A Collection of Prayers

Share with Us Your Redemption

800px-chalice_and_paten_from_tyniec2c_10502c_exh-_benedictines_ng_prague2c_150645 We thank you,
dearest Lord Jesus Christ,
for redeeming us
by your innocent death,
and for atoning
for all our sins
with your precious blood.
In your mercy,
share with us
your redemption,
and help us by your grace
that we turn from a wicked life
and go forward in a new life;
as you live and reign
with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 380. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Wir danken dir, lieber Herr Jesu Christe, der du uns durch deinen unschuldigen Tod hast erlöset und durch dein theuerbares Blut alle unserer Sünden bezahlet, und bitten dich durch dieselbige Gütigkeit, du wollest uns derselben Erlösung theilhaftig machen, und uns durch deine Gnade helfen, daß wir uns von dem bösen Leben bekehren und in einem neuen Leben fortfahren, der du lebest und regierest mit dem Vater, in Einigkeit des heiligen Geistes, von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit, Amen.

In the Pomeranian Agenda, this prayer is given as a thanksgiving prayer for Holy Communion as an alternate to “We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this salutary gift…”

Faith, Hope, Love and Service

Almighty Lord God,
give us true faith,
and make that faith grow in us
day by day.
Also give us hope and love,
so that we may serve our neighbors
according to your will;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 298. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Allmächtiger Herr Gott, gib uns den rechten wahren Glauben und vermehre in uns täglich denselben, gib uns auch die Liebe und Hoffnung, auf daß wir dir und unserm Nächsten nach deinem Wohlgefallen dienen mögen, durch Jesum Christum deinen Sohn, u.

This prayer may be a German translation of this collect from the Leonine Sacramentary.

Your Will Be Done

Dearest Lord,
turn our hearts
from everything
that does not please you,
and through your Spirit
enlighten and awaken us,
that we may strive
to love all that pleases you,
and not to follow our own will,
but always to accomplish yours;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 302. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Wir bitten dich, lieber Herr, du wollest unsere Herzen von allem dem, was dir mißfället, abwenden, und durch deinen Geist uns erleuchten und erwecken, daß wir Lust kriegen zu Allem, das dir wohig fällt, auf daß also nicht unser, sondern dein Wille allezeit vollbracht werde, durch Jesum Christum, u.

Deliver Us from Evil

Lord God,
almighty Father,
graciously spare us sinners.
Although we sin without ceasing
and have earned punishment,
graciously turn these punishments from us.
Finally, deliver us from all
the sin, trouble, misery and sorrow
in this poor life,
that we may attain
your eternal righteousness and blessedness;
for the sake of your dear Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 302. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Allmächtiger Herr Gott Vater, wir bitten dich, du wollest unsere Sunde gnädiglich verschonen, und wiewol wir ohne Unterlaß sündigen und eitel Strafe verdienen, so verleihe doch gnädiglich, daß alle wolverdiente Strafen von uns abgewendet werden, und wir endlich von allen Sünden, Jammer, Elend, und Herzeleid dieses armen Lebens erlöset, deine ewige Gerechtigkcit und Seligkeit ererben mögen, um Jesu Christi deines lieben Sohns, unsers Herrn willen. Amen.

Against the Devil’s Tyranny

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Lord God,
heavenly Father,
you sent your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
into this world
to destroy the works of the devil,
and to protect us poor people
against such an evil foe.
Protect us.
Keep us safe.
Uphold us in all affliction
by your Holy Spirit
so that we may have peace from such enemies
and remain forever blessed;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one true God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 301-302. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

“destroy the works of the devil” is a reference to 1 John 3:8

Original in German:

Herr Gott, himmlischer Vater, der du deinen Sohn, unsern Herrn Jesum Christum, in diese Welt gesandt hast, daß er des Teufels Werke zerstöre und uns arme Menschen wider solchen bösen Feind beschützen soll; wir bitten dich du wollest uns für Sicherheit behüten und in aller Anfechtung durch deinen heiligen Geist gnädiglich erhalten, daß wir bis ans Ende für solchem Feinde friedsam mögen bleiben und ewig selig werden; durch denselben, u.

Enlighten and Teach Us by Your Spirit

cathedra-holyspirit1 Lord God,
dearest Father,
on this day
you enlightened and taught
the hearts of your believers
through the Holy Spirit.
Through this same Spirit,
give us a right understanding,
that we may always rejoice
in his comfort and power;
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
true God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 290-291. Martin Luther [Die Gebete Luthers, #16] Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

This prayer is intended to be the Collect of the Day for Pentecost. It can be used at other times by omitting “on this day” or altering it to “on the day of Pentecost, you enlightened…”

Original in German.

Herr Gott, lieber Vater, der du an diesem Tage deiner Gläubigen Herzen durch den heiligen Geist erleuchtet und gelehrt hast; gib uns, daß wir auch durch denselbigen Geist rechten Verstand haben und zu aller Zeit seines Trosts und seiner Kraft uns freuen durch unsern Herrn Jesum Christum, der mit dir in Einigkeit des heiligen Geistes lebet und regirret, wahrer Gott immer und in Ewigkeit, Amen.

Prayer for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

O Lord, save us who hope in you,
comfort us with your Word,
whom you have redeemed with your most precious blood,
and grant us, with you, perpetual joy and happiness,
where sighing is at an end, and sorrow cannot come;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed, and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 28 #1 (Easter 5)

“save us who hope in you”is a reference to Psalm 33:22

“redeemed with your most precious blood” is a reference to 1 Peter 1:18-19 and also to the Te Deum Laudamus

“and grant us, with you, perpetual joy and happiness” is a reference to Psalm 16:11

“where sighing is at an end, and sorrow cannot come”is a reference to Revelation 7:17, Revelation 21:4

Two Wedding Prayers

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

O eternal God,
creator and preserver of all mankind,
giver of all spiritual grace,
author of everlasting life,
send your blessing on
this man and this woman
whom we bless in your name.
Help and empower them
to live faithfully together,
and to keep the promises
made to each other and to you.
Keep them in your love and peace together,
and guide them with your holy Word;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

O God,
you established and blessed marriage,
and you use it as a picture
of the spiritual marriage and unity
between Christ and his Church.
Look mercifully on this man and woman
that they may love, honor, and cherish each other,
and live together in faithfulness and patience,
in wisdom and true godliness,
that their home may be
a haven of blessing and of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Modified and adapted from the 1928 U.S. Book of Common Prayer. Both prayers are shortened from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

Lord Jesus, Be Our Holy Guest

Lord Jesus, be our holy Guest,
Our morning Joy, our evening Rest;
And with our daily bread impart
Your love and peace to every heart. Amen.

Source: Slightly modified from “Forms of Grace before Meat,” The Book of Common Worship, Henry Van Dyke, editor, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1906, p. 167.

According to The Catholic Prayer Book (Servant Books, 1986, p. 216), this prayer was used by President Dwight Eisenhower.

“Lord Jesus, be our holy Guest” may be based on a German prayer:

Wir bitten, Herr, sei unserm Haus
ein steter Gast, tagein, tagaus,
und hilf, dass wir der Gaben wert,
die deine Güte uns beschert.

A literal translation:

We pray, Lord, be in our house
a constant guest, day-in, day-out,
and grant that we be worthy of your gifts
which your mercy gives us.

Table Prayer Cube

Right click on this link to download a pdf. Cut on the solid lines, fold on the dotted lines. Glue on the tabs. Completed cube looks like this:

Prayer Cube.jpg

I got this idea from a German table prayer cube I found on the Internet.

Information on the cube’s prayers can be found at the following links: