21st Century – Page 5 – A Collection of Prayers

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (1)

Reading the names of the departed (also called the “necrology”) on All Saints’ Day has the purpose of remembering God’s grace in Christ to those who have fallen asleep in him. Other customs have been connected with the reading of the names:

Some churches have the custom of lighting candles or ringing bells as the names are read.
Some churches have the custom of reading the individuals’ confirmation verses along with the names.
In larger congregations, a simple reading of the names may suffice.

This rite may follow the Prayer of the Church / Prayers of the Faithful, or may be used at another appropriate place in the service.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:19-20)

With hope in Christ and in the resurrection to eternal life, we remember those in this congregation who have died in the last year:

The names of those who have died in the last year are read.

We remember in silence those who have died in previous years, and those who were members of other Christian congregations.

Silence.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.
Yes, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them. (Revelation 14:13)

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, you told Mary and Martha that you are the Resurrection and the Life. You promised your disciples that you would prepare a place for them. You promised the repentant thief that he would be with you in Paradise. And through the disciple John, you revealed to us that you will wipe away every tear from our eyes in the Day when there is no death or sorrow or crying or pain. Fill our hearts with these firm and certain promises. Comfort us with the assurance that those who have died in faith now see you face to face. You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, surrounded by a great multitude that no one can count, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

“Blessed are They Which Are Called,” or another hymn may be sung.

Link to this rite in Christian Worship: Service Builder

Source: Prepared for A Collection of Prayers.

Scripture is from The Holy Bible: New International Version.

Stop or Hinder Those Who Plan Evil

Shooting Las Vegas

Lord God, heavenly Father,
because of our many sins
we deserve no peace,
but in your mercy, spare us.
Stop or hinder those who plan evil.
Restrain all violence
and anything that would harm us.
Protect your people.
Correct the wayward.
Heal the hurting.
Grant us peace.

Source: Based on prayer #75 in Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, “In Time of National Distress”

Original from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church:

O LORD God, Heavenly Father: We humbly confess unto Thee that by our evil doings and continual disobedience, we have deserved these Thy chastisements; but we earnestly beseech Thee, for Thy Name’s sake, to spare us; restrain the harmful power of the enemy, and succor Thy suffering people; that Thy Word may be declared faithfully and without hinderance, and that we, amending our sinful lives, may walk obediently to Thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Flood Victims, August 2018

Gracious Father, you sit above the highest heavens. Wind and weather are in your hands, and you work all things for the good of those who love you. We pray for those whose homes and communities have been damaged by the storms and flooding in the past week. Keep them safe. Provide for their needs. Move others to offer help and be channels of your blessings. We pray also for our WELS Christian Aid and Relief, that it may help those who have suffered losses and give witness of our love for Christ by reaching out to the needs of our neighbors. Calm all anxious thoughts with your promise that even in losses, nothing can separate your people from your love which is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2018

“…the storms and flooding…” may be changed for some other natural disaster.

“…in the past week…” may be changed to fit any time frame.

“…our WELS Christian Aid and Relief” may be changed if there are other denominational or community organizations involved in recovery.

As the School Year Begins

Lord Jesus Christ,
as a child, you increased in wisdom and stature,
you listened to your teachers and asked them questions.
Bless those who learn that they may grow in knowledge
of their Maker, Redeemer, Life-giver,
and of your glorious world we live in.
Bless those who teach,
that they may share the wisdom
they have received from above,
and that they may do their work
with patience and love
that reflect your mercy that endures forever.

You yourself are the Great Teacher.
Instruct all of us in your commandments:
to show love by glorifying you and serving our neighbors.
Disciple all of us with your holy Gospel:
to be forgiven, renewed and empowered
through your life, death and resurrection.
Fill our hearts with wonder and excitement
as we see your divine design in math and science,
as we see your hand in history,
as we learn to glorify you through art and music,
as we learn to know our neighbors,
their hopes, their hurts, their needs,
that your love may flow through us to them.

Your holy Word also tells us,
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
By your power, help us increase in wisdom,
never ceasing to learn all the days of our lives,
until we sit at your feet in your Kingdom;
where with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you live and reign, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Creative Commons License

Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, as a child, you increased in wisdom and stature…” is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

“you grew in wisdom and stature” is a reference to Luke 2:52

“you listened to your teachers and asked them questions” is a reference to Luke 2:46

“patience and love that reflect your mercy that endures forever” is a reference to Psalm 107:1

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,…” is Proverbs 9:10

God the Sender, Send Us

Image result for welsh church

God the sender, send us.
God the sent, come with us.
God the strengthener of those who go,
empower us, that we may go
forever and wherever, with you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Source: Welsh. Source unknown. It may be of more recent origin.
Source of this version: https://oneresurrection.wordpress.com/2017/08/09/blessing-and-sending/

Variant:
God the Sender, send us.
God the Sent, come with us.
God the Strengthener of those who go,
empower us,
that we may go with you
and find those who will call you
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Source of this version: https://prayerandverse.com/2016/06/10/send-come-and-empower-us/

Another variant:

God the Sender, send me.
God the Sent, come with me.
God the Strengthener of those who go,
empower me,
that I may go with you
and find those who will call you
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Source of this version: Bead One, Pray Too: A Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads

A Celtic Litany

The Lorrha Missal (also called the Stowe Missal) was a book containing the texts of the mass, written in Ireland in the late 8th century. The litany below is freely modified from the Litany of St. Martin from the Lorrha Missal. It would have been prayed between the reading of the Epistle and Gospel.

