Almighty God,
grant to your Church the Holy Spirit
and the wisdom that comes from above.
Let nothing hinder your Word
from being freely proclaimed
to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people,
so that we may serve you in steadfast faith
and confess your name as long as we live;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Allmachtiger, Herr und Gott, wir bitten Dich, gieb Deiner Gemeinde Deinen Geist und göttliche Weisheit, daß Dein Wort unter uns laufe und wachse, mit aller Freudigkeit, wie sichs gebühret, gepredigt, und Deine christliche Gemeine dadurch gebessert werde, auf daß wir mit beständigem Glauben Dir dienen, und im Bekenntniß Deines Namens, bis an unser Ende verharren: durch Iesum Christum, Deinen lieben Sohn, unserm Herrn. Amen.
Below is a more literal translation of the German:
Almighty Lord and God,
give your congregation your Spirit
and divine wisdom,
that your Word may have free course
and grow among us with all joy
as it is duly preached,
and your Christian communion
is improved through it,
so that we may remain in steadfast faith in you,
and confess your name until the end;
through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, our Lord. Amen.
Lord God, heavenly Father,
govern and guide us
through your Holy Spirit
that we hear your Word
with our whole hearts, receive it,
and become sanctified through it,
so that we may put all our trust and hope
in Jesus Christ, your Son,
be protected from all offenses and pride,
and finally be saved through your grace in Christ;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Herr Gott, himmlischer Vater, wir bitten Dich, Du wollest durch Deinen heiligen Geist uns also regieren und führen, daß wir mit ganzem Herzen Dein Wort hören und annehmen und dadurch geheiligt werden, auf Iesum Christum, Deinen Sohn all unser Vertrauen und Hoffnung setzen, vor allem Aergerniß und Hoffahrt uns hüten, und durch deine Gnade in Christo ewig selig werden: durch denselben Deinen Sohn, Jesum Christum unsern Herrn. Amen.
A Collection of Prayers exists not just to be a collection, but also to be an online prayer book resource. To help with this, we have a Contents and Index page. You can access the page by clicking on Contents / Index near the top of the left sidebar:
Cell phone and tablet users can click the three bar “stack” icon, which will then show the sidebar information.
Content.Bold items are tagged (more precise) based on the subject, and italic items are preset searches (less precise).
Church Year, tagged by seasons and festivals.
Rites / Liturgies and Elements of Worship
Source or Author
The intention is that this Content / Index page can be a “hot button” or link on your browser or phone, and you can have a searchable prayer book at your fingertips at all times.
Praise be to God the Father who made us.
Praise be to God the Son who redeemed us.
Praise be to God the Holy Spirit who sanctified us.
Praise to the the holy and glorious Trinity, now and forever. Amen.
Ehre sei Gott, dem Vater, der uns erschaffen hat.
Ehre sei Gott, dem Sohn, der uns erlöset hat.
Ehre sei Gott, dem heiligen Geist, der uns geheiliget hat.
Ehre sei der heiligen und hochgelobten Dreieinigkeit von nun an bis in Ewigkeit. Amen.
Translation note:
Ehre is translated as “praise” so that hochgelobten can be translated as “glorious” without redundancy.
Almighty and eternal God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you have shown us the abundance
of your grace.
First, eternal Father,
you created the whole world,
and made us in your image.
You, eternal Son of God,
became fully human for us,
and carried our sin to the cross.
And you, eternal Holy Spirit,
from eternity you proceed
from the Father and Son
to give us faith and make us holy
through the holy gospel.
O one, eternal, almighty God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
uphold us in the true confession of your name
and in the true faith
throughout our lives,
and forever bless us in your grace;
you live and reign forever.
Amen.
Allmächtiger ewiger Gott, Gott Vater, Gott Sohn, Gott heiliger Geist, der du deine Gnade uns reichlich hast sehen lassen, daß erstlich du, ewiger Vater, die ganze Welt und uns Menschen zu deinem Bilde geschaffen, und du, ewiger Sohn Gottes, für uns Mensch geworden, und unsere Sünde am Kreuz bezahlet, und du, ewiger heiliger Geist, der du vom Vater und Sohn in Ewigkeit ausgehest und uns durch das heilige Evangelium gläubig gemachet und geheiliget hast ; wir bitten dich, o einiger, ewiger und allmächtiger Gott Vater, Sohn und helliger Geist, erhalte uns in wahrer Erkenntniß deines Namens und in rechten Glauben bis an unser Ende und mache unS durch und deine Gnade ewig selig, der du lebest und regierest in Ewigseit, Amen.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
three persons, but one God,
enlighten our hearts and minds,
make us steadfast in the true faith,
equip us for good works,
and bring us to life eternal;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.
