The blessing of the Lord rest and remain on all his people, in every land and of every tongue.
The Lord meet in mercy all who seek him.
The Lord comfort all who suffer and mourn.
The Lord hasten his coming, and give us and all his people peace by all means.
Amen.
Source: Handley Carr Glyn Moule, d. 1920
O God,
you are as rich in pity as you are in power,
merciful and mighty.
See your whole creation,
as it has been groaning
in the pains of childbirth until now.
As you have broken the power of evil
by the cross of Christ
and by his endless sacrifice
you take away the sin of the world,
hasten the time
when the last enemy of humanity
shall be completely defeated
and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning,
nor crying, nor pain anymore,
and you will wipe away every tear from our eyes;
through your redeeming love
in Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
Source: The Order of Divine Service for Public Worship … Compiled by W.E. Orchard, Etc. London, 1921, p. 115 (Litany of the Sick)
Also found here: Collects and Prayers for use in Church, United Lutheran Church in America, 1935, #244
“hasten the time” may be a reference to Matthew 24:22
“See your whole creation, as it has been groaning in the pains of childbirth until now” is a reference to Romans 8:22
“by his endless sacrifice, you take away the sin of the world” is a reference to John 1:29
“the last enemy of humanity shall be completely destroyed” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 15:26
“death shall be no more, … and you will wipe away every tear from our eyes” is a reference to Revelation 21:4
Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior,
for us you bore the agony of the cross.
Draw near to your servant _____,
who suffers pain,*
and make all things serve your good purpose,
that by your grace he may know
that the sufferings of this present time
are not worth comparing
with the glory that is to be revealed to us;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from William Bright, Bright’s Ancient Collects, p. 237 #3
Also found here: Collects and Prayers for use in Church, United Lutheran Church in America, 1935, #243
*the word pain can be substituted with something more specific: illness, weakness, depression, setbacks in treatment, slow recovery, trouble of mind, etc.
“make all things serve your good purpose” is a reference to Romans 8:28
“the sufferings of this present time…” is a reference to Romans 8:18
“who suffers pain” in the original prayer was “who suffers pain or trouble of mind, (especially N.), hallow all their crosses in this life, and crown them hereafter, where all tears are wiped away where with the Father &c ”
When the administration of the holy meal is finished, the pastor turns to the congregation and says:
Let us pray.
Turning to the altar, the pastor offers one of the following thanksgiving collects:
We thank you, almighty Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ you have instituted this holy supper for our comfort and salvation. Grant us grace to celebrate the remembrance of Jesus on earth, that we may also be partakers of the great communion in heaven.
Amen.
or:
We thank you, almighty God, that through this precious meal of grace you have refreshed and satisfied us. Use it to increase our faith and advance us in godliness and all Christlike virtues; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
or:
O Lord Jesus Christ, you have called us to this communion. We humbly thank you for your mercy, that you have fed us here with your body and blood and filled and embraced us with your goodness. O Lord, be near us! We commit ourselves into your hands and put our trust in you. Let us abide with you forever.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from The Swedish Rite: a translation of “Handbok för svenska kyrkan” by Eric Esskildsen Yelverton, 1921, The Service of High Mass, p. 32
O Almighty Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
on the first day you created the light,
and you have raised us up to praise and adore you.
Lead us as children of light,
that we may have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O Almighty God,
on the second day you divided
the waters under the firmament
from the waters above it.
Grant us, as we have been born again
of water and the Holy Spirit,
and refreshed with showers of your blessing,
we may finally drink of the pure river
that flows from your throne;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O God,
on the third day you made the earth bring forth
every herb and fruit tree for our use.
Grant to us and to your whole Church
that we may remember these and all your mercies
by bringing forth fruits of righteousness
to the honor and praise of your holy name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
O God,
on the fourth day you created great lights
to give light upon the earth.
