21st Century – Page 9 – A Collection of Prayers

Thanksgivings for the Birthday of an Aged Christian

O Lord, our times are in your hands and every day is a gift of your grace. We give thanks with _______ (name) for blessing him with your mercies for the ____ (or many) years of his life. Continue to lead him on your path of righteousness all the days of his life that he may lead others to glorify you for your grace and mercy.

Lord Jesus, you promised your disciples that you would be with them always, to the very end of the age. We thank you for being with ______ (name) for the _____ (or many) years of his life and for guiding him with your word of truth, and for blessing and keeping him in your love. Continue your blessing on him in the days and years to come.

Precious Lord, for _____ (or many) years you have led your servant ________ (name) by the hand. You have strengthened him, healed him, and led him through troubles of all kinds. You comforted him with your precious Word and with your promise that you are always at his side. We give you thanks for your promise, guidance and care. With boldness and confidence we ask for your continued love in his life—and when this life is done, the fulfillment of your promise of the crown of life.

Source: From The St. Stephen’s Breviary: Short Prayers for Many Occasions, St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Prayers were written by Pastor Paul C. Stratman.

This work is licensed by Pastor Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Thanksgivings for Wedding Anniversaries

Loving Father, we love because you first loved us. We praise and thank you for your love for _______ and _______ through the _____ years of their marriage. Continue to bless them. Lift and strengthen them by the power of your Word that their love for each other continues to reflect your love for them.

Mighty Father, in Eden you brought Adam and Eve together in marriage and then pronounced your creation “very good.” We thank you for the many good blessings you have given to ______ and ______ in the ___ years of their marriage. Continue to provide for all their needs. Sustain them through all troubles. Let them continue to grow in their love for you and for each other.

Loving Father, your holy Word tells us “Love is patient, love is kind, … love never fails.” We give thanks for your never-failing love you have shown us in your Son, Jesus Christ. We also give thanks for the reflection of that love in the ___ years of _____ and _____’s married life. Guide them in your love each day and help them grow closer to you and to one another.

Source: From The St. Stephen’s Breviary: Short Prayers for Many Occasions, St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Prayers were written by Pastor Paul C. Stratman.

This work is licensed by Pastor Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Intercessions for the Family of One Who Has Died in the Lord

Gracious Father, life and death are in your hands. We thank you for the blessings you gave to ________ (name) in his earthly life, and praise you for now giving him the crown of eternal life. Comfort his family with Jesus’ promise that those who believe in him will never die.

Lord Jesus, you have told us that you are the Resurrection and the Life, and that those who believe in you will never die. With that promise, comfort those who mourn for ________ (name), that they may be confident of a blessed reunion in heaven.

All wise and mighty Father, our times are in your hands, and you work all things for the good of those who love you. Strengthen our faith in your promises, and comfort those who mourn for _________ (name), that with faith we may look forward to seeing our loved ones again, and seeing you face to face.

Lord Jesus, your holy Word promises that you will wipe away every tear from our eyes in that Day when there is no more death or mourning or pain. With your promise, dry the tears of those who weep for __________ (name), that with faith, we look forward to the blessed joy of heaven with you.

Lord God, you work all things for the good of those who love you. We pray for the family of ________ (name), whose soul you have taken to yourself. Assure us with your holy Word that nothing… not even life or death nor anything in all creation can separate us from your love which is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dearest Savior, you told us not to let our hearts be troubled because you have gone to prepare a place for us. We give you thanks that you have received ________ (name) into the mansion prepared for him. Calm our troubled hearts through trust in your gracious promise.

During Morning Praise (Matins) or for the Easter Season

Lord Jesus, you overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Come, Lord, and help your people who mourn for ________ (name), whom you bought with your own blood. Remind us that you have set us free from death. Bring us at last with all your saints to glory everlasting.

Good Shepherd Sunday or 23^rd Psalm

Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who laid down your life for us sheep, only to take it up again. Restore our souls with the comfort of your Word. Still the doubts and fears and soothe the pain of those who mourn for ________ (name), and guide us all on the path of righteousness until we all dwell in your house forever.

Near Christmas or for an agéd Christian

Lord Jesus, agéd Simeon took you in his arms and knew that he could depart in peace because he had seen his Savior. We give thanks that you revealed your saving love to ________ (name) and have now taken him in peace. You have given him what you have promised. Let your salvation be the light in our darkness, and our gladness in the midst of sorrow.

Source: From The St. Stephen’s Breviary: Short Prayers for Many Occasions, St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Prayers were written by Pastor Paul C. Stratman.

