Tag: 20th Century

Swedish Prayer at Evensong

We thank you, O Lord, heavenly Father,
for all the good things that we have this day received from you,
and more especially for your holy Word of salvation.
Bless, O God, with your Spirit
whatever has been sown in our hearts,
and grant that it may bear fruit for eternal life.
Keep your whole church under your gracious protection.
Grant that it may be built up in unity and strength
on Jesus Christ, its living foundation,
and deliver it from false doctrine and all other ill.
Protect and bless with your mighty hand our beloved king and all his house.
Prosper every good word and grant to all estates of men
to feel your help and blessing.
Bless the earth, that it may bring forth its fruit,
and give us after your great goodness whatever is needful to us temporally.
Remember, O God, all who are in sickness and distress,
and be their comfort and help.
Be with us every day and teach us rightly
to use our short and precious time of grace.
Preserve us in body and in soul through the coming night.
Into your hands we commend ourselves and all that we have.
Praised be your holy name.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from The Swedish Rite: a translation of “Handbok för svenska kyrkan” by Eric Esskildsen Yelverton, 1921, General Prayer at Evensong, p. 37-38

Swedish Evening Prayer

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

 

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Our Only Help in Time of Need

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

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

Restore Health of Body and Mind

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

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

A Morning Prayer

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.”

Awaken and Illuminate Us

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”

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A Morning Praise

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

By Your Command the Day Arises

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

A Morning Blessing

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”

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Go Forth into the World

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

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.

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