V.  Devotional Prayers

 

OPENING PRAYERS

The presence of God

1452.  Let us remember the presence of God with us now, and lift up our hearts to:

      God the Father, to whom we pray;

      God the Son, through whom we pray;

      God the Holy Spirit, in whom we pray.

 

1453.  Lift up our souls, O Lord, to the pure, serene light of thy presence; that there we may breathe freely, there repose in thy love, there may be at rest from ourselves, and from thence return, arrayed in thy peace, to do and bear what shall please thee; for thy holy name’s sake.

E. B. Pusey

 

1454.  O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

American Prayer Book

 

The spirit of prayer

1455.  O Almighty God, from whom every good prayer cometh, and who pourest out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind; that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affection we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Bright

 

1456.  O God, who art Spirit, and wiliest to be worshipped in spirit and in truth: Grant to us that, loving thee in all things and above all things, we may please thee by our prayers and by our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Bright

 

1457.  O Lord God, who never failest both to hear and to answer the prayer that is sincere: Let not our hearts be upon the world when our hands are lifted up to pray, nor our prayers end upon our lips, but go forth with power to work thy will in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Daily Prayer

 

1458.  O Holy Father, to whom we draw near with boldness through our Lord Jesus Christ: Look, we beseech thee, on his merits and not on our unworthiness; and grant that our prayers, being asked in his name, may be accepted for his sake; to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all praise and glory, now and for evermore.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1459.  O God, the glory of thy saints, who being above all, and through all, and in all, dost yet accept the prayer of the contrite: Grant that we, being hallowed in mind, fervent in spirit, and chaste in body, may offer to thee the pure sacrifice of hearts uplifted in thy praise, and lives devoted to thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

From the Gothic

 

Before worship

1460.  Eternal God, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; Unite us, as we worship thee here, with all who in far-off places are lifting up their hands and hearts to thee; that thy Church throughout the world, with the Church in heaven, may offer up one sacrifice of thanksgiving; to the praise and honour of thy holy name.

Daily Prayer

 

1461.  O thou high and lofty one that inhabitest eternity, whose name is holy, who hast promised to dwell with those that are of a contrite and humble spirit: Cleanse our hearts, we pray thee, from every stain of pride and vainglory; that though the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, yet thou wouldest consent to abide with us for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1462.  Eternal God, whose majesty is revealed in mercy: Grant that as we draw near to thee thy truth may set us free from the bondage of our own thoughts and desires, and that as we abide in thee our prayers may be an instrument of thy righteous will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Leslie S. Hunter

 

1463.  Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in whom alone our hearts find rest and peace: We beseech thee to reveal thyself to us in this hour of worship; pour down upon us thy spiritual gifts; and grant that this season of holy quiet may be profitable to us in holy things, and refresh and strengthen us to finish that which thou hast given us to do; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Church of South India

 

1464.  O Loving Lord, be near us in this time of worship.  Open our ears to hear thy voice; open our eyes to behold thy glory; open our hearts to receive thy grace; open our lips to show forth thy praise; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1465.  O God our heavenly Father, who hast taught us by thy Son Jesus Christ that the true worshippers are those who worship thee in spirit and truth: Grant that we may not draw near to thee with our lips while our hearts are far from thee, but that all that is within us may magnify thy holy name; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Based on John 4:23; Isaiah 29:13; Psalm 103.

 

1466.  O Eternal Light, illuminate us; O eternal Power, strengthen us; O eternal Wisdom, instruct us; O eternal Mercy, have pity upon us; and grant us with all our hearts and minds to seek thy face, and to love thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Bright

 

1467.  O Holy Father, give us grace to praise thee not only with our lips but also with our hearts and minds; and grant that when our worship is ended we may continue to glorify thee in our lives, to the honour of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1468.  Grant, O Lord, that we may come before thee with clean hands and pure hearts; that, serving thee with reverence and godly fear, we may now and always be acceptable in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

See also prayers for a Prayer Meeting, 1724–9

 

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

After prayer

1469.  O God, who hast given us the desire to pray: Grant us whatever is needful for us, and help us to live as mindful of what we have prayed for; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Bright

 

1470.  Let these our prayers, O Lord, find access to the throne of grace, through the Son of thy love, Jesus Christ the righteous; to whom with thee, O Father, in the unity of the Spirit, be all love and obedience, now and for ever.

John Wesley’s Prayers

 

1471.  O God our Father, have regard to our intercessions, answer them according to thy will, and make us the channels of thine infinite pity and helpfulness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1472.  Mercifully incline thine ear, O Lord, to these our prayers, and fill our hearts with thy grace; that, loving thee with an unfeigned love, we may evermore be defended under thy most gracious protection, and be accepted in our prayers and services; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1473.  O God, mercifully receive these our prayers which we have offered to thee through our Lord Jesus Christ; and with our prayers accept also our lives, which we present to thee anew for thy service and for the glory of thy holy name.

 

1474.  Eternal God, whose ear is open to the prayers of thy children: Be pleased to accept these our petitions, and answer them, not according to the littleness of our faith, nor yet according to the greatness of our need, but according to the riches of thy grace, and for the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1475.  O Almighty God, receive these our supplications and prayers which we now offer unto thee.  Let thy fatherly hand ever be over us; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with us; and so lead us in the knowledge of thy Word, that in the end we may obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted from Book of Common Prayer

 

1476.  Almighty Lord and everlasting God, dismiss us now with thy blessing; and help us to glorify thee henceforth in all the thoughts of our hearts, in all the words of our lips, and in all the works of our hands, as becomes those whom thou hast redeemed in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted

 

1477.  And now, O loving Father, we go forth to do the work that thou hast taught us, to use the strength that thou hast given us.  Be thou with us henceforth in all thy love and power, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

General

1478.  Remember, O Lord, what thou hast wrought in us, and not what we deserve; and, as thou hast called us to thy service, make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Leonine Sacramentary

 

1479.  Grant to thy servants, O God, to be set on fire with thy love, to be strengthened by thy power, to be illuminated by thy Spirit, to be filled with thy grace, and to go forward by thine aid; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gallican Sacramentary

 

1480.  The Lord enrich us with his grace, and further us with his heavenly blessing; the Lord defend us in adversity and keep us from all evil; the Lord receive our prayers, and graciously absolve us from our offences; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Gregorian Sacramentary

 

1481.  Grant, O Lord, that we may cleave to thee without parting, worship thee without wearying, serve thee without failing; faithfully seek thee, happily find thee, and for ever possess thee, the one only God, blessed, world without end.

St. Anselm

 

1482.  Grant, O Lord, that we may live in thy fear, die in thy favour, rest in thy peace, rise in thy power, reign in thy glory; for thine own beloved Son’s sake, Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Laud

 

1483.  Let thy mighty outstretched arm, O Lord God, be our defence; thy mercy and lovingkindness in Jesus Christ, thy dear Son, our salvation; thy all true word our instruction; the grace of thy life-giving Spirit our comfort and consolation, unto the end and in the end; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Knox’s Book of Common Order, 1564

 

1484.  O God, mercifully grant that the fire of thy love may burn up in us all things that displease thee, and make us meet for thy heavenly kingdom; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

 

1485.  O Lord, forgive, we pray thee, what we have been; sanctify what we are; and order what we shall be.  What we know not, teach us; what we have not, give us; what we are not, make us; for Jesus Christ’s sake.

 

1486.  Defend, O Lord, us and all thy children with thy heavenly grace, that we may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until we come unto thy everlasting kingdom; through Christ our Lord.

Adapted from Book of Common Prayer

 

1487.  Thou hast shown us, O Lord, what is good: Enable us, we beseech thee, to perform what thou requirest, even to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted from Micah 6:8

 

1488.  Enlarge our hearts, O God, that we may love thee more and more; kindle our souls that we may praise thee aright; and so order our thoughts, words, and deeds that we may serve thee and glorify thee for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1489.  Teach us, O God, to walk trustfully today in thy presence, that thy voice may encourage us, thine arm defend us, and thy love surround us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New Every Morning

See also General Prayers (1533–42) and Benedictions and Doxologies (1683–99)

 

IN THE MORNING

1490.  Into thy hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves this day.  Let thy presence be with us to its close.  Strengthen us to remember that in whatsoever good work we do we are serving thee.  Give us a diligent and watchful spirit, that we may seek in all things to know thy will, and knowing it, gladly to perform it, to the honour and glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gelasian Sacramentary*

 

1491.  We give thee hearty thanks, O heavenly Father, for the rest of the past night, and for the gift of a new day, with its opportunities of pleasing thee.  Grant that we may so pass its hours in the perfect freedom of thy service, that at eventide we may again give thanks unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Daybreak Office of the Eastern Church

 

1492.  O Lord our God, who hast bidden the light to shine out of darkness, and hast again awakened us to praise thee for thy goodness and to ask for thy grace: Accept now in thy endless mercy the sacrifice of our worship and thanksgiving, and grant unto us all such requests as may be acceptable to thy holy will.  Make us to be children of the light and of the day, and heirs of thy everlasting kingdom; that redeemed in soul and body, and steadfast in faith, we may ever praise thy holy and wonderful name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

From a prayer of the Eastern Church

 

1493.  Grant us, O Lord, to pass this day in gladness and peace, without stumbling and without stain; that reaching the eventide victorious over all temptation, we may praise thee, the eternal God, who art blessed, and dost govern all things, world without end.

Mozarabic Liturgy

 

1494.  O Lord, who hast brought us through the darkness of night to the light of the morning, and who by thy Holy Spirit dost illumine the darkness of ignorance and sin: We beseech thee, of thy loving-kindness, to pour thy holy light into our souls; that we may ever be devoted to thee, by whose wisdom we were created, by whose mercy we were redeemed, and by whose providence we are governed; to the honour and glory of thy great name.

Book of Hours, 1864

 

1495.  O God, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the darkness and turnest the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may when the night cometh rejoice to give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

American Prayer Book

 

1496.  O God of love, who art the true sun of the world, evermore risen and never going down: We beseech thee mercifully to shine into our hearts, that the night of sin and the mists of error being driven away, we may this day and all our life long walk without stumbling in the road which thou hast prepared for us; through thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Erasmus*

 

1497.  O thou who sendest forth the light, createst the morning, and makest the sun to rise on the good and the evil: Enlighten the blindness of our minds with the knowledge of the truth; lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, that in thy light we may see light, and, at the last, in the light of grace the light of glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lancelot Andrewes

 

1498.  Into thy hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all who are dear to us this day.  Be with us in our going out and in our coming in.  Strengthen us for the work which thou hast given us to do.  And grant that, filled with thy Holy Spirit, we may walk worthy of our high calling, and cheerfully accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

F. T. Woods

 

1499.  Into thy hands, O Lord, we commit ourselves this day.  Give to each one of us a watchful, humble, and diligent spirit, that we may seek in all things to know thy will; and when we know it may gladly perform it, to the honour and glory of thy name.

 

1500.  O Heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our daily life we may never forget thee, but remember that we are ever walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1501.  O God, who knowest that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but that all our sufficiency is of thee: Assist us with thy grace in all the work which we are to undertake this day.  Direct us in it by thy wisdom, support us by thy power; that doing our duty diligently, we may bring it to a good end, so that it may tend to the greater glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1502.  God Almighty bless us with his Holy Spirit this day; guard us in our going out and coming in; keep us ever steadfast in his faith, free from sin and safe from danger; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

AT EVENING

1503.  Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world may repose upon thy eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Leonine Sacramentary

 

1504.  Look down, O Lord, from thy heavenly throne, illuminate the darkness of this night with thy celestial brightness, and from the sons of light banish the deeds of darkness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Order of Compline

 

1505.  Thine, O Lord, is the day, thine also is the night; cover our sins with thy mercy as thou dost cover the earth with darkness; and grant that the Sun of Righteousness may ever shine in our hearts, to chase away the darkness of all evil thoughts; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1506.  Into thy hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves, our souls and bodies, beseeching thee to keep us this night under thy protection, and to strengthen us for thy service on the morrow; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Laud*

 

1507.  O God, with whom there is no darkness, but the night shineth as the day: Keep and defend us and all thy children, we beseech thee, throughout the coming night.  Renew our hearts with thy forgiveness, and our bodies with untroubled sleep, that we may wake to use more faithfully thy gift of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted

 

1508.  Merciful Lord, who of thine abundant goodness hast made the day to travail in, and ordained the night wherein to take our rest: Grant us such rest of body that we may continually have a waking soul, and may rise up again with cheerful strength and gladness, to serve thee in all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John Cosin*

 

1509.  Into thy hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all whom we love, beseeching thee to keep us under the shadow of thy wings.  Drive from us every evil thing; give thine angels ,charge over us; guard us ever, in life or death, that whether we wake or sleep, we may live together with thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Book of Common Order

 

1510.  O Lord, who hast pity for all our weakness, put away from us worry and every anxious fear; that having ended the labours of the day as in thy sight, and committing our tasks, ourselves, and all we love into thy keeping, we may, now that night cometh, receive as from thee thy priceless gift of sleep; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Canadian Prayer Book

 

1511.  Holy Father, we beseech thee, keep us and ours this night through the hours of darkness, and bring us in safety to the morning light, that thou mayest receive our praise at all times; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1512.  Watch thou, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give thine angels charge over those who sleep.  Tend thy sick ones, O Lord Christ.  Rest thy weary ones.  Bless thy dying ones.  Soothe thy suffering ones.  Pity thine afflicted ones.  And all for thy love’s sake.

St. Augustine

 

1513.  O Lord Jesus Christ, to whom the sick were brought that they might be healed, and who didst send none of them away without thy blessing: Look in thy pity on all who come to thee this night for healing of body or mind or spirit, and grant them thy comfort and help; for thy tender mercies’ sake.

 

1514.  O God, the strength of them that labour and the rest of the weary: Grant us when we are tired with our work to be recreated by thy Spirit; that being renewed for the service of thy kingdom, we may serve thee gladly in freshness of body and mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

 

1515.  Abide with us, 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 end of the day, in the end of our life, in the end of the world.  Abide with us in thy grace and bounty, with thy holy Word and sacrament, with thy comfort and blessing.  Abide with us when cometh the night of affliction and fear, the night of doubt and temptation, the night of bitter death.  Abide with us and with all thy faithful ones, O Lord, in time and in eternity.

Lutheran Church

 

1516.  O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work is done.  Then, Lord, in thy mercy, grant us safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

After J. H. Newman

 

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

Adoration

1517.  Worthy of praise from every mouth, of confession from every tongue, of worship from every creature, is thy glorious name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who didst create the world by the word of thy power, and in love didst wonderfully redeem it.  Wherefore with angels, and archangels, and all the company of heaven, we adore and magnify thy holy name, evermore praising thee, and saying:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts,

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory:

Glory to be thee, O Lord, most High.

 

1518.  Blessing and honour, and thanksgiving and praise,

            more than we can utter,

            more than we can conceive,

be unto thee, O holy and glorious Trinity,

            Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

by all angels, all men, all creatures,

            for ever and ever.

Lancelot Andrews

 

1519.  O Thou in whom all things live, who commandest us to seek thee, and art ever ready to be found: To know thee is life, to serve thee is freedom, to praise thee is our souls’ joy.  We bless thee and adore thee, we worship thee and magnify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Augustine

 

1520.  O God, whose love we cannot measure, nor even number thy blessings: We bless and praise thee for all thy goodness, who in our weakness art our strength, in our darkness, light, in our sorrows, comfort and peace, and from everlasting to everlasting art our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, world without end.

Daily Prayer

 

1521.  O Lord God, most high, most holy, to whom angels and archangels and all the host of heaven ascribe unceasing praise: Accept the homage and adoration of us thy humble servants who are not worthy to draw near to thee but for the infinite merits of thy Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Thanksgiving: general

1522.  Glory be to God in the highest, the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth, the preserver of all things, the Father of mercies, who so loved mankind as to send his only begotten Son into the world, to redeem us from sin and misery, and to obtain for us everlasting life.  Accept, O gracious God, our praise and thanksgiving for thine infinite mercies towards us; and teach us to love thee more and to serve thee better; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gavin Hamilton

 

1523.  We give thee humble and hearty thanks, O most merciful Father, for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men, for the blessings of this life and for the promise of everlasting happiness.  And as we are bound, we especially thank thee for the mercies which we have received: for health and strength and the manifold enjoyments of our daily life; for the opportunities of learning, for the knowledge of thy will, for the means of serving thee in thy Church, and for the love thou hast revealed to us in thy Son, our Saviour; to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be praise and glory for ever and ever.

B. F. Westcott*

 

1524.  O God of love, we yield thee hearty thanks for whatsoever thou hast given us richly to enjoy; for health of mind and body, for the love and care of home, for the joys of friendship, and for every good gift of happiness and strength.  We praise thee for thy servants who by their example and encouragement have helped us on our way, and for every vision of thyself which thou hast given us in sacrament or prayer; and we humbly beseech thee that all these thy benefits we may use in thy service, and to the glory of thy holy name; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.

 

1525.  We thank thee, Lord, for all thy goodness to us:

            for the world which thou hast made, and for strength to serve thee in it;

            for daily revelations of thyself, in nature, in art, and in the lives of men;

            for the Bible, through which thy Word is spoken to men;

            for all other writings which reveal thy truth;

            for the tasks to which thou art calling us.

      But above all we thank thee for thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, through whom we see thee, who art our Father.

      May his Spirit dwell within us, making us to serve thee with gladness all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Splendour of God

 

1526.  O Lord, our heavenly Father, we thank thee for all thy gifts so freely bestowed upon us.  For life and health, for home and friends, for power to work and leisure to rest; for all that enriches thought, or ennobles character; for all that is beautiful in creation, or in the lives of men; we praise and magnify thy holy name.  But above all, we thank thee for our spiritual mercies in Christ Jesus our Lord; for the gift of the Holy Spirit, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.  Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing, and help us to show forth thy praise not only with our lips but in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

For the Church

1527.  O God, most gracious, most bountiful, accept, we humbly beseech thee, our thanksgiving for thy holy Catholic Church; for the light of faith which it hath handed on to us, and for the mercies by which it has enlarged and comforted the souls of men; for the virtues which it has established upon earth, and for the holy lives in which it has revealed thee to mankind.  To thee, O blessed Trinity, be ascribed all honour, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore.

Adapted

 

1528.  Almighty God, whose mercy is over all thy works: We praise thee for the blessings which have been brought to mankind by thy holy Church throughout all the world.  We bless thee for the grace of the sacraments; for our fellowship in Christ with thee and with one another; for the teaching of the Scriptures and for the preaching of thy Word.  We thank thee for the holy example of thy saints in all ages; for thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear, and for the memory and example of all that has been true and good in their lives.  And we humbly beseech thee that we may be numbered with them in the great company of the redeemed in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Irish Prayer Book

 

For all saints

1529.  Here, O Lord, do we give thee most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all thy saints from the beginning of the world; and particularly in the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, mother of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God; and in the holy patriarchs, apostles, martyrs, and confessors; whose examples, O Lord, and steadfastness in thy faith, and keeping of thy holy commandments, grant us to follow, for the honour and glory of thy name.

Nonjurors’ Prayer Book

 

For the faithful departed

1530.  O God of the spirits of all flesh, we praise and magnify thy holy name for thy saints and martyrs of every age, for the whole multitude of the redeemed, and for all thy servants dear to us, who, having finished their course, have entered into the joy of thy heavenly presence . . .; and we beseech thee that we, being encouraged by their example and strengthened by their fellowship, may in the end have part with them in the inheritance of the saints in light; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Book of Common Order

 

For the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

1531.  O Lord, most glorious Lamb of God, most tender priest of man, we praise and glorify thee for the blessed sacrament of thy Body and Blood, wherein thy servants celebrate the mystery of thy redeeming love and partake of thy spotless and immortal life; and we beseech thee that by these holy gifts we may be made holy, and have our portion and inheritance among the blessed who have pleased thee from the beginning of the world; to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory and dominion world without end.

After the Third Collect

 

For our spiritual mercies

1532.  O God, who hast given us life and all good things in this world: Thou hast created us for thy service, and when we have forsaken thee in our wanderings thou hast sought us out; thou hast vouchsafed to us the precious treasure of thy gospel; thou hast ordained that we should be born in the bosom of thy Church; thou hast revealed to us thy exceeding great riches in Jesus Christ our Lord.  For all these gifts of thy grace, and for thy benefits which we remember not, we thine unworthy servants do give thee thanks, and bless thy holy name for ever and ever.

Eugene Bersier

 

GENERAL PRAYERS

1533.  O Thou, from whom to be turned is to fall, to whom to be turned is to rise, and in whom to stand is to abide for ever: Grant us in all our duties thy help, in all our perplexities thy guidance, in all our dangers thy protection, and in all our sorrows thy peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Augustine

 

1534.  May the strength of God pilot us.

            May the power of God preserve us.

            May the wisdom of God instruct us.

            May the hand of God protect us.

            May the way of God direct us.

            May the shield of God defend us.

            May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil

                        and the temptations of the world.

            May Christ be with us, Christ before us, Christ in us, Christ over us.

            May thy salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and for evermore.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate

 

1535.  O gracious and holy Father, give us wisdom to perceive thee, diligence to seek thee, patience to wait for thee, eyes to behold thee, a heart to meditate upon thee, and a life to proclaim thee; through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Benedict

 

1536.  Eternal Light, shine into our hearts;

      Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil;

      Eternal Power, be our support;

      Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance;

      Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us;

that with all our heart and mind and soul and strength we may seek thy face and be brought by thine infinite mercy to thy holy presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alcuin

 

1537.  Merciful God, to thee we commend ourselves and all those who need thy help and correction.

            Where there is hatred, give love;

            Where there is injury, pardon;

            Where there is doubt, faith;

            Where there is despair, hope;

            Where there is sadness, joy;

            Where there is darkness, light.

      Grant that we may not seek so much to be consoled, as to console;

            to be understood, as to understand;

            to be loved, as to love;

      For in giving we receive, in pardoning we are pardoned, and dying we are born into eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi

 

1538.  Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.  Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know thee, diligence to seek thee, wisdom to find thee, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Thomas Aquinas

 

1539.  Lord God Almighty, shaper and ruler of all thy creatures: We pray thee of thy great mercy to guide us to thy will, to make our minds steadfast, to strengthen us against temptation, to put far from us all unrighteousness.  Shield us against our foes, seen and unseen; teach us that we may inwardly love thee before all things with a clean mind and a clean body. For thou art our Maker and Redeemer, our help and our comfort, our trust and our hope, now and for evermore.

King Alfred

 

1540.  O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire thee with our whole heart; that so desiring thee we may seek and find thee; and so finding thee may love thee, and loving thee may hate those sins from which thou hast redeemed us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Anselm

 

1541.  O God, who hast created man after thine own image and made him capable of discerning and striving after truth and goodness, honour and loyalty, unselfishness and purity: Grant that by the power of thy indwelling Spirit we may learn to prize these above all else, knowing that in them we truly live; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Devotional Diary

 

1542.  Almighty and most merciful Father, whose dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ died that we might live: Grant to us thy children grace to follow in his most holy steps.  Fill us with the spirit of reverence and godly fear; make us swift to obey thy holy will; and so turn our weakness into strength by the presence of thy Holy Spirit, that we may fight faithfully against selfishness, impurity, and pride, and ever be true to thy calling in Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

PENITENCE AND PARDON

1543.  We confess to thee, O heavenly Father, as thy children, our hardness, indifference, and impenitence; our grievous failures in pure and holy living; our trust in self, and misuse of thy gifts; our timorousness as thy witnesses before the world; and the sin and bitterness that every man knoweth in his own heart.  Give us, O Father, contrition and meekness of soul; grace to amend our sinful life; and the holy comfort of thy Spirit to overcome and heal all our evils; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

E. W. Benson*

 

1544.  O God, our Judge and Saviour, set before us the vision of thy purity, and let us see our sins in the light of thy holiness.  Pierce our self-contentment with the shafts of thy burning love, and let that love consume in us all that hinders us from perfect service of thy cause; for as thy holiness is our judgment, so are thy wounds our salvation.

William Temple

 

1545.  O Lord God, our Father most loving, we would not, even if we could, conceal anything from thee, but rejoice rather that thou knowest us as we are and seest every desire and every motive of our hearts.  Help us, O Lord, to strip off every mask and veil when we come into thy presence, and to spread before thee every thought and every secret of our being, that they may be forgiven, purified, amended and blessed by thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. J. Vaughan

 

1546.  Almighty and merciful God, the fountain of all goodness, who knowest the thoughts of our hearts: We confess that we have sinned against thee, and done evil in thy sight.  Wash us, we beseech thee, from the stains of our past sins, and give us grace and power to put away all hurtful things; that, being delivered from the bondage of sin, we may bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and at last enter into thy promised joy; through the mercy of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alcuin

 

1547.  Almighty and most merciful God, we acknowledge and confess that we have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed; that we have not loved thee with all our heart and soul, with all our mind and strength; and that we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.  We beseech thee, O God, to be forgiving to what we have been, to help us to amend what we are, and of thy mercy to direct what we shall be; so that we may henceforth walk in the way of thy commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John Hunter

 

1548.  Forgive us our sins, O Lord; the sins of our present and the sins of our past, the sins of our souls and the sins of our bodies, the sins which we have done to please ourselves and the sins which we have done to please others.  Forgive us our casual sins and our deliberate sins, and those which we have laboured so to hide that we have hidden them even from ourselves.  Forgive us, O Lord, forgive us all our sins, for the sake of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Thomas Wilson*

 

1549.  Blessed Lord, grant us thy Holy Spirit to work in us daily a true and lasting repentance, and keep us ever, as contrite Christian people, willing to acknowledge and lament our sins; yet also keep us ever, O Lord, steadfast and strong in our faith in the forgiveness of our sins, and in our purpose to amend our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christian von Bunsen

 

1550.  We are not worthy, O Lord, to enter into thy presence, for thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.  But thou, Lord, art merciful and full of compassion; forgive us therefore all the sins and offences whereby we have grieved or dishonoured thee, and receive us again into thy favour, that we may worthily magnify thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1551.  Almighty God, long-suffering and of great goodness, we confess to thee with our whole heart our neglect and forgetfulness of thy commandments, our wrong doing, speaking and thinking, the harm we have done to others, and the good we have left undone.  O God, forgive thy people who have sinned against thee, and raise us to newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1552.  Lord, for thy tender mercies’ sake, lay not our sins to our charge, but forgive us all that is past; and give us grace to amend our lives, to decline from sin and incline to virtue, that we may walk with a perfect heart before thee, now and evermore.

 

LOVE

1553.  O God of love, who hast given us a new commandment through thine only begotten Son, that we should love one another even as thou didst love us, the unworthy and the wandering, and gayest him for our life and salvation: We pray thee to give to us thy servants, in all time of our life on earth, a mind forgetful of past ill-will, a pure conscience, and a heart to love our brethren; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Coptic Liturgy of St. Cyril

 

1554.  Almighty and most merciful God, who hast given us a new commandment that we should love one another: Give us also grace that we may fulfill it.  Make us gentle, courteous, and forbearing.  Direct our lives so that we may look to the good of others in word and deed.  And hallow all our friendships by the blessing of thy Spirit; for his sake who loved us and gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.

B. F. Westcott

 

1555.  O God, who hast taught us to keep all thy commandments by loving thee and our neighbour: Grant us the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that we may both be devoted to thee with our whole heart, and united to each other with a pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Leonine Sacramentary

 

1556.  O God of patience and consolation, grant we beseech thee that with free hearts we may love and serve thee and our brethren; and, having thus the mind of Christ, may begin heaven on earth, and exercise ourselves therein till that day when heaven, where love abideth, shall seem no strange habitation to us; for Jesus Christ’s sake.

Christina Rossetti

 

1557.  Almighty God, whose Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, was moved with compassion for all who had gone astray, with indignation for all who had suffered wrong: Inflame our hearts with the burning fire of thy love, that we may seek out the lost, have mercy on the fallen, and stand fast for truth and righteousness; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Daily Prayer*

 

1558.  O God, fountain of love, pour thy love into our souls, that we may love those whom thou lovest with the love thou givest us, and think and speak of them tenderly, meekly, lovingly; and so loving our brethren and sisters for thy sake, may grow in thy love, and dwelling in love may dwell in thee; for Jesus Christ’s sake.

E. B. Pusey

 

1559.  O God, our heavenly Father, who so loved the world that thou didst give thine only Son to die upon the cross: Pour thy love into our hearts, we humbly beseech thee; that we loving thee above all things, may give up ourselves, our time, our money, our talents, to thy service; for the sake of him who loved us and gave himself for us, Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.

J. R. W. Stott

 

1560.  O Jesus, Master and Lord, pour into our hearts thine own heroic love; that being filled with love we may know the love which passeth knowledge, and live in the unknown power of love to win men to trust in love, to the glory of God who is love.

William Temple

 

1561.  O God, who hast taught us that love is the fulfilling of the law: Help us by thy Holy Spirit so to love thee that we may evermore seek to do thy holy will; and so to love our neighbour that we may in all things do to others as we would that they should do unto us; for the sake of him who loved us and gave himself for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

W. Walsham How

 

FAITH

1562.  Almighty God, who in thy wisdom hast so ordered our earthly life that we should walk by faith and not by sight: Grant us such faith in thee, that, amid all the things that pass our understanding, we may believe in thy fatherly care, and be ever led and strengthened by the assurance that underneath are the everlasting arms, and that thy mercy endureth for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1563.  O God, who, calling Abraham to go forth to a country which thou wouldest show him, didst promise that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed: Fulfill thy promise in us, we pray thee, giving us such faith in thee as thou shalt count unto us for righteousness; that in us and through us thy purpose may be fulfilled; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Church of South India

 

1564.  Almighty and eternal God, who art able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think: Give us grace to believe that the things which are impossible with men are possible with thee; save us from all doubt of thy goodness and questioning of thy love; and help us to trust in thy wisdom and mercy, that we may be calm and unafraid; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

James M. Todd

 

1565.  Lord, increase our faith.  Grant us to know in daily life something more of the faith that pleases thee; the faith that removes mountains; the faith that overcomes the world; the faith that works through love; the faith that makes all things possible.  So may we prove more fully thine own faithfulness and receive the blessedness which thou hast promised to those who trust in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1566.  O God our Father, who in the gospel of thy Son hast manifested thy love to us and given us exceeding great and precious promises: Lift us, we pray thee, above all our doubts and fears, and grant us the full assurance of faith; that trusting to thy grace alone, and holding fast by thy word, we may evermore rejoice in thy salvation; through the merits of him who died for us, and rose again victorious, the same Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1567.  Almighty God, whose we are and whom we serve: Keep us ever in thy faith and fear, and in obedience to thy commandments; confident that, being thine, none can pluck us out of thine hand; and, fearing thee, none can make us afraid; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Daily Prayer

 

1568.  Lord, increase our faith; that relying on thee as thy children, we may trust where we cannot see, and hope where all seems doubtful, ever looking unto thee as our Father who ordereth all things well; according to the word of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

George Dawson*

 

1569.  Enable us, O heavenly Father, to walk with thee this day and every day in sure and simple trust; ever remembering that our little things are all big to thy love, and our big things are all small to thy power; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1570.  O Lord God, who dost call thy servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown: Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing whither we go, but only that thy hand is leading us, and thy love supporting us; to the glory of thy name.

 

GROWTH IN GRACE

1571.  We beseech thee, O Lord, to perfect within us the work of grace which thou hast begun; grant us always to think, speak and do what is pleasing to thee; and keep us from falling back into the sins we have repented of; that we may live as in thy presence, and finish our lives in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Bright

 

1572.  O Christ, to whom all authority is given both in heaven and earth: Transform our wills, cleanse our hearts, and enlighten our minds; that all our thoughts and desires being made obedient to thy pure and holy law, we may grow up in all things unto thee, and present ourselves a living sacrifice, to the praise and glory of thy name; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

 

1573.  God our Father, who hast created us in thine own image, with a mind to understand thy works, a heart to love thee, and a will to serve thee: Increase in us that knowledge, that love and that obedience, that we may grow daily in thy likeness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Daily Service

 

1574.  We beseech thee, O Lord, to give us more love to thee, more joy in our worship, more peace at all times, more longsuffering, more kindness of heart and manner.  Grant us the grace of meekness and the power of self-control.  May we know something of what it is to be filled with the Holy Ghost; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1575.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst deign to be made like unto men, the sharer of our sorrows, the companion of our journeys, the light of our ignorance, the remedy of our infirmity: So fill us with thy Spirit and endue us with thy grace that, as thou hast been made like unto us, we may grow more like unto thee; for thy tender mercies’ sake.

Daily Prayer

 

1576.  Almighty God, who by the washing of water and the Word hast made us members of the mystical body of thy dear Son: Grant us grace, we beseech thee, to continue steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers; that united in love one to another we may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

INWARD PEACE

1577.  O God, who art peace everlasting, whose chosen reward is the gift of peace, and who hast taught us that the peacemakers are thy children: Pour thy peace into our hearts, that everything discordant may utterly vanish, and all that makes for peace be loved and sought by us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mozarabic Sacramentary

 

1578.  Most loving Father, who willest us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of thee, and to cast all our care on thee who carest for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide us from the light of thy love which is immortal, and which thou hast manifested to us in thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Bright

 

1579.  O Lord God, in whom we live and move and have our being, open our eyes that we may behold thy fatherly presence ever about us.  Draw our hearts to thee by the power of thy love.  Teach us to be anxious for nothing, and when we have done what thou hast given us to do, help us, O God our Saviour, to leave the issue to thy wisdom.  Take from us all doubt and mistrust.  Lift our thoughts up to thee in heaven; and make us to know that all things are possible to us through thy Son, our Redeemer Jesus Christ.

