christmas – Page 2 – A Collection of Prayers

Confession and Prayer for Forgiveness

O Lord, O King,
magnificent in the stronghold of heaven,
always worthy of praise.
In your grace for your people:
have mercy.

Lord,
to whom the hosts of cherubim sing in endless praise:
have mercy.

Lord,
the heavenly armies sing high praise to you,
and the seraphim reply to them:
have mercy.

O Christ,
enthroned as King above,
whom all orders of angels in their beauty praise without ceasing,
on us, your servants, always:
have mercy.

O Christ,
your Church throughout the world sings to you.
The sun, the moon, and stars, the land and sea, always serve you:
have mercy.

O Christ,
your saints, the heirs of the eternal country,
one and all with utter joy proclaim you in a most worthy strain:
have mercy.

O Lord,
O gentle Son of Mary,
O King of Kings,
blessed Redeemer,
on those you have ransomed from the power of death
by your own blood:
have mercy.

O noblest unbegotten, yet begotten Son,
having no beginning of age,
yet excelling all things,
on this your congregation in your pity:
have mercy.

O Sun of Righteousness,
in all unclouded glory,
supreme dispenser of justice,
in that great day when you will come to be our judge,
on this your people, who here stand before your presence,
in your pity:
Lord, then have mercy on us. Amen.

Source: Dunstan of Canterbury
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

Adapted to be a Christmas Kyrie:

O Lord, O King,
magnificent in the stronghold of heaven,
always worthy of praise.
Be gracious to us, your people.
Lord, have mercy.

O Christ, enthroned as King above,
whom all orders of angels in their beauty praise without ceasing,
Be gracious to us, your servants.
Lord, have mercy.

O Christ, your Church throughout the world sings to you.
The sun, the moon, and stars, the land and sea, always serve you.
Be gracious to us, your creatures.
Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, gentle Son of Mary, King of Kings, blessed Redeemer,
be gracious to those you have ransomed from death by your own blood.
Lord, have mercy.

O noblest eternal, yet begotten Son,
having no beginning of age, yet excelling all things,
Be gracious to us, your congregation.
Lord, have mercy. Amen.

Service Builder element link: https://builder.christianworship.com/share/XFBI9d_b

New Birth and Freedom in Christ

geertgen_tot_sint_jans2c_the_nativity_at_night2c_c_1490

Almighty God,
grant that the new birth
of your Son in the flesh
redeems us from the old slavery
under the yoke of sin,
so we may receive him with joy
as our Redeemer,
and that when when he comes to judge
we may see Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Wilehelm Loehe, Agende für christliche Gemeinden des lutherischen Bekenntnisses, 1844

Original in German:

Allmächtiger Gott, wir bitten Dich, verleihe, daß die neue Geburt Deines Sohnes im Fleische uns erlöse, welche die alte Dienstbarkeit unterm Joch der Sünden gefangen halt, auf daß wir Ihn als einen Erlöser mit Freuden aufnehmen, auch, wenn Er zum Gericht kommen wird, sicher mögen anschauen JEsum Christum, unsern Herrn, der mit Dir in Einigkeit des heiligen Geistes lebt und herrschet, wahrer Gott, immer und ewiglich! Amen.

This is a German translation of the Gelasian collect for Christmas Day:

Concede, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet quos sub peccati iugo vetusa servitus tenet; per…

Our Immanuel

We thank you,
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
that you are the Word
and living image of the eternal Father,
our Immanuel.
You took on yourself our human nature,
and you support and protect
your Christendom
against your enemy, the devil.
Give us us the light of your holy Word.
Forgive us our sins and give us eternal life.
Be our mediator and intercessor,
and plead for us.
Hear and help us as you have promised:
“Come to me, all who labor
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.”
Have mercy on us.
Pray for us before your everlasting Father,
sanctify and rule in us with your Holy Spirit.
Protect us against all treachery and terror,
and the lies and murder of the devil
so that with pure and joyful hearts
we may serve you;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you live and reign
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 284. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

“Word” is a reference to John 1:1

“living image of the eternal Father” may be a reference to Colossians 1:15 or Hebrews 1:3

“Immanuel” is a reference to Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23.

“Mediator” and “Pray for us before your everlasting Father” is a reference to Hebrews 9:15.

“Intercessor” is a reference to Hebrews 9:24.

“Come to me,…” is a reference to Matthew 11:28.

“lies and murder of the devil” is based on John 8:44.

