A Collection of Prayers

A Litany

O God the Father in heaven:
Have mercy on us.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy on us.

O God the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son:
Have mercy on us.

O holy blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God:
Have mercy on us.

Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers,
do not take vengeance on us for our sins.
Spare us, good Lord.

Spare your people whom you redeemed with your most precious blood,
and do not be angry with us forever:
Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and harm,
from the power of sin and the snares of the devil,
from your wrath and from everlasting damnation:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From all blindness of heart,
from pride, vain-glory and hypocrisy,
from envy, hatred, and malice, and all lovelessness:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From all impure lusts and desires,
and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From lightning, tempest, and earthquake,
from plague, pestilence, and famine,
from all disasters by land and by water,
from battle and murder, and from sudden death:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From tumult and riot,
from sedition and rebellion,
from heresy and schism,
from hardness of heart and contempt of your Word and authority:
Good Lord, deliver us.

By the mystery of your holy incarnation,
by your holy nativity and circumcision,
by your baptism, fasting, and temptation:
Good Lord, deliver us.

By your agony and bloody sweat,
by your cross and passion,
by your precious death and burial,
by your glorious resurrection and ascension,
and by the coming of the Holy Spirit:
Good Lord, deliver us.

In all time of our tribulation,
in all time of our wealth,
in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment:
Good Lord, deliver us

We sinners pray, hear us, O Lord:
Son of God we pray, hear us.

That it may please you to keep us in all time of temptation and heaviness,
to comfort and help all the weak-hearted,
to lift up those who fall, and finally to beat down Satan under our feet:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to nurture, help, and comfort
all who are in danger, need, and trouble:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to preserve all travelers and strangers,
all women in the perils of child birth,
all sick persons and young children,
and to show your pity on all prisoners and captives:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to defend and provide
for the fatherless children and widows,
and all who are desolate and oppressed:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to have mercy on all people:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

O Son of God, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy on us.

O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world:
Have mercy on us.

O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world:
Grant us your peace.

O God, merciful Father, you do not despise the sighing of a contrite heart or the desire of those who are sorrowful. Mercifully help us in all our troubles and adversities whenever they oppress us. Graciously hear us, that those evils which the craft and subtlety of the devil or humanity work against us, may be brought to nothing by your will and purpose, that we your servants, may be hurt by no persecutions, and may evermore give thanks to you in your holy Church, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

O God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come from you. Give your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments. Defend us from the fear of our enemies, that we may pass our time in rest and quietness, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Source: Modified from The Litany, Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States, 1866, p. 21-24.

This Litany is very similar to the German litanies by Martin Luther and in the Saxon Agenda of 1540, which were shortened versions of the Litany of the Saints. The Litany of the Saints, along with the original Latin, can be viewed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litany_of_the_Saints

Available also in pdf and in docx formats.

Enlighten Us and Give Us Our Sure Hope

O Lord, our Light and our Salvation,
remove the darkness of sorrow and ignorance.
Enlighten us with true wisdom,
and give us our sure hope in you;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
we worship and glorify you,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 23 #3 (Lent 4)

“O Lord, our Light and our Salvation” is a reference to Psalm 27:1

“remove the darkness of sorrow and ignorance” may be a reference to Isaiah 9:2

“Enlighten us with true wisdom” is a reference to Psalm 19:8, Ephesians 1:18,

“and give us our sure hope in you” is a reference to Psalm 33:22, Psalm 39:7

The Annunciation of Our Lord

Nine months before Christmas, March 25 is observed as the Annunciation of Our Lord.

bartolomc3a9_esteban_murillo_the_annunciation O Christ,
Word of God Most High,
you were made flesh
that you might dwell among us.
Pour your grace
into our hearts and minds
that we who have been redeemed
by the Mystery of your Incarnation
may forever dwell with you;
through your mercy,
O Christ our God,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you live and reign,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881.

Confession and Absolution

Most holy and merciful Father,
we acknowledge and confess in your presence
our sinful nature
which is quick to do evil and slow to do good,
and all our shortcomings and offenses against you.
You alone know how often we have sinned,
in wandering from your ways,
in wasting your gifts,
in forgetting your love.
O Lord, have pity on us.
We are ashamed and sorry for all things
in which we have displeased you.
Teach us to know our errors,
cleanse us from our secret faults,
and forgive our sins
for the sake of your dear Son, our Savior.
O most holy and loving Father,
send your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that we may henceforth live in your light
and walk in your ways
as we follow your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Hear the gracious words of our Lord Jesus Christ to those who truly repent and turn to him:

God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (John 6:37)

The grace of our Lord Jesus + Christ be with you all. Amen.

Source: Modified from The Book of Common Worship, Henry Van Dyke, editor, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1906, p. 3-4.

“Teach us to know our errors,” original has “teach us to hate our errors.” Change was made to better reflect Psalm 19:12.

“send your Holy Spirit into our hearts,” original has “send Thy purifying grace into our hearts.”

“as we follow your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” original has “According to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Graces from the Book of Common Worship (1906)

The Lord make us grateful for all his mercies, and add his blessing, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Almighty God who provides for us, nourish our souls with the Bread of Life in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bless us, O Lord, as we bless you when we receive your gift of daily bread. Amen.

The Lord bless this food to our use and us to his service. Amen.

Lord, help us to receive all good things as from your hand and to use them to your praise. Amen.

Heavenly Father, make us thankful to you and mindful of others as we receive these blessings, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Father in heaven, sustain our bodies with this food, our hearts with true friendship, and our souls with your truth, for Christ’s sake. 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.

Another prayer, “Lord Jesus, be our holy Guest” has been given its own page.