B. F. Westcott

 

1580.  Set free, O God, our souls from all restlessness and anxiety; give us that peace and power which flow from thee; keep us in all perplexities and distresses, in all fears and faithlessness; that so, upheld by thy power, and stayed on the rock of thy faithfulness, we may through storm and stress abide in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1581.  Lord, who alone art God, the gracious and merciful; who commandest them that love thy name to cast away all fear and care, and to lay their burden upon thee: Receive us under thy protection, and give us now and evermore that everlasting rest which thou hast promised to them that obey thy Word; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

From Primer of 1555

 

1582.  O Lord, whose way is perfect: Help us, we pray thee, always to trust in thy goodness; that walking with thee in faith, and following thee in all simplicity, we may possess quiet and contented minds, and cast all our care on thee, because thou carest for us; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christina Rossetti

 

1583.  Heavenly Father, who hast taught us to be anxious for nothing, but to cast all our care upon thee: Increase our faith, we beseech thee, and strengthen our resolve; that with a calm and courageous spirit we may meet all life’s duties and demands, and know in daily experience thy peace which passes all understanding; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1584.  O God, whose grace is sufficient for all our need: Lift us, we pray thee, above our doubts and anxieties into the calm of thy presence; that guarded by thy peace we may serve thee without fear all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

GUIDANCE

1585.  O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do; that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Bright

 

1586.  We beseech thee, O Lord, to enlighten our minds and to strengthen our wills, that we may know what we ought to do, and be enabled to do it, through the grace of thy most Holy Spirit, and for the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Bright

 

1587.  O Eternal God, the fountain of all wisdom and the giver of all grace, who didst send thy Spirit to dwell with our fathers and to lead them into the way of truth: Grant to us that in all our difficulties and dangers we also may be enabled, by the light and power of the same Spirit, to know thy mind and to do thy will, for the glory of thy name and the benefit of thy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Arthur W. Robinson

 

1588.  Guide us, O Lord, in all the changes and varieties of the world, and grant us evenness and tranquility of spirit; that we may not murmur in adversity, nor in prosperity wax proud, but in serene faith resign our souls to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

After Jeremy Taylor

 

1589.  Almighty God, in whom is no darkness at all: Grant us thy light perpetually, and when we cannot see the way before us, may we continue to put our trust in thee; that so, being guided and guarded by thy love, we may be kept from falling, this day and all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Knight

 

1590.  Almighty Father, in whom is no darkness at all: Shine upon our path, we pray thee, that we may walk in thy light.  Lift from our hearts all anxiety and fear, and teach us to trust thee both for that which we see and for that which is hidden from us.  So evermore lead us in thy way and keep us in thy peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted

 

1591.  Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us, that in thy light we may see light: the light of thy grace today, and the light of thy glory hereafter; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lancelot Andrewes

 

KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

The knowledge of God

1592.  Eternal God, who art the light of the minds that know thee, the joy of the hearts that love thee, and the strength of the wills that serve thee: Grant us so to know thee that we may truly love thee, and so to love thee that we may fully serve thee, whom to serve is perfect freedom, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

After St. Augustine

 

1593.  O Almighty God, eternal, righteous, and merciful, give us poor sinners to do for thy sake all that we know of thy will, and to will always what pleases thee; so that inwardly purified, enlightened, and kindled by the fire of thy Holy Spirit, we may follow in the steps of thy well-beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

St. Francis of Assisi

 

1594.  O Living God, in whom is the fountain of life: So teach us to know thee through Jesus Christ that we may share the power of that eternal life which is in him, and that all our lives may be brought into obedience to thy holy will; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eric Fenn

 

1595.  O God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give unto us, we pray thee, the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.  Enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of his power towards us who believe; according to the working of thy mighty power who raised him from the dead to set him at thine own right hand in heavenly places; to whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

Based on Ephesians 1:17–21

 

The truth

1596.  Almighty God, who hast sent the Spirit of truth unto us to guide us into all truth: We beseech thee so to rule our lives by thy power that we may be truthful in word and deed and thought.  Keep us, most merciful Father, with thy gracious protection, that no fear or hope may ever make us false in act or speech.  Cast out from us whatsoever loveth or maketh a lie, and bring us all into the perfect freedom of thy truth; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.

B. F. Westcott

 

1597.  We beseech thee, O God, the God of truth, that what we know not of the things we ought to know, thou wilt teach us; that what we know, thou wilt keep us therein; that in what we are mistaken, thou wilt correct us; that at whatsoever truths we stumble, thou wilt stablish us; and that from all that is false, and all knowledge that would be hurtful, thou wilt evermore defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

After St. Fulgentius

 

1598.  We thank thee, O God, that thou hast given us powers of mind to search into thy laws and to understand thy truth; and we pray that our reverence may increase with our knowledge, so that we may be led to worship thee in deepening humility, and may devote ourselves to the fulfillment of thy great purposes for mankind; for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1599.  O God, who hast taught us something of thy truth: Teach us more, we pray thee.  When our minds are confused, direct them; when they are obstinate, win them; when they are filled with thoughts of self, fill them with thoughts of thee; and at all times give us a humble and teachable spirit; for Jesus Christ’s sake.

The Splendour of God*

 

1600.  O God, in whose holy kingdom there is nothing that worketh evil or maketh a lie: Help us, we pray thee, to guard our words, to keep our promises, and to speak the truth in love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

DEDICATION

1601.  Look upon our lives, O Lord our God, and make them thine in Lithe power of thy Holy Spirit; that we may walk in thy way, faithfully believing thy Word, and faithfully doing thy commandments; faithfully serving thee, and faithfully serving our neighbour; to the furtherance of thy glorious kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

York Diocese

 

1602.  Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being, who hast made us for thyself, so that our hearts are restless till they rest in thee: Grant us purity of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing thy will, no weakness from doing it; but that in thy light we may see light clearly, and in thy service find our perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Augustine

 

1603.  O Almighty God, who by thy holy apostle hast called upon us to present our bodies to thee a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is our reasonable service: Graciously hear us, we beseech thee, O Lord, and grant that we may so dedicate ourselves wholly to thy service that henceforth we may live only to thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Catholic Apostolic Church*

 

1604.  Come, Lord, and reign over us as our rightful King.  Rule in our hearts and fill them with thy love; rule in our minds and bring every thought into captivity to thyself; rule in our lives and make them holy like thine own; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever.

