Category Archives: Prayer

Show Your Power and Mercy: A Prayer for Advent

Show your power and mercy
on all people who are bound
in the fetters of superstition
or the dreariness of unbelief, idolatry, false doctrine,
or utter careless ungodliness.
May Christ come also to them,
and establish among them
his kingdom of light, truth, and righteousness.
O eternal Father,
with your eternal Son and your Holy Spirit,
may you be praised and worshiped
at all times and in all places,
now and forever. Amen.

-Riga Prayer Book, 1707, from Prayers from the Collection of Baron Bunsen. Based on the translation of Catherine Winkworth and found in Prayers from the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage by Paul C. Stratman.

Abide with Us: A Lutheran Prayer

Abide with us, O Lord,

for it is toward evening and the day is far spent;

abide with us, and with Thy whole Church.

Abide with us in the evening of the day, in the evening of life,

in the evening of the world.

Abide with us in Thy grace and mercy,

in holy Word and Sacrament,

in Thy comfort and Thy blessing.

Abide with us in the night of distress and fear,

in the night of doubt and temptation,

in the night of bitter death,

when these shall overtake us.

Abide with us and with all Thy faithful ones, O Lord,

in time and in eternity.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

— from The Lutheran Manual of Prayer

A Prayer for Lent: St. Ephraim of Syria

Ephrem the SyrianO Lord and Master of my life,
take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk, but grant rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.

Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.

-Saint Ephraim of Syria

General information about the prayer

Exposition of the prayer

“How to” practice the prayer

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,

ruler and judge of all,

to you be praise and glory forever.

In the darkness of this age that is passing away

may the light of your presence which the saints enjoy

surround our steps as we journey on.

May we reflect your glory this day

and so be made ready to see your face

in the heavenly city where night shall be no more.

Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

-from Common Worship

Prayer Against Anxiety and Depression

“Lord, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of your presence, your love, and your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in your protecting love. Bless us with your strengthening power so nothing may frighten or worry us. We trust that living close to you, we shall see your hand, your purpose, your will through all things.”

-Ignatius of Loyola

The Great Litany

The Great Litany prayer form dates back to (at least) the fourth century and is one of the great expressions of petition that is common in both Eastern and Western Christian traditions.  Every service in the Eastern church begins with a form of these petitions in which the congregation responds: “Kyrie Eleison”  (Lord have mercy). Thomas Cranmer and Martin Luther both highly regarded this historic prayer and counted it as an accurate reflection of the Christian’s total dependance on God for life and grace. Luther considered it to be almost as important to Christian worship as the Lord’s Prayer. These are ‘sturdy’ words that have held the weight of Christian lament in every generation. This cry to God for mercy is as appropriate today as it will be in the future. The version below is rooted in the tradition of Thomas Cranmer and is taken from the 1978 edition of The Book of Common Prayer. Go here and here for more background on the history and function of The Great Litany.

Continue reading The Great Litany

Contemplative Prayer Form Based on Psalm 25

Contemplative Prayer Form 

8th Sunday of Trinitytide – Year C   

Note: This is for individual or small group use. It is intended to be a form of contemplative “Lectio Divina” based on the scripture readings for the week and the themes of the liturgical season. Repetition, silence, and intercession are utilized to allow space for focus over a short or long period of time. It may be helpful to use your fingers to count the number of scripture phrases you utter during the times of repetition. The Scripture prayer section is structured for easy use with Anglican Prayer Beads for those who might find a tactile expression to be helpful.

(= Cross = Invitatory bead = Cruciform bead = Weeks bead).

Scripture Reading:

Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

Scripture Prayer:

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Come, let us adore him.

Grant that we may know and understand what things we ought to do, and may also have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them. Amen.

I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame,but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. -Ps. 25:2-3

Repeat Seven Times:

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. -Psalm 25:1

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. -Psalm 25:5-6

Repeat Seven Times:

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. -Psalm 25:4

Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. -Psalm 25:7

Repeat Seven Times:

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. -Psalm 25:8

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. -Psalm 25:9-10

Repeat Seven Times:

For he has rescued us…we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. -Colossians 1:13a; 14b

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” -Luke 10:27

The Lord’s Prayer

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.

Silence

Intercessions

*Pause in between for silence or specific intersessions

Father, you have gathered us into the communion of your Church and sent us out to love our neighbors. Give us life and unity through your Spirit. Guide your Church in this place and around the world…

Jesus, your faithfulness enables us to remain faithful to you: Do not remember the sins of our youth. Keep us steady in faith and set our hearts to desire your Kingdom and learn your ways…

Holy Spirit, heal our wounded souls and misshaped desires. Show us your ways and teach us your paths. Free us from anxiety and lead us to trust you…

Lord, you rule over all earthly powers, yet are familiar with our poverty. Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the needy and support those who are going through trials. Help us to be willing to suffer for those in need.

For families and friends, for all who have asked for our prayers and who pray for us…

For our country and our region, for political and spiritual leaders, and that Christians may be witnesses to your life and unity…

Lord, show us how to take joy in the gifts your have given us. Show us how to use these gifts to create things which lead to life and participate in your love.

Fill us with knowledge of your will and the understanding that the Spirit gives, so that we may live a life worthy of the Lord: bearing fruit in every good work and giving thanks to the Father, who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Basic Prayer Resources from “The Great Tradition”

Anglican:

The Book of Common Prayer 1979

Texts for Common Prayer (ACNA)

Common Worship Prayer (Church of England)

Book of Alternative Services (Canada)

The Collects of the Church Year: BCP

Prayers from the BCP (1549)

Presbyterian:

Book of Common Worship 

The Valley of Vision (Puritan)

Lutheran:

A Simple Way to Pray – by Martin Luther

Lutheran Book of Prayer (5th Edition)

Anabaptist:

Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book Volume One

Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book Volume Two

Catholic:

Magnificat: Daily Prayer

The Liturgy of the Hours

Shorter Christian Prayer: Liturgy of the Hours with Morning and Evening Prayer

Orthodox:

Common Prayers for Orthodox Christians

My Orthodox Prayer Book

The Divine Liturgy (St. John Chrysostom)

Book of Common Prayer (Western Rite – Catholic and Orthodox)

General:

The Divine Hours: Pocket Edition (Compiled by Phyllis Tickle)

Prayer Book of the Early Christians (Pre-Reformation Compilation)

Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

Praying with the Church by Scott McKnight