This work is licensed by Pastor Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

A Prayer about Fathers

Our Father in heaven,
you have made yourself known to us through Jesus Christ
and have invited us to pray to you as our Father,
that we may pray boldly and confidently to you.
We pray for fathers.
Give them wisdom.
Give them patience.
Give them the ability to love in a way that reflects your love.
We pray for children.
Give them guidance.
Give them a spirit of obedience.
Give them warmth, comfort, and peace in their fathers’ homes.
We pray for the fatherless and those who struggle in their families.
Be their Father when earthly fathers fail.
Show them love and guidance,
and help them to know a father’s love
through your love, providence and care.
Use Christian friends and other family to encourage and guide,
nurture and instruct,
and bless them with your peace;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A Prayer about Fathers by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Prayer Reflecting on the Shooting in Orlando, Florida, June 2016

Father in heaven, your holy Word tells us to mourn with those who mourn, and to not repay evil with evil, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12).

Day by day your people pray “Deliver us from evil.” It grieves us to see evil and violence. We are grieved once again by the shooting last week in Orlando, Florida.

We pray for those who live with anger—move them to seek help and move friends, family and others who sense that anger to help them.
We pray for those who were injured—if it is your will, speed the healing of wounds to body and mind.
We pray for the friends and families of those who were killed—draw them to yourself. Lead them to find comfort, hope, healing and peace in you.
We also pray that we may give faithful witness for the hope that we have, with gentleness and respect, that those around us may be led by us to you, and that they may be moved and enlightened by your gospel of peace.

…through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayer Reflecting on the Shooting in Orlando, Florida, June 2016 by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Prayer Reflecting on the Shooting at Umqua Community College in Oregon, October 2015

Father in heaven, day by day your people pray “Deliver us from evil.” It grieves us to see evil and violence. We are grieved once again by the shooting last week in Oregon.

We pray for those who live with anger—move them to seek help and move friends, family and others who sense that anger to help them.
We pray for those who were injured—speed the healing of wounds to body and mind.
We pray for the friends and families of those who were killed—draw them to yourself. Lead them to find comfort, hope, healing and peace in you.
We also pray that we may give faithful witness for the hope that we have, with gentleness and respect, that those around us may be led by us to you, and that they may be moved and enlightened by your gospel of peace.

…through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayer Reflecting on the Shooting at Umqua Community College in Oregon, October 2015 by Pastor Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Closing Prayer for Holy (Maundy) Thursday

This prayer may be used in place of the prayers “We give thanks, almighty God,…” “O God the Father, source of all goodness…” or other closing prayers in the service..

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, on the night before you suffered, you showed your disciples the extent of your love, you gave them this sacrament of forgiveness and remembrance, and you promised them that you would drink it again with them in your Father’s kingdom. As we have partaken of this sacrament, show us your love in your words of invitation, restore our joy in the forgiveness you have won by your death and resurrection, and give us hope in the promise you have given of a feast to come. In this sacrament, live and rule in us, even as you live and rule with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Formatted as poetry:

Lord Jesus Christ,
on the night before you suffered,
you showed your disciples the extent of your love,
you gave them this sacrament of forgiveness and remembrance,
and you promised them that you would drink it again with them
in your Father’s kingdom.
As we have partaken of this sacrament,
show us your love in your words of invitation,
restore our joy in the forgiveness you have won by your death
and resurrection,
and give us hope in the promise you have given of a feast to
come.
In this sacrament,
live and rule in us,
even as you live and rule with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Closing Prayer for Holy (Maundy) Thursday by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

A Closing Prayer for Easter Dawn

This prayer is written to go with the lessons for The Resurrection of our Lord–Easter Dawn, Isaiah 12:1-6, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, John 20:1-18.

M: The Lord is risen!
C: He is risen indeed!

M: Let us pray.
O risen Christ, our stronghold, our sure defense and our Savior, refresh our hearts with the living water of your gospel and cheer our hearts with the shout of your victory. Dry our tears as we deal with the hardships and tragedies of this world, and lift up our heads that we see you as our risen Teacher, Savior and Friend. You live and reign with your Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

Formatted as poetry:

O risen Christ,
our stronghold, our sure defense and our Savior,
refresh our hearts with the living water of your gospel
and cheer our hearts with the shout of your victory.
Dry our tears as we deal with the hardships
and tragedies of this world,
and lift up our heads that we see you
as our risen Teacher, Savior and Friend.
You live and reign with your Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Prayer for Easter Dawn by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.