Prayer on Advent Sunday

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Who camest to Israel of old, just and having salvation; We thank Thee that Thou still comest to Thy Church in Thy Word and Sacraments, to preach good tidings to the poor, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind. Grant us by Thy Holy Spirit to receive Thee with willing hearts and joyfully to hail Thee as our King. Strengthen us that we may fearlessly confess Thee before the world. Grant us grace that with watchfulness we may await Thy coming in glory, and in that hour be found ready to stand before Thee and with Thee to enter into Thine eternal joy. Amen.

Prayer on Christmas Day

Heavenly Father, rich in love and mercy! We thank and praise Thee that Thou hast graciously fulfilled the word of Thy promise to the fathers and suffered Thine only-begotten Son to become man for our salvation. Lord Jesus Christ, to Thee be everlasting praise, that Thou, being rich, for our sakes becamest poor that we through Thy poverty might become rich. Thou hast become our Brother that we with Thee might become the children of God. Be Thou born also in our hearts, and as Thou, the Lord of lords, hast for our sakes become a child, so give us a right child-like mind. Thou Brightness of the Father's glory and Image of His person, do Thou renew us in Thy holy likeness. Thou heavenly Light, light us through the darkness of this world. Thou eternal Life, give us life in Thee. Thou great Prince of peace, grant us Thy peace, and keep us ever in Thy Kingdom, that we may laud and magnify Thee in Thy glory, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest forever. Amen.

Prayer on New Year's Day

Almighty and eternal God, great in mercy, unchangeable in faithfulness! Thou art the same and Thy years shall have no end. To Thee we render thanks and praise on this first day of the year for all the mercy which Thou hast so abundantly shown us in the days that are gone. We beseech Thee that Thou wilt ever henceforward grant us to enjoy the blessing which Thou hast prepared for us in Christ Jesus, Thy Son. Create in us a new heart with this New Year. Teach us to seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and so shall all we need of earthly good be added unto us. In Thy Name, Lord Jesus, we would begin and end all our works. Pour out Thy blessing upon us, and upon all who with us call upon Thy Name. Amen.

Prayer during Lent

Lord Jesus, ineffably great was Thy love toward us, fallen men, that Thou didst become man and suffer shame, anguish, pain, and death for us sinners, who otherwise would have perished eternally. Give us grace that we may ever remember, and in faith receive, Thine atoning sacrifice; and that for this unspeakable mercy we may praise Thee and the Father and the Holy Spirit. Help us ever to live a Christian life, and in all need and adversity find comfort in the assurance that Thou art our Saviour, Who hast delivered us from the power of death and the devil, and Who finally wilt take us from this world of travail to Thyself in heaven, there to perfect Thy praise forever.

Amen.

Prayer on Good Friday

Lord Jesus, Thou Lamb of God that takest away the sin of the world! We thank Thee for Thy great love toward us, miserable sinners, that Thou for our sake didst humble Thyself and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Thou hast borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. The chastisement of our peace was upon Thee, and with Thy stripes we are healed. Praised be Thy Holy Name! Cleanse us now from our sins by Thy blood, and grant us Thy peace. Help us by the power of Thy death to die unto sin and to take up the cross and follow Thee. Keep us in communion with Thee, that with all who have overcome by Thy blood we may finally thank and praise Thee forever. Amen.

Prayer on Easter Sunday

Almighty God, our heavenly Father! We enter into Thy presence with thanksgiving. We praise Thee that Thou, Who for our sins didst give Thine only-begotten Son, hast for our justification raised Him again and made Him the Conqueror of sin and death. Lord Jesus, Thou Prince of Life, grant us by Thy Holy Spirit that in the power of Thy Resurrection we may arise and walk in newness of life. Give us the comfort of a living hope. Come unto us as Thou didst come unto Thy first disciples, and give us Thy peace. Keep us in this peace even unto the end, and in the hour of death help us to hold fast to Thee, Who art the Resurrection and the Life. Raise at last our mortal bodies and fashion them like unto Thy glorified body, that with the Church triumphant we may finally sing: "Thanks be to God, Who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Amen.

Prayer on Ascension Day

Holy and blessed Saviour! We praise Thee that Thou hast accomplished Thy work of redemption. Thou, King Eternal, art seated on the right hand of God, and the hosts of heaven do worship Thee. We, too,, come before Thee with adoration, thanksgiving, and praise, that Thou hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood and opened unto us a way to heaven. We are but pilgrims and strangers in the earth; help us safely through the trials of this present time. Create in us a heavenly mind, that we may seek the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. Lord Jesus, Thou Who art the head of Thy Church, bestow upon Thy people the rich gifts of Thy Spirit, and exalt us with all Thy faithful unto the same place whither Thou art gone before, ever to behold Thy glory. Amen.

