmlischer Vater, gieb Glück und Heil dem Sohne Davids, deinem lieben Sohne Christo Jesu, zu seinem Königreich. Laß ihn auch bei uns einreiten in deinem Namen, daß es gebenedeiet sei und wohl gehe Amen Luther.

 

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Last Sunday after Pentecost

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
you alone heal the wounds of our sins,
and you show constant goodness in the Land of the Living;
Grant that we may serve you faithfully with a quiet mind in this world,
and going forth in your love,
may praise and bless you forever in the world to come;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for Trinity Last, The New Mozarabic Collects, #77

 

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Pentecost 25

O Lord Jesus Christ,
you are the Redeemer of all who put their trust in you.
Free your people from the bonds of their sins,
fill their hearts and minds with true wisdom,
and let your peace and heavenly blessing always be with them;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for Trinity 24, The New Mozarabic Collects, #76

 

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