Offering Prayers

O Lord, stir up the wills of your faithful people, that those who have freely received your blessings may give from your blessings; through Jesus Christ our Lord. [1]

Source: Freely modified from Bishop John Dowden, 1840-1910

Most merciful and gracious God, we have all received the gifts of your goodness. Receive this offering of your people and follow it with your blessing, that it may be used to spread peace and good will among all people and advance the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [2]

Source: Based on a prayer in The Book of Common Worship, Henry Van Dyke, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1906, p. 7.

All gracious God, in your infinite love you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and rise again for our justification, and have made us partakers of the divine nature through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Receive the offering we present to you and grant that our bodies, souls and spirits may be living sacrifices to you, holy and pleasing in your sight, and that we may go forth in your strength to freely serve you in all things; through Jesus Christ our Lord. [3]

Source: Based on a prayer in The Book of Common Worship, Henry Van Dyke, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1906, p. 16.

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son once offered up himself on the cross once for all. Accept this our spiritual act of worship of praise. O Lord, we offer and present ourselves, our souls and bodies to be a holy and living sacrifice acceptable to you through Jesus Christ your Son. [4]

Source: Based on a prayer in The Book of Common Worship, Henry Van Dyke, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1906, p. 37

Short Offering Prayers

Lord Jesus, our heavenly King, grant that the closer we draw to Judgment Day the more sharply we may recognize and acknowledge the claim—the blood-bought claim—which you have on our whole lives. [1]

Jesus, our only Savior, grant that the gifts we bring you each week may more and more get to show that we are just as diligent and just as interested in the Lord’s business as we are in our own business. [2]

Dear Savior, you have taught us: “A man’ s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Teach us to realize more and more that happiness in life does not depend on the number of things we can call our own. Rather, Jesus, help us to find joy in the uses that we as stewards make of the money you’ve placed in our hands. [3]

Dear Savior, grant that the gifts we bring you each week may not be evidence of a weak and undernourished faith, but of a healthy faith; a faith that is growing in the lovely grace of Christian liberality. [4]

Heavenly Father, fill the heart of every member of ______________Congregation with your deep concern for lost souls; with your Son’s spirit of willing sacrifice; and with your Holy Spirit’s power to spread the Gospel far and near.[5]

Majestic Lord, accept these little gifts which we have laid on your altar. Grant that bringing these gifts may have brought real joy to the heart of the givers. Grant that these gifts may bring joy to the heart of the Savior, to whom they have been given. [6]

Heavenly Father, grant that the gifts we have placed on your altar this morning may be an accurate expression of the deep appreciation we feel toward the only Savior we’re ever going to have. [7]

Heavenly Father, grant that the gifts we have placed on your altar this morning may be an accurate expression of the deep appreciation we feel toward our only Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Modified from [7] above.)

Dearest Savior, grant that our offering may show that we remember what many seem to forget—that real happiness does not come by acquiring and possessing, but by giving and serving. [8]

Lord of all, again this morning we saw how your fatherly heart toward us is laid bare in Jesus Christ. Grant that the gifts we bring you each week may give evidence that your love is producing fruit in us, leading us to respond to you as the Lord of our lives. [9]

Dear Savior, help us to believe that when you ask us to worship you with our gifts this is not just a business proposition, and surely not an invasion of our privacy, but rather an exercise of our faith, and a fitting response to the mercy you have shown us. [10]

Dear Savior, we thank you for giving us your love and also the means to share your love with others. [11]

Lord Jesus, purify our love for you, and strengthen our resolve to give you first place in our lives in the week just ahead. [12]

Lord of all, forgive us for so often arguing with your claim on our lives. Accept these gifts as evidence of our determination today to accept your guidance and your help, as you seek to equip us for the life of service to which you have called us. [13]

Jesus, in faith today I give you my head, my heart, and my hands. Please use me this week. [14]

John-Jeske-1419607459[1] Source: Professor John C. Jeske (1924-2014), from his essay: “Christian Stewardship Is Taking God At His Word” available at this link from the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary essay file: http://wlsessays.net/bitstream/handle/123456789/2367/JeskeChristian.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

A Confession of Sins

I, a poor sinner,
confess before you, my God and Creator,
that I have grievously sinned against you in many ways,
not only by gross outward sins,
but much more through inward natural blindness,
unbelief, doubts, despondency, impatience, pride,
covetousness, secret envy, hatred, malice,
and other sinful affections
which you see in me, my Lord and God,
and which, alas, I cannot always see in myself.
I repent of these, and cry to you for your mercy,
through your beloved Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Source: Palatinate Liturgy, 1563, and Lutheran Liturgy of Wuerttemberg, 1536.

Translation based on Tercentenary Monument: In Commemoration of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism M. Kieffer & Company, 1863

For Those Who Have Forgotten You

O God,
no one can escape your Spirit,
and none may flee from your presence.
We pray for those who have forgotten you
and have wandered in disobedience to your will
and neglected your holy Word and Sacraments.
May your Holy Spirit continue to strive with them,
may your exceeding great love still plead with them,
to bring them home to yourself again,
that they may rejoice in your salvation
and glorify your blessed name.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 54

Original has: “and neglected your holy Church and Sacraments.”

Lead Us to Love You Sincerely

O Lord Jesus Christ,
by your almighty power
you opened the eyes of the blind,
and showed yourself to them.
Turn our eyes away from worthless things,
and lead us to love you sincerely;
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. 22 #3 (Lent 3)

“you opened the eyes of the blind” is a reference to Mark 8:23, John 9:17ff,

“Turn our eyes away from worthless things” is a reference to Psalm 119:37