Prayer on the Day of Pentecost

O God, we praise Thee, that on the first day of Pentecost Thou didst pour forth Thy Holy Spirit upon Thy faithful people, and thereby didst found Thy Church upon the earth. We thank Thee that we, too, have been received into Thy Church. We thank Thee for Thy Word and Sacraments, by which Thou wouldst sanctify us through the power of Thy Holy Spirit. We beseech Thee, send forth Thy Holy Spirit upon us, upon our congregations, and upon our homes. Come, Holy Spirit, quicken our dull hearts; cleanse us from sin; increase our faith and kindle in us a fervent love one to another, that we may preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Spirit of Truth, guide us in Thy truth, and grant us whatsoever is profitable for life and godliness, to Thy glory and our salvation. Amen.

Prayer on Trinity Sunday

Holy Triune God! We thank Thee that by Thy gracious revelation Thou hast made Thyself known to us as our God, and that in baptism Thou hast received us as Thy children of grace, born again unto eternal life. O Thou, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Love and Mercy! Gracious Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ, our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification and our redemption! O Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, of adoption, and of prayer! We praise Thee, we glorify Thee, we worship Thee, O Triune God. Come unto us, and make Thy abode with us. Create in us a true faith and a living hope. Grant us finally with Thy holy angels and all the elect to worship, praise, and serve Thee in Thy holy temple. Amen.

Prayer at Reformation Festivals

Almighty, ever-living God, we thank and praise Thee that in the time of our fathers Thou didst cause again the clear light of Thy gospel to shine forth, and that Thou didst give Thy servants grace fearlessly to confess Thy truth. We thank Thee that Thou hast granted us unto this day to hold fast Thy pure Word, unworthy though we be. Forbid, O God, that we should pervert Thy gospel and use our freedom for a cloak of wickedness. Mercifully keep us from error. May Thy Word and Thy Sacraments be transmitted pure to our posterity. Grant to the ministers of Thy Word to-day, as Thou didst to its first confessors, power and wisdom rightly to bear witness to Thee, and to overcome the adversaries of Thy gospel Grant that Thy Church may be united more closely in truth and love; and be Thou, O God, our defense and stay against all the power of the enemy, that by Thy might we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand; to the praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen.

Prayer at Mission Festivals

Almighty God, loving Father, Thou Who gavest Thine only-begotten Son that the world might be saved through Him: We commend to Thy tender mercies all the nations that walk in darkness and that dwell in the land of the shadow of death. Kindle in our hearts a fervent love toward Thee, that we may be truly zealous for the extension of Thy kingdom upon the earth. The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. We pray Thee, O Lord, send forth laborers into Thy harvest. Strengthen and bless. Thy servants in their labors. Grant that through the gospel Thy Name may be glorified in all the earth, and finally grant us with all the countless hosts of peoples and nations and tongues to serve and praise Thee in Thy glory forever. Amen.

Prayer on Thanksgiving Day

Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the manifold gifts we have received from Thy bountiful hand. Thou hast permitted Thy Word to dwell abundantly among us, and Thou hast favored us with many earthly blessings. Lord, we are unworthy of Thy faithfulness and mercy; but we pray Thee, continue to be gracious toward us. Give us all things needful and wholesome, and grant us in all the vicissitudes of life to remain a people which trusts in Thy mighty aid, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Fruits of the Earth

Grant

Almighty God, merciful Father, Who of Thy great goodness dost replenish the earth with divers fruits to be the food of man and beast: We beseech Thee for Thy blessing that our land may yield us its fruits of increase. seasonable weather for the harvest of the earth, and preserve it from all things harmful. Crown the year with Thy goodness. Preserve us, O God, from years of barrenness, from dearth and famine, and prosper us in Thy mercy. We confess our sins before Thee: be gracious unto Thy people and forsake us not; bless us with all that Thou hast ordained for our sustenance, and give us grace rightly to use the same to the praise and honor of Thy Holy Name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Those Who Are to Be Confirmed

Gracious Lord and loving Father! Through Holy Baptism Thou hast already received into Thy grace these Thy children who are now being prepared for their first communion. We beseech Thee, grant them a true knowledge of the grace which in the washing of regeneration Thou hast abundantly poured out upon them. Awaken and touch their hearts that in penitence and faith they may receive Thy salvation. And when they shall make their confession before Thee and before Thy Church, grant them the grace of Thy Holy Spirit worthily to commune at the Lord's table, and henceforth steadfastly to persevere unto the end in the confession and practice of their Christian faith; through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer in Time of War

O Lord, almighty God, eternal Father! Unto Thee do we cry; hear our prayer and manifest Thy grace unto us. We confess that in manifold ways we have sinfully misused the blessings of peace which Thou hast granted our land; forgive us, O Lord. Deliver us out of the distress with which war now threatens us. Protect, sustain, and help all who go forth to meet danger and death in defense of their country. Without Thy help, O Lord, wisdom and power avail nothing. Thou alone canst exalt the humble and lay the proud in the dust. In Thy Name we put our trust, and in Thy Name we raise our standard. Be our support, O Lord of hosts, and grant us deliverance out of the hand of our enemies, that we may in the tranquillity of peace render Thee praise for the fruits of peace. Hear us, merciful God and Father, for the sake of Thy Son, our Saviour. Amen.