O God,
you led our ancestors
to this land
where they found
refuge from oppression
and freedom to worship you.
Always guide our nation
in the way of your truth and peace,
so that we enjoy
the blessing you have promised
to the people whose God is the Lord;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Paul Zeller Strodach, 1917, slightly modified from the Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, 1917
Almighty God,
you have given us a land
where we are free to read and hear your Word,
confess your name
and work together
for the extension of your kingdom.
May the liberty given us
be continued to our children
and our children’s children,
that the power of the gospel
may here increase
to the blessing
of all the nations of the earth
and to your eternal glory;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Henry Eyster Jacobs, 1917, slightly modified from the Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church (1917, 1918)
Original in traditional English:
ALMIGHTY God, Who hast given us a land, wherein we are free to read and hear Thy Word, to confess Thy Name, and to labor together for the extension of Thy Kingdom: Grant, we beseech Thee, that the liberty vouchsafed unto us, may be continued to our children and our children’s children, and that the power of the Gospel may here abound, to the blessing of all the nations of the earth, and to Thine eternal glory; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. 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.
“you guide us into all truth…” John 16:13
“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.
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.
Almighty God,
you are the only source of health and healing.
In you there is calm,
and the only true peace in the universe.
Grant to each one of us your children
an awareness of your presence,
and give us perfect confidence in you.
In all pain and weariness and anxiety
teach us to yield ourselves to your never failing care,
knowing that your love and power surround us,
trusting in your wisdom and providence
to give us health and strength and peace
when your time is best;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: The Nazarene, Vols. 7-9, 1922
Original in traditional English:
Almighty God, who art the only source of health and healing, the spirit of calm and the central peace of the universe, grant to us Thy children, such a consciousness of Thy indwelling presence as may give us perfect confidence in Thee. In all pain and weariness and anxiety may we throw ourselves upon Thy protecting care, that knowing ourselves fenced about by Thy loving omnipotence, we may permit Thee to give us health and strength and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The canticle Dignus est agnus, (Worthy is the Lamb) is taken from Revelation 5:12-13b, 15:3b, 19:5b-6
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.
Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the Nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord, and who will not praise your name?
You alone are holy!
Praise our God, all you his servants
and you who fear him, small and great.
Alleluia! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Source: Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, revised using phrases from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version.
The canticle Dignus est agnus seems to have its origins in American Lutheranism in the late 19th century. It appeared in several service books beginning with the General Synod’s Church Book of 1868.
It appears on p. 122 of The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) without music. Earlier books prescribed its use as an option for the main canticle in Matins and Vespers (in place of the Te Deum or Magnificat). Later books suggested it as an alternative song of praise in the Common Service (in place of the Gloria in Excelsis).
In 2000 Years of Classic Christian Prayers, ed. Owen Collins, a similar text is given composed of several Bible verses from Revelation, attributed to Francis of Assisi (d. 1226):
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming. (Revelation 4:8)
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you have created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created. (Revelation 4:11)
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. (Revelation 5:12)
Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever. (Song of the Three Holy Children)
Praise our God, all you his servants and you who fear him, small and great (Revelation 19:5)
Let every creature that is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them say: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. (Revelation 5:13)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Praise him and exalt him above all forever.
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.
Amen. Praise him and exalt him above all forever.
An article on Dignus est agnus by John Warwick Montgomery can be read here: http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/montgomeryhistoricalstudy.pdf
The text of this canticle has been reworked into a new canticle, This Is the Feast of Victory / Worthy Is Christ, by poet John W. Arthur. It first appeared as an anthem for choir, Festival Canticle: Worthy Is Christ with music by Richard W. Hillert, and made its first appearance in a hymnal in Lutheran Book of Worship as an alternative to the Gloria in Excelsis in the Divine Service.
Refrain:
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
1 Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God. [Refrain]
2 Power, riches, wisdom and strength,
and honor, blessing and glory are his. [Refrain]
Short interlude…
3 Sing with all the people of God
and join in the hymn of all creation.
4 Blessing, honor, glory and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. [Refrain]
For the Lamb who was slain
has begun his reign. Alleluia. [Refrain]
© 1978 Lutheran Church in America, The American Lutheran Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Source: https://hymnary.org/text/worthy_is_christ_the_lamb_who_was?sort=displayTitle
The U. S. Book of Common Prayer (1979) has two canticles that have the same material as “Worthy is the Lamb.”
A Song to the Lamb Dignus es
Revelation 4:11; 5:9-10, 13
Splendor and honor and kingly power *
___are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, *
___and by your will they were created and have their being;
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, *
___for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation, *
___a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne, *
___and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, *
___for ever and for evermore.
The Song of the Redeemed Magna et mirabilia
Revelation 15:3-4
O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
___great deeds are they that you have done, *
___surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth, *
___O King of all the ages.
Who can fail to do you homage, Lord,
and sing the praises of your Name? *
___for you only are the holy One.
All nations will draw near and fall down before you, *
___because your just and holy works have been revealed.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
___as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Parts of this canticle are identical with the introit for Christ the King in the Roman rite. This is the Latin text:
Dignus est Agnus, qui occisus est, accipere virtutem, et divinitatem, et sapientiam, et fortitudinem, et honorem.
Ipsi gloria et imperium in saecula saeculorum.
Deus, judicium tuum Regi da: et justitiam tuam Filio Regis.
This canticle has been paraphrased into hymns:
O Lord, you stilled the raging of the sea.
Hear us, save us, and do not let us perish.
O blessed Savior, you saved your disciples
when they were about to perish in a storm.
Hear us and save us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
God the Father, God the + Son, God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us,
save us now and evermore.
Amen.
Source: Modified from Book of Common Prayer, (British, 1922?) Short Prayers in Respect of a Storm.
Original in traditional English:
THOU, O Lord, that stillest the raging of the sea: hear, hear us, and save us, that we perish not.
O blessed Saviour, that didst save thy disciples ready to perish in a storm: hear us, and save us, we beseech thee.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us, save us now and evermore. Amen.
Lord, be merciful to us.
Heal our souls, for we have sinned against you.
Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:7)
Turn again, O Lord,
and be gracious to your servants.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:22)
Let us pray for the Holy Church of God:
May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. (Psalm 51:18)
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels. (Psalm 122:7)
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
may your faithful people sing for joy. (Psalm 132:9)
Let us pray for our pastors and teachers:
Never take the word of truth from their mouths. (Psalm 119:43)
That they will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of your name, O Lord our God. Amen. (Micah 5:4)
Source: Attributed to Abendgebet of the German Lutheran Church in Book of Prayers for Church and Home, ed. by Paine and Thompson, Philadelphia: Christian Education Press, 1962, p. 57.
Modified with scriptures taken or adapted from the New International Version, 2011.
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.
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.
A Collection of Prayers 