pommersche agende – A Collection of Prayers

After Communion

O Lord Jesus Christ, you have richly fed and refreshed my soul. Help me to love you with all my heart, truly believe in you, and live according to your will. Finally, grant me a blessed and joyful end that I may live and remain with you forever.

Source: Pomeranian Agenda, possibly by Johannes Bugenhagen, 16th century.

Original in German:

O Herr Jesu Christ, der du meine Seele gar reichlich gespeiset und getränket hast, ich bitte dich, gib, daß ich dich von Herzen recht möge lieben, an dich wahrhaftig gläuben, und nach deinem heiligen Willen leben, beschere mir auch endlich ein selig und frölich Ende, auf daß ich mit dir in Ewigkeit leben, und bei dir bleiben möge, der du mit dem u. (Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 381.2)

For Obedience to God’s Word

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us your holy Gospel and revealing your love to us. In your boundless mercy, help us hold on to this blessed light of your` Word, and through your Holy Spirit govern and guide our hearts, so that we may never stray from it, but hold fast to it and finally be saved; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Pomeranian Agenda, possibly by Johannes Bugenhagen, 16th century.

Original in German:

Wir danken dir, Herr Gott himmlischer Vater, daß du uns dein heiliges Evangelium gegeben, und dein väterliches Herz hast erkennen lassen; wir bitten deine grundlose Barmherzigkeit, du wollest dies selige Licht deines Worts bei uns gnädiglich erhalten und durch deinen heiligen Geist unsere Herzen also leiten und führen, daß wir nimmermehr davon abweichen, sondern fest daran hallen und endlich dadurch selig werden, durch Jesum Christum, deinen Sohn u.

Remembrance of Baptism

Lord God, heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the wonderful gift of baptism and the many gifts that come with it: forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life through your Son Jesus Christ. In your grace and mercy, preserve us in faith that we may never doubt your promise, but find our comfort in you in all temptations. Send us your Holy Spirit that we may renounce sin and always continue in the righteousness given us in baptism, until we receive eternal salvation by your grace.

Source: Adapted from two German prayers, one by Martin Luther and one from the Pomeranian Agenda.

Original in German:

Herr Gott himlischer Vater, wir danken dir je billich das du die selige gnadenreiche Tauf durch den heiligen Tauffer Johannem hast erstlich angerichtet, und uns auch dazu lassen kommen, in welcher du uns umb dienes Suns Christi Jesu willen zusagest vergebung der suenden, den heyligen Geyst und das ewige leben. Wir bitten dich, erhalte uns inn sochem vertruqen auff dein gnad und barmhertzigkeyt das wir an socher zusagung nymmer mehr zweyffelen, sonder der selben inn allerley anfecchtun uns troesten, und gib durch deinen heyligen Geyst das wir fuer suenden uns hueten, unnd in solcher unschuld dazu wir durch die Tauffe kommen sind, bleyben moegen, Oder ja wo wir fallen. Unnd menschlicher schwacheiyt halb nicht koennen bestehen das wir inn suenden nicht ligen bleyben, sonder durch rechtschaffene Buss uns bekehren und deiner gnad unnd zusagun uns wider troesten und also durch din genad ewig selig warden.

Your Compassion is Boundless

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Almighty, merciful God, heavenly Father,
your compassion is boundless.
You are patient, gracious,
and are rich in love and faithfulness.
You forgive rebellion, trespasses and sin.
We have sinned and have become evil,
and have often angered you.
Against you alone have we sinned
and done evil in your sight.
But Lord,
do not think about our past misdeeds.
Let your great mercy be on us,
for we are in great need.
Help us, God of our Salvation.
Redeem us and forgive our sins
for the glory of your most holy name,
and for the sake of your beloved Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Pomeranian Agenda, in Gebetbuch, enthaltend …, #591. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

O allmächtiger, barmherziger Gott und himmlischer Vater, deß Barmherzigkeit kein Ende ist, der du langmüthig, gnädig und von großer Güte und Treue bist, und vergiebst die Missethat, Uebertretung und Sünde: wir haben mißgehandelt und sind gottlos gewesen, und haben dich oft erzürnet, an dir allein haben wir gefündiget und übel vor dir gethan; aber, Herr, gedenke nicht an unsre vergangene Missethat, laß bald deine Barmherzigkeit über uns größer fein, denn wir sind elend geworden. Hilf uns, Gott unsers Heils, errette uns und vergieb uns unsre Sünde um der
Ehre deines allerheiligsten Namens willen, und von wegen deines allerliebsten Sohnes, unsers Heilandes Jesu Christi, der mit dir lebet und regieret in Einigkeit des heiligen Geistes, ein wahrer Gott, immer und in Ewigkeit. Amen.

Pommersche Agende.

Prayer at the Birth of a Child

Almighty and eternal God,
we thank you for this your blessing
of the birth of a healthy child.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
receive this child into your care forever,
for you have commanded
that the little children be brought to you.
So we pray, moved by your Word
that you would make this child your own
through your precious blood.
Give this child grace, blessing,
strength, power and prosperity
so that we might bring this child to you with joy
to enter your kingdom through holy Baptism,
and give thanks for your grace with all God-fearing hearts.
Amen.

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.

Awaken Us

Advent 1

Dear Lord God,
awaken us,
that we may be ready
when your dear Son comes,
that we may receive him with joy
and serve you with pure hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 282. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

This prayer has also been attributed to Martin Luther. [Die Gebete Luthers, #10]

Original in German:

Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf, daß wir bereit sind, wenn dein lieber Sohn kömmt, ihn mit Freuden zu empfahen, und dir mit reinem Herzen zu dienen, durch denselbigen deinen Sohn Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen.

Two Marriage Prayers

Lord God, heavenly Father,
we pray that you would bless all married couples
that they might live and serve you in joy and unity,
and bring up their children according to your will.
Provide for all their needs
and comfort them in all misfortune,
cross and affliction;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Pomeranian Agenda, p. 286.1, translated for A Collection of Prayers.

O Lord God,
you created man and woman
and ordained them for the marriage bond
and have typified therein the mystical union
of your dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Church, his Bride.
We ask of your boundless goodness and mercy
that you would not permit this,
your creation, ordinance, and blessing,
to be disturbed or destroyed,
but graciously preserve it
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Source: Saxon Agenda of 1541, Marriage #9, translated for A Collection of Prayers.

John the Baptist

The Christian Church remembers St. John the Baptist on his ‘birthday,’ June 24, and also on the commemoration of his death, August 29.

Lord God, dearest Father,
through St. John the Baptist
you have pointed us all
to our one true comfort,
that Jesus Christ, Son of Mary,
is the true Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
May we always rejoice in his preaching
and find our comfort in it,
and finally receive eternal blessedness
with John the Baptist and all believers;
through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 293#2. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Herr Gott, lieber Vater, der du durch den heiligen Taufer Johannen, uns Allen zu Trost hast bezeugen lassen, daß Jesus Christus, Marien Sohn, das wahre unschuldige Lamm Gottes sei, welches der ganzen Welt Sünde tragen sollte; gib uns, daß wir allezeit solches seines Zeugnisses uns von Herzen freuen und trösten und endlich mit Johanne dem Täufer und allen Gläubigen die ewige Seligkeit erlangen mögen, durch den selbigen deinen Sohn, u.

Mary, Mother of Our Lord.

On August 15, the Christian Church remembers Mary, the Mother of Our Lord. The prayer from the Pomeranian Agenda emphasizes her humility. Her answer to the annunciation was, “May it be to me as you have said.” In her Magnificat, she sang, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior… …The Lord has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”

Lord God, heavenly Father,
we thank you for all your benefits,
physical and spiritual,
that you so richly have poured out on us.
By the example of the dear virgin Mary,
protect us against arrogance and false security,
that no wisdom, strength or power
can help those who do not fear you.
Give us, rather, true humility and holy fear,
so that we may hold on to your Word,
always remain in your mercy and blessing
and finally be saved;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 293#2 (The Visitation), Translated for A Collection of Prayers.