Original in German

Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christe, du Sohn des lebendigen Gottes, der du bist das Wort und Ebenbild des ewigen Vaters und unser Immanuel, daß du menschliche Natur hast angenomme, und erhältst und beschirmst deine Christenheit, wider die Teufel, deine Feinde, gibst uns und erhältst das Licht deines heiligen Worts, vergibst uns unsere Sünde und gibst uns das ewige Leben und bist unser Mittler, Fürbitter, und Fürsprecher und willt uns erhören und helfen wie du gesprochen hast; Kommet her zu mir Alle die ihr mühselig und be laden seid ich will euch erquicken; wir bitten dich, erbarme dich unser, bitte für uns deinen ewigen Vater, heilige und regiere uns mit deinem heiligen Geiste, beschirme uns wider alle List und Gewalt, Lügen und Mord des bösen Geistes, auf daß wir mit einem reinen und fröhlichen Herzen dir allezeit dienen mögen, der du mit dem Vater und dem heiligen Geiste lebest und regierest von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit, Amen.

Christmas Communion Prayer

O merciful God,
open the depths of our souls
that we may receive
the immortality of our spirits
through the new birth of your Son
by the power of his body
and precious blood;
for he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Wilehelm Loehe, Agende für christliche Gemeinden des lutherischen Bekenntnisses, 1844

Original in German:

O gütiger Gott, eröffne uns den Abgrund unsrer Seelen, daß wir die Unsterblichkeit unsers Gemüthes mögen vernehmen durch die neue Geburt Deines Sohnes, in der Kraft Seines Fleisches und theuern Blutes, der mit Dir lebt und herrschet…

Christmas Acclamation

Praise and adoration
be to our God,
for he is good.
His grace and mercy
fill the heavens and earth.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving,
and joyfully praise
our creator.

As a father,
he loves us,
his children.
Sing his praises
with joyful thanks
in love and devotion!
Let us love him
who has loved us
since the world began.
Who would not
love God from the heart?

We can not give him
adequate praise.
Still, in heaven
he receives with goodwill
our joyful songs of praise
and pours much joy into our souls,
whenever we thank him,
whenever we live in him.

Sing to Jesus Christ
praise, thanks and glory,
for he came from heaven
to destroy sin and death for us
and by his precious, willing sacrifice,
restored innocence and peace.

Already here on earth
he renews joy and life to us
by his grace.
Still greater bliss is prepared there
for those who love him
when one day they will be renewed in his image,
made new and holy,
and awakened from death.

Let us rejoice in our holy God!
Let us rejoice in our eternal God!
How blessed it is to praise him
here, and then in heaven.
He is our holiness!
He is our life!
He always loves us, his children.

Source: Schleswig-Hosteinsche Kirchen-Agende, 1797, Am Feste der Geburt Jesu, p. 62-64, translated for A Collection of Prayers.

festegeburt

Direct Our Ways

O almighty and eternal God,
mercifully direct our ways
that we may walk in your law
and abound in good works;
through your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Sunday after Christmas)

Christmas Day Prayer

gerard_van_honthorst_001 O Lord Jesus Christ,
true God from true God,
you became a little child for us so the world you made would be saved.
Just as a child is born to us and a Son is given to us,
may we be born again through you
and always remain in the number
of God’s faithful children;
through your merits, O blessed Savior,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for the The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day, freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p.17 #1

“true God from true God” is a reference to John 1 and the Nicene Creed

“Just as a child is born to us and a Son is given to us” is a reference to Isaiah 9:6

“may we be born again through you” is a reference to John 3

A Prayer for Christmas Eve

gerard_van_honthorst_001 O God,
you were pleased to announce the coming of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
with choirs of angels who proclaimed with their song,
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.”
Grant that we may so pass our time here to your glory,
that at your Son’s second coming
we may rejoice before him.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 11 #1

“you were pleased to announce … with choirs of angels ” is a reference to Luke 2:13

“Glory to God in the highest” is a reference to Luke 2:14

Christmas Prayer

veit-dietrich Lord God, heavenly Father, we give thanks that in your great mercy and compassion you allowed your dear Son to become incarnate and through him redeemed us from sin and eternal death. Enlighten our hearts by your Holy Spirit that we may always be thankful for such grace and be comforted in all trouble and temptation, and at last, obtain eternal salvation; through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Christmas)

Inward Peace and Goodwill

O Lord Jesus Christ,
by your incarnation you united
things earthly and heavenly.
Fill us with the sweetness
of inward peace and goodwill,
that we may join the heavenly host
in singing praises to your glory;
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Gregorian Rite, 6th Century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Collects and Prayers for Use in Church, United Lutheran Church in America, 1935

Variant, as a blessing:

And may He, Who through His Incarnation united earthly things with Heavenly, fill us with the sweetness of inward peace and good will, and make us partakers with the Heavenly Host. Amen.

Source of this version: The Priest to the Altar: Or Aids to the Devout Celebration of Holy Communion Chiefly After the Ancient English Use of Sarum, Peter Goldsmith Medd,
Rivingtons, 1879, 11th Century