Watch over us, O Lord, heavenly Father,
and preserve us from every evil
that may happen to body and soul.
Give us grace to take our rest in safety this night
beneath your protection;
and when our last evening comes,
grant that we fall asleep in your peace;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from The Swedish Rite: a translation of “Handbok för svenska kyrkan” by Eric Esskildsen Yelverton, 1921, “Public Evening Prayer,” p. 40
O Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
our only help in time of need,
see, visit, and relieve your sick servant N.,
for whom our we pray.
Look on him with mercy,
comfort him with your goodness,
preserve him from the temptations of the enemy,
and give him patience under his affliction.
In your good time restore him to health
and enable him to lead the rest of his life
in your fear and to your glory,
and grant that he may dwell with you
in life everlasting;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Freely modified from The Order for Visitation of the Sick, U. S. Book of Common Prayer, 1928
This prayer combines two prayers from the Book of Common Prayer:
O LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend him in all danger, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O FATHER of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need; We fly unto thee for succour in behalf of this thy servant, here lying in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him, O Lord; and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen him, we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his life past, and stedfast faith in thy Son Jesus; that his sins may be done away by thy mercy, and his pardon sealed in heaven; through the same thy Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen
Almighty and immortal God,
giver of life and health,
hear our prayer for your servant N.
Bless him and those who serve him with your healing gifts,
and as it pleases you,
restore to him health of body and of mind,
that he may give thanks to you in your holy Church;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: freely modified from The Order for the Visitation of the Sick, Book of Common Prayer, Church of Scotland, 1912
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”
Praise to you, O Lord!
You have brought us
through the darkness of the night
to the light of another day.
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity,
now and forevermore.
Amen.
Source: Unknown.
Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 1 #1
Almighty and everlasting God,
by your command the day arises
and the world is adorned with the splendor of light.
Receive our prayers
and show us the light of your countenance
that walking in the way of your salvation
we may follow you as our ruler and guide;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Unknown.
Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 3 #3
May the everlasting God bless us this day.
May he save and defend us from evil
and make us at last partakers of his heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Unknown.
Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 5 #3
“us” can be substituted with “you”
Go forth into the world in peace.
Be of good courage.
Hold fast that which is good.
Render to no one evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted.
Support the weak.
Help the afflicted.
Show love to everyone.
Love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit;
and the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Source: Book of Common Prayer, 1892, 1928, modified.
There’s more! Go to our Index / Contents page to access prayers by era, topic, liturgical use and author!Almighty God,
a thousand years in your sight pass as a watch in the night.
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead,
that so finally by your mercy
we may obtain the crown of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Freely modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.
This prayer references Psalm 90:4, Hebrews 12:1 and Philippians 3:13.
A Collection of Prayers 