Let us all pray to the Lord.
Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

With all our heart and mind,
to the Lord who looks over the earth and makes it tremble,
let us pray:
Lord, have mercy.

For blessed peace and most tranquil times for us,
for the holy church to extend from our borders to the ends of the earth,
let us pray:
Lord, have mercy.

For our pastors, teachers, servants,
and all leaders in our church,
let us pray:
Lord, have mercy.

For this place and those who live in it,
for faithful leaders,
and for all who serve to defend our land,
let us pray:
Lord, have mercy.

For those who dedicate themselves to the Lord’s service,
for the needy, for widows and orphans,
let us pray:
Lord, have mercy.

For those who travel by land, sea and air,
for those striving to live lives of repentance,
for those instructed in the Christian faith,
let us pray:
Lord, have mercy.

For those who bear fruits of mercy in Christ’s holy church,
let us pray:
Hear us, Lord almighty.

That we may live in the Christian faith and die in peace,
let us pray,
Lord, hear our prayer.

That God’s kingdom may remain among us,
that his will be done among us in the holy bonds of charity,
let us pray,
Lord, hear our prayer.

To preserve the Christian faith among us in all holiness and purity,
let us pray.
Lord, hear our prayer.

O Lord,
cleanse us from all our sins,
and restore us in your sight.
Graciously hear our prayers
and receive our praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from The Litany of Supplication of St. Martin in the Lorrha-Stowe Missal, p. 6-7. Translated and prepared for A Collection of Prayers. The closing prayer is a very free adaptation of the litany’s closing collect.

Original in Latin:

Lorrha Litany.png

A more literal translation of all the petitions may be found here: http://www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Other/stowe.htm

A Prayer for Christian Fathers

Heavenly Father,
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
the child of Mary,
to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
Bless all fathers
as they care for their families.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
protecting those who look to them,
as we look to you for love and salvation,
through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.

Source: Unknown

Source of this version: https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/Fathers-Day-Prayers.cfm

The painting by Elisabetta Sirani (Bologna 1638-1665) St Joseph with the Infant Jesus c. 1662 was chosen simply to be a depiction of a father with a child.

Light in Darkness

O Lord,
with me there is always doubt.
With you there never is.
The darkness was long,
too long,
and it all came from within me–
from my doubts and fears,
from me, looking inward,
seeking self.
Your light was there,
guiding and correcting,
and pointing me to your Son,
his goodness,
holiness,
and pure light.
Please,
shine in my heart,
with your most precious Light.
Send your holy Spirit
to turn on the light
when I hear
even the shortest
promises in your Word–
even when I hear
what I’ve heard
so many times before,
because that does not
make it any less precious,
but more precious.
Keep shining
and enlightening.
Restore to me the joy!
Amen.

Source: Anonymous, 21st Century

After a Fire

Gracious Father,
you give your angels charge over your children
to keep them in all their ways
and protect them from danger.
Give healing and recovery
to those who were injured
or suffered losses in yesterday’s fire.
Comfort those who mourn.
Keep us and our homes from all danger.
Continue to protect and support
the fire and rescue workers
who help and protect us.
You alone, O Lord, give all deliverance and protection.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, April 8, 2018

The fire was in an apartment building only a few blocks from our church.

http://www.wiscnews.com/bdc/news/local/firefighters-working-to-account-for-all-residents-in-beaver-dam/article_4369fcdc-d610-5f1b-acc2-7f06cb5dc75b.html

A Canticle of Christ (1)

resurrection-carl-heinrich-bloch

Christ Jesus,
the true Word,
eternal God,
born of a virgin,
tender shoot from the stump of Jesse,
blessed Lamb,
by him souls were set free,
through his blood all were redeemed,
the earth rejoiced because the enemy departed,
death of death,
hell’s destruction,
you gave freedom to your new creation
that rejoices to call you Master.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
you forgive the sins of the world.
We call on your holy name.

Source: Greek Papyrus Fragment, Cairo Museum, Fourth Century

Source of this version: The New Archaeological Discoveries and their Bearing upon the New Testament by Camdem McCormick Cobern, Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1918, p. 292

Text gaps freely reconstructed by Paul C. Stratman.

“Christ Jesus, the true Word, the God of eternity” is a reference to John 1:1

“born of a virgin” is a reference to Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:34

“a tender shoot” is a reference to Isaiah 53:2

“Stump of Jesse” is a reference to Isaiah 11:1

“through his blood” is a reference to 1 Peter 1:19

“death of death, hell’s destruction” on p. 293 of The New Archaeological Discoveries… a similar prayer has the phrase, “the one that has abolished death and the grave (Hades).” The phrase “death of death…” is from the hymn “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” by William Williams.

“new creation” is a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Lamb of God” is a reference to John 1:29

Text as it reads in The New Archaeological Discoveries and their Bearing upon the New Testament without gaps reconstructed:

Christ…
the true Word,
the God of eternity
…
the blessed Lamb,
by him souls were set free
through his blood …
the earth rejoiced because the enemy departed
…
You gave freedom to the creation
that asked for a Master.
Jesus, you …
forgive sins …
we call on your holy name.

“A Canticle of Christ” from a Greek Papyrus Fragment as reconstructed by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.