Praise to you,
O God the Father,
for you created all things
by your power and wisdom,
and so loved the world
that you gave your Son
to be our Savior.
Praise to you,
O God the Son,
for you were made fully human,
like us in every respect
except without sin,
and you were delivered up for our trespasses
and raised again for our justification.
Praise to you,
O God the Holy Spirit,
for you guide us into all truth,
and pour God’s love into our hearts.
All praise and glory to you, O God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Source: Unknown, found in Parish Prayers, Compiled and edited by Frank Colquhoun, Hodder and Stoughton, 1967
“…created all things by your power and wisdom…” may be a reference to Revelation 4:11.
“…and so loved the world…” is a reference to John 3:16.
“…you were made fully human” is a reference to the Nicene Creed.
“…like us in every respect, except without sin…” is a reference to Hebrews 4:15
“you were delivered up for our trespasses…” is a reference to Romans 4:25.
“and pour God’s love into our hearts.” is a reference to Romans 5:5
From the source in traditional English:
Praise be to thee, O God the Father, who didst create all things by thy power and wisdom, and didst so love the world as to give thy Son to be our Saviour.
Praise be to thee, O God the Son, who wast made man like unto us in all things, sin except, and wast delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification.
Praise be to thee, O God the Holy Spirit, who dost lead us into all truth, and dost shed abroad the love of God in our hearts.
All praise and glory be to thee, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.
Almighty and eternal God,
in your grace
you have given us,
your servants
the duty to confess the true faith
of the glory of the eternal Trinity,
and the equal unity in power and majesty.
Grant that we may always be empowered
by steadfastness of this faith,
and so receive comfort
from you in all troubles;
For you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
live and reign
forever and ever.
Amen.
O Allmächtiger ewiger Gott, der du uns, deinen Dienern aus Gnaden gegeben hast, in Bekenntniß des wahren Glauben die Herrlichkeit der ewigen Dreifaltigkeit zu erkennen und die Einigkeit gleicher Gewalt und Majestät anzubeten; wir bitten dich, verleihe uns, daß wir durch Beständigkeit solches Glaubens allezeit bekräftiget werden und in allem Unglück von dir Trost bekommen mögen, der du Vater mit dem Sohn und heiligen Geiste lebest und regierest von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit, Amen.
Confession, when a Christian wishes to come to the Lord’s Table.
Dear sir, I ask, would you hear my confession and pronounce the forgiveness of sins to me for God’s sake?
Yes.
I, a poor sinner, confess to God and to you that I have sinned much against all the commandments of God in my thoughts, words and actions, that I am sinful by nature, born in sin and am condemned, under God’s wrath and worthy of eternal death. My heart is troubled, and I am sorry that I have angered God, my Lord, and humbly pray that God would forgive all my sins for the sake of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me by his grace, and renew my heart with his Holy Spirit. Since you have the command from our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive all those who are repentant of their sins, so I ask you through Christ that you would instruct and comfort me with God’s Word, and pronounce the forgiveness of sins in his name, that I may receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ for the strengthening of my faith, and that I may better my life with God’s help.
Believe steadfastly and certainly that the almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is gracious and merciful to you, and has forgiven all your sins for his sake, because his beloved Son suffered and died for your sins. In the name of this Lord Jesus Christ, your Savior, and by his divine command and the power of his Word, (where he says, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. …Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.”) I pronounce to you the forgiveness of sins, and declare you free, separated, and released from all your sins, that they have all been completely been forgiven by God, so richly and completely. Jesus Christ has earned you such grace through his suffering and death, and has commanded that this gospel be preached in all the world. This comforting command, which I announce to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, you should receive as a greatest assurance, so that your conscience and heart may be at peace and that you may steadfastly believe that all your sins are certainly forgiven, in the name of the + Father and of the + Son and of the + Holy Spirit. Amen.