Raise up for your Church faithful and wise rulers
who may enlighten it both by their life and doctrine,
and having turned many to righteousness,
they may shine in glory as the stars,
for ever and ever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Glory to you,O Lord,
on the fifth day you brought forth out of the waters
the moving creature which has life,
the birds of the air and the fish of the sea,
and whatever moves through the paths of the seas.
We praise you for our creation, preservation,
and for all the comforts and blessings of this present life,
but more especially for the grace
of our Christian calling in Christ Jesus,
for your long-suffering mercy and forgiveness,
for the knowledge of your truth and will,
and for the blessed hope of everlasting life
given us through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord.
Amen.
O God,
by your almighty power
all things living were created,
and on the sixth day you made the first man in your own image.
Mercifully grant that in following your Son,
the Son of Man who came down from heaven,
we may recover that which was lost through sin
and may put on the new man
who is created to be like you in righteousness and true holiness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God.
On the seventh day you rested from all your work.
Blessed are you, O Jesus,
Having finished your work you entered into your rest.
Grant us, that having diligently done your works
all the days of our appointed time on earth,
we may at last enter into your everlasting rest;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from Daily Services for Christian Households, compiled and arranged by H. Stobart, 1867. The prayers for the fifth and seventh days were compiled from more than one prayer in Daily Services.
Into your hands we commit ourselves,
blessed Lord,
this night and forever.
Sun of Righteousness,
keep us from utter darkness
and let us sleep in peace,
that we may always be ready
to arise and meet you
when you come again in glory;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you are one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from Daily services for Christian Households, compiled and arranged by H. Stobart, 1867
Original in traditional English:
O Lord,
give your blessing to our daily work,
that we may do it in faith, with all our hearts,
as working for the Lord and not for human masters.
All our powers of body and mind are yours,
and we devote them to your service.
Sanctify us and the work in which we are engaged;
let us not be lazy, but diligent in spirit.
O Lord, bless our efforts
that they may bring forth in us
the fruits of true wisdom.
Teach us to seek truth and lead us to find it,
but grant that we may always speak the truth in love,
that while we know earthly things,
we may know you, and be known by you,
through and in your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us this day your Holy Spirit,
that we may be yours in body and spirit
in all our work and all our refreshments;
through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Thomas Arnold, d. 1842
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 86
“with all our hearts… not for human masters” is a reference to Colossians 3:23
“let us not be lazy” is a reference to Romans 12:11
“the fruits of true wisdom” may be a reference to James 3:17
“always speak the truth in love” is a reference to Ephesians 4:15
“we may know you, and be known by you” is a reference to Galatians 4:9
“that we may be yours in body and spirit” may be a reference to 1 Thessalonians 5:23
I arise in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, the crucified,
who has redeemed me with his precious blood.
May he guard me from evil,
preserve me in body and soul,
and give me what will further and strengthen me
in all good to everlasting life.
Source: Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 #106.
Also found here: A Lutheran Prayer Book, ed. Doberstein, © 1960 Muehlenberg Press, Philadelphia
O Lord,
King of heaven and earth,
order, hallow, rule and govern
our hearts and bodies, and our thoughts, words and actions
according to your commandments;
through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen
Source: Breviarium Romanum (Prime)
Source of this version: Modified from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, Board of Publication of the United Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia, 1919, p. 222 #60
This prayer may be trying to parallel the Lord’s Prayer. “Hallow, rule and govern…” seem to parallel “Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done.”
O God,
you divide the day from the night.
Separate us and all we do
from the gloom of darkness.
As you have awakened our bodies from sleep,
awaken our souls from sin.
As the light of the day has brightened our eyes,
illuminate our hearts with the light of your Word and the Holy Spirit.
Today, empower us as children of the light
to walk in obedience to you,
that in all our thoughts, words, and actions
we may strive to keep faith and a clean conscience
toward you, and toward all;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source of this version: A Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland, 1896, p. 191 #2
This prayer may be an expansion of the thoughts in “Hearts and Minds Unshadowed”
A Collection of Prayers 