A Collection of Prayers

Guide Us in the Way of Peace

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

O God, King eternal,
you divide the day from the night
and turn the shadow of death into morning.
Drive away from us all wrong desires,
incline our hearts to keep your law,
and guide our feet into the way of peace,
so that after we have done your will with cheerfulness while it was day,
we may rejoice when night comes and give you thanks;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: U. S. Book of Common Prayer 1928

Original in traditional English:

GOD, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the darkness, and turnest the shadow of death into the morning; Drive far off from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when the night cometh, rejoice to give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Teach and Lead us Nearer to You

Ever loving and eternal God,
source of light that never sets,
and of love that never fails,
Life of our life,
Father of our spirits;
draw near to us,
and by remembering your never failing mercy,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By the good news of your Son our Savior,
by his life and teaching;
by his passion and Cross;
by his heavenly exaltation and the influence of his Spirit:
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By the ministry of your church,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By all our conflicts,
by all our aspirations,
by all our fears,
by all our joys and sorrows,
by life and death itself,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

Original litany:

Almighty and Eternal God, Source of the light that never sets and of the love that never fails, Life of our life. Father of our spirits; hear us as we now beseech Thee, by Thine infinite mercy and goodness, to draw us, Thy weak and erring children, nearer and nearer to Thee in trust and love, in submission and obedience to Thy holy and blessed will.

By all Thy works; by Thy wonders in heaven and on earth; by the order which reigns over all; by the beauty which shines through all; by the bounty which blesses all:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the remembrance of Thine ancient mercies; by the revelation of Thyself to saints of old; by every holy record of wisdom and piety; by every faithful word of Thy servants, and by every good example:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the memory of Thy Son our Saviour, the Brightness of Thy glory and the Image of Thy Person; by His life and teaching; by His passion and Cross; by His heavenly exaltation and the influence of His spirit:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee,

By the Church of Jesus Christ ; by its holy ordinances, offices, and ministries; by its Sunday worship and teaching; by all its seasons of meditation and prayer, and by all the associations of the House of God:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the kindness and love Thou hast shown us from the beginning of our days until now; by the relations of home; by the love of little children; by the affection and fidelity of friends ; by the trials and bereavements which chasten and hallow our earthly love; and by all the memories of our dead:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the conflict of our souls with temptation; by our falls and failures; by our shame and repentance; by every holy aspiration, striving, and victory:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee,

By all the experience and discipline of life; by health and sickness; by success and disappointment; by joy and sorrow; by all the chances and changes of our passing days:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

In all time of our wealth, and in all time of our tribulation ; in every circumstance and in every place; in life and in death, O Most Merciful God, our Father and Redeemer:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee. Amen.

Give Your Living Water to Us Who Thirst

O Jesus, Son of God the Father,
Fount of Life everlasting,
give your living water to us who thirst,
give us eternal life.
Hear us in your mercy, O Christ Jesus.
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 #1 (Lent 2)

“Fount of Life everlasting, give your living water…” is a reference to John 4:10ff, John 7:37ff

A Litany for Mercy

Turn away, Lord, the fierceness of your anger, and in pity spare your people,
and have mercy.

Grant a favorable and speedy answer to the prayers of all,
and have mercy.

Christ, look on our hardships, loosen the bands of death, and grant us life,
and have mercy.

See our tears, hear our sighs, and in pity forgive our sins,
and have mercy.

Though none of us are worthy to be heard, Christ, for your own sake, help us,
and have mercy.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary

Give Our Message Power

O Lord Jesus Christ,
you sent your holy apostles
to preach among all nations
repentance and forgiveness of sins in your name.
Grant that through your ambassadors
the erring may be brought to repentance
and the penitent established in your true faith;
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. 47 #2 (Ember Days in Lent)

“you sent your holy apostles” is a reference to John 20:21

“repentance and forgiveness of sins in your name” is a reference to Luke 24:47

A Prayer for Peace

G_C_Dieffenbach Peace be to this house! (Luke 10:5)
Peace to all of you who are in Christ. Amen. (1 Peter 5:14)
Peace be with me and with my family!
Peace be with all in this congregation!
Peace be with all in this land!
Peace be with the beloved church of God and with all the faithful!
Peace be with all who are sick and miserable,
with all who are disturbed and afflicted,
with all who are prisoners and persecuted,
with all who are struggling and fearful!
Peace be with us all, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Georg Christian Dieffenbach (1822-1901)

Source of this version: Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Friede sei in diesem Hause! (Luc 10:5) Friede sei mit Allen, die in Christo Jesu sind. Amen. (1 Petr 5:14)

[Anmerk: Diesen Spruch kann man dann etwa so anwenden, indem man weiter betet:
Friede sei mit mir und den Meinen!
Friede sei mit dieser ganzen Gemeinde!
Friede sei mit dem ganzen Lande!
Friede sei mit der lieben Kirche Gottes, und mit allen Gläubigen!
Friede sei mit allen Kranken und Elenden,
mit allen Betrübten und Angefochtenen,
mit allen Gefangenen und Verfolgten,
mit allen Streitenden und Friedelosen!
Friede sei mit uns Allen von nun an bis in Ewigkeit. Amen.]

Source: Evangelische Haus-Agende by Georg Christian Dieffenbach, 1853

Jesus, Help!

We hasten with weak, yet eager footsteps,
O Jesus, O Master, for your help alone!
You tirelessly seek out the sick and those who have gone astray.
Oh, hear us, as we, our voices raised, pray for your help!
May your merciful countenance be gracious unto us!

Source: Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Rist, Cantata BWV 78

Text of the original Rist hymn can be found at Hymnary.org and on www.bach-cantatas.com

Poet who adapted the hymn for the Cantata libretto is unknown.

Musical setting from The Joy of Bach:

Another video with clearer audio can be seen and heard here:

Original in German:

Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,
O Jesu, o Meister, zu helfen zu dir!
Du suchest die Kranken und Irrenden treulich.
Ach, höre, wie wir die Stimme erheben, um Hilfe zu bitten!
Es sei uns dein gnädiges Antlitz erfreulich!

Protect from Any Temptation

O Christ, Son of God,
for our sake you fasted forty days and allowed yourself to be tempted.
Protect us so that we may not be led astray by any temptation.
Since man does not live by bread alone,
nourish our souls with the heavenly food of your Word;
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 1)

“for our sake you fasted forty days…” is a reference to Matthew 4:2ff, Mark 1:13ff, Luke 4:2ff

“we may not be led astray by any temptation” is a reference to Hebrews 2:18

“man does not live by bread alone” is a reference to Deuteronomy 8:3

“nourish our souls with the heavenly food of your Word” may be a reference to John 6:22-59

Litany for Forgiveness

We cry to you, Lord, have mercy on us,
and forgive us.

King of heaven and eternal Lord, receive the prayer we pour out before you,
and forgive us.

Visit the sick, release the captives, help the widow and the orphan,
and forgive us.

We have sinned and have turned from you. Redeemer of all, save us,
and forgive us.

Have mercy on the penitent, and wash away the stains of sin,
and forgive us. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary

Ash Wednesday Prayer

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.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 22 #1

“you do not desire the death of sinners” is a reference to Ezekiel 33:11

“We confess that we are but ashes” is a reference to Genesis 18:27

“for our wickedness we deserve to return to the dust” is a reference to Genesis 3:19, Job 10:9, Job 34:15, Psalm 90:3, Psalm 104:29, Ecclesiastes 3:20, Ecclesiastes 12:7