The original of the confession is on p. 38 (also on p. 142) of the Pomeranian Agenda:
Ich armer sündiger Mensch bekenne für Gott und für euch, daß ich wider alle Gebote Gottes mit Gedanken, Worten, Werken viel gesündiget habe und von Natur in Sünden empfangen und verdorben bin, unter Gottes Zorn des ewigen Todes schuldig; darum ift mein Herz betrübet und ist mir leid, daß ich Gott meinen Herrn erzürnet habe und bitte von Herzen, Gott wolle mir alle meine Sünde, um seines lieben Sohns, des Herrn Jesu Christi willen, aus Gnaden vergeben, mein Herz mit dem heiligen Geist erneuern. Und dieweil ihr vom Herrn Jesu Christo Befehl habet, allen Bußfertigen ihre Sünde zu vergeben, so bitte ich euch durch Christum, ihr wollet mich mit Gottes Wort unterrichten und trösten und mir in seinem Namen die Vergebung der Sünden sprechen, den Leib und Blut Jesu Christi zu Stärkung meines Glaubens verreichen, ich will mich mit Gottes Hilfe bessern.
The original of the absolution is on p. 152 of the Pomeranian Agenda:
Gläube fest und gewiß, daß der Allmächtige Gott, Vater unsers Herrn Jesu Christi, dir gnädig und barmherzig sei und dir alle deine Sünden vergeben habe um deßwillen, daß sein lieber Sohn für deine Sünde gelitten hat und gestorben ist. Und im Namen desselbigen Herrn Jesu Christi, deines Heilandes, auf seinen Göttlichen Befehl, in Kraft seines Worts, da er spricht: Wie mich mein Vater gesandt hat, sende ich euch auch; nehmet hin den heiligen Geist, denen ihr die Sünden vergebet, denen sind sie vergeben, sage ich dir zu Vergebung der Sünden und spreche dich aller deiner Sünden frei, ledig und los, daß sie dir Gott allzumal vergeben habe, so reichlich und vollkommen, als Jesus Christus dir solche Gnade durch sein Leiden und Sterben verdienet und durch das Evangelium in aller Welt zu predigen, befohlen hat. Dieser tröstlichen Zusage, die ich dir an Gottes Statt im Namen des Herrn Jesu Christi verkündige, sollst du dich tröstlich annehmen, dein Gewissen und dein Herz darauf zufrieden stellen und fest gläuben, daß dir alle deine Sünden gewißlich vergeben seien, im Namen des Vaters und des Sohns und des heiligen Geistes, Amen.
O God, Father of all poor, miserable souls! Give us all your grace and enlighten us with your truth. To you be praise, glory and thanks forever. Amen.
Another to God the Son
Lord Jesus, our King, you are Peace, Light and Life. Enlighten, awaken and strengthen our hearts by the power of your holy Word for eternal life. To you be praise, glory and thanks forever. Amen.
Before the Epistle (For knowledge of God’s will)
Dearest Lord, I am sorry that I cannot rightly grasp your image in my heart. Therefore help me so that I can rightly know you and become your image. Amen.
Before the Gospel (For knowledge of Christ)
Dearest Lord God, help us to know Christ and all your mercy, and send into the world many voices like John as a great company of evangelists. Amen.
67. Ein kurzer Seufzer zu Gott dem Vater
Ach Gott, Vater aller armen elenden Seelen! gieb uns allen deine Gnade, und erleuchte uns mit deiner Wahrheit! Dir sei Lob, Ehr und Dank in Ewigkeit. Amen. [Die Gebete Luthers, #182]
Ein anderer zu Gott dem Sohne.
Herr Jesu, du unser König, Friede, Licht und Leben, erleuchte, erwecke und stärke unser Herz in deiner Kraft und heiligem Wort, zum ewigen Leben. Dir sei Preis, Lob und Ehre in Ewigkeit. Amen. Luther.
68. Vor der Epistel. (Um Erkenntniß des göttlichen Willens.)
Lieber Herr, ich kann dich leider nicht recht in mein Herz bilden; drum hilf doch und gieb, daß ich dich recht möge erkennen und dein Bild werden. Amen. [Die Gebete Luthers, #185]
Vor dem Evangelio. (Um Erkenntniß Christi.)
Lieber Herr Gott, hilf uns zur Erkenntniß Christi, nach aller deiner Barmherzigkeit, und sende in die Welt die Stimme Johannis mit vielen Schaaren der Evangelisten. Amen. Luther. [Die Gebete Luthers, #177]
Almighty God,
Cell phone and tablet users can click the three bar “stack” icon, which will then show the sidebar information.
Almighty and eternal God,
Praise to you,
A short sigh to God the Father
A Collection of Prayers 