20th Century – Page 9 – A Collection of Prayers

For the Ministry of the Word

Most merciful Father,
send your heavenly blessing
on the ministers of your Word and Sacraments,
that they may be clothed with righteousness,
and that your Word that they speak
may never be spoken in vain.
Grant also to your people grace to hear and receive
what is taught from your most holy Word
as the means of their salvation,
that in all our words and deeds
we may together seek your glory
and the increase of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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. 105 #2

Let Labor for You Be My Delight

Give me, O Lord,
an obedient spirit,
and a teachable mind.
Let me be cheerful without lightness,
sorrowful yet rejoicing,
fearing you without doubting,
and trusting you without tempting you.
Let me be joyful at nothing except what pleases you,
and sorrowful for nothing except what displeases you.
Let labor for you be my delight,
and all my rest be found in you.
Give me a willing spirit, and a diligent soul,
that I may seek to know your will,
and when I know it, that I perform it faithfully,
to the honor and glory of your blessed name.
Amen.

Source: 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. 40 #2

Cleanse Our Hearts, Hear Our Prayers

O Lord, open our lips
that we may bless your holy name.
Cleanse our hearts from all vain, evil,
and wandering thoughts,
that we may worthily and devoutly offer up
our prayers and praises to you,
and be heard in the presence of your divine majesty;
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. 33 #2

A Blessing

The power of the Father govern and protect me,
the wisdom of the Son teach and enlighten me,
the influence of the Holy Spirit renew and quicken me.
The blessing of the everlasting and all holy Trinity
be with me,
now and forevermore.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

“me” can be substituted with “us” or “you“

Power to Withstand Temptations

Lord,
give your people power
to withstand the temptations
of the world,
the flesh,
and the devil,
and with pure hearts and minds
to follow you,
the only true God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

A Prayer for All Nations

lossless-page1-800px-president_wilson_1919-bw-tif Almighty God,
supreme Governor of all people,
hear our prayer for all nations,
and so overrule the imperfect counsel of people,
and set straight the things they cannot govern,
that we may walk in the paths of obedience to you,
and to thoughts that purge and make us wise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Woodrow Wilson

Source of this version: Freely modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.

Original in traditional English:

ALMIGHTY GOD, supreme Governor of all men; Incline thine ear, we beseech thee, to the prayer of nations; and so overrule the imperfect counsel of men, and set straight the things they cannot govern, that we may walk in the paths of obedience to places of vision, and to thoughts that purge and make us wise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For Our Country

lossless-page1-800px-president_wilson_1919-bw-tif Almighty God,
Ruler of all the peoples of the earth,
forgive our shortcomings as a nation,
purify our hearts to see and love the truth,
give wisdom to our leaders,
and steadfastness to our people,
and bring us at last
to that fair city of peace
whose foundations are mercy,
justice, and goodwill,
of which you are the designer and builder;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Woodrow Wilson

Source of this version: 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 Hebrews 11:10

Original in traditional English:

ALMIGHTY GOD, Ruler of all the peoples of the earth; Forgive, we beseech thee, our shortcomings as a nation; purify our hearts to see and love the truth; give wisdom to our counselors, and steadfastness to our people; and bring us at last to that fair city of peace whose foundations are mercy, justice, and good-will, and whose Builder and Maker thou art; through thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the Dying

800px-caravaggio-emmaus-750pix O God,
our heavenly Father,
have pity on your children in great bodily weakness
who are drawing near the gates of death.
Send your dear Son to meet with them on the way,
and to stay with them,
for the day is now far spent,
that he may comfort them with the Word of your goodness,
and break with them the bread of eternal life;
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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 Luke 24:13-35

“that he may comfort them with the Word of your goodness” in the original is “that he may comfort them with a sense of thy goodness”

Graphic: Caravaggio, Supper at Emmaus, from Wikimedia Commons

prayer for the dead in middle ages

prayers for the dead

For Those Who Teach and Learn

Almighty God,
our heavenly Father,
you have committed to your holy Church
the care and nurture of your children.
Enlighten with your wisdom
those who teach and those who learn,
that rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth,
they may worship you
and serve you
from generation to generation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.

For Faith

O heavenly Father,
you understand all your children.
Give us your gift of faith,
that we may see our perplexities in the light of your wisdom,
and receive the blessed encouragement of your sympathy,
and have a clearer knowledge of your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.