 

1605.  O God our Father, who in thy great wisdom hast prepared for each one of us our task to do for thee: Grant that we may seek to know thy will, and may dedicate ourselves to serve thee wherever we are needed.  May we never from love of ease or from any fear turn from the path which thou dost appoint, but steafastly walk in thy way, through the grace of thy Holy Spirit; for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted

 

1606.  Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, but always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

William Temple

 

1607.  O Thou who sittest on the throne, making all things new: Renew our faith, and hope, and love.  Renew our wills, that we may serve thee more gladly and watchfully than ever; renew our delight in thy Word and thy worship; renew our joy in thee; renew our longing that all may know thee; renew our desires and labours to serve others; that so we may walk in the light of thy love and in the power of thy Spirit, now and for evermore.

 

1608.  O God, who didst make us for thy service: Help us to train ourselves to be good servants by ready obedience, punctual fulfillment of duty, and strict honour in our, dealings with one another; so that whenever the time shall come, thou shalt deem us worthy to do the work to which thou hast called us.  Grant this for Jesus Christ’s sake.

 

1609.  O Lord, take thou full possession of my heart, raise there thy throne, and command there as thou dost in heaven.  Being created by thee, let me live to thee.  Being created for thee, let me ever act for thy glory.  Being redeemed by thee, let me render to thee what is thine, and let my spirit ever cleave to thee alone; for thy name’s sake.

John Wesley’s Prayers

 

1610.  Set our hearts, O God, at liberty from ourselves, and let it be our meat and drink to do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1611.  Almighty God, who hast highly exalted thy Son Jesus Christ and given him the name which is above every name: Grant that we may ever acknowledge him to be the Lord, and offer to him both the homage of our hearts and the service of our lives; to the glory of thy holy name, who art our God and Father, now and for evermore.

Based on Philippians 2:9–11

 

1612.  O Lord God, we acknowledge thee as our Father, ourselves as thy children, our neighbours as our brethren; and we dedicate to thine obedience and to their service our hearts and minds, our wills and works; resolved to stand fast in thy faith, to tell of thy salvation, and to do battle for thy glorious kingdom; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1613.  Lord Jesus, my Saviour, let me now come to thee:

                        My heart is cold; O Lord, warm it with thy selfless love.

                        My heart is sinful; cleanse it by thy precious blood.

                        My heart is weak; strengthen it by thy joyous Spirit.

                        My heart is empty; fill it with thy divine presence.

      Lord Jesus, my heart is thine; possess it always and only for thyself.

M. A. P. Wood (after St. Augustine)

 

COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE

1614.  O Lord God, when thou givest to thy servants to endeavour  any great matter, grant us also to know that it is not the beginning, but the continuing of the same, until it be thoroughly finished, which yieldeth the true glory; through him who for the finishing of thy work laid down his life for us, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

After Sir Francis Drake

 

1615.  Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag downwards; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.  Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know thee, diligence to seek thee, wisdom to find thee, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

After St. Thomas Aquinas

 

1616.  O God, give us courage: courage to make experiments, and not to be afraid of making mistakes; courage to get up when we are down and to go on again; courage to work with all our might for the coming of thy kingdom on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1617.  Give unto us, O Lord our God, the spirit of courage.  Let no shadow oppress our spirit, lest our gloom should darken the light by which others have to live.  Remove from our inmost souls all fear and distrust, and fill us daily more completely with thy love and power; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Adapted

 

1618.  Teach us, O gracious Lord, to begin our works with fear, to go on with obedience, and to finish them in love, and then to wait patiently in hope, and with cheerful confidence to look up to thee, whose promises are faithful and rewards infinite; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

George Hickes

 

1619.  O God, who hast commanded us to be perfect, as thou our Father in heaven art perfect: Put into our hearts, we pray thee, a continual desire to obey thy holy will.  Teach us day by day what thou wouldest have us to do, and give us courage and strength to fulfill the same.  May we never, from love of ease, decline the path which thou pointest out, nor, for fear of shame, turn away from it.  We ask it for the honour of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Henry Alford

 

1620.  Almighty and everlasting God, who hast received us into the fold of thy Church, and hast given us thy Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Keep us, we beseech thee, under thy fatherly care and protection; enrich us abundantly with thy heavenly grace; and lead us to witness a good confession, and to persevere therein to the end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted

 

1621.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who when on earth wast ever about thy Father’s business: Grant that we may not grow weary in well-doing.  Give us grace to do all in thy name.  Be thou the beginning and the end of all: the pattern whom we follow, the redeemer in whom we trust, the master whom we serve, the friend to whom we look for sympathy.  May we never shrink from our duty from any fear of man.  Make us faithful unto death; and bring us at last into thy eternal presence, where with the Father and the Holy Ghost thou livest and reignest for ever.

E. B. Pusey

 

1622.  O God, who hast willed that the gate of mercy should stand open to the faithful: Look on us, and have mercy upon us, we beseech thee; that we who by thy grace are following the path of thy will may continue in the same all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Leonine Sacramentary

 

1623.  O God, give us strength to change those things that we can change, the patience to accept those that we cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference, always; for Jesus Christ’s sake.

 

THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE

1624.  O Lord, who though thou wast rich yet for our sakes didst become poor, and hast promised in thy holy gospel that whatsoever is done to the least of thy brethren thou wilt receive as done to thee: Give us grace, we humbly beseech thee, to be ever willing and ready to minister, as thou enablest us, to the needs of others, and to extend the blessings of thy kingdom over all the world; to thy praise and glory, who art God over all, blessed for ever.

St. Augustine

 

1625.  O Son of Man, who hast taught us that in ministering to the needs of others we are ministering to thee: Fill our hearts, we beseech thee, with thine own spirit of love and self-sacrifice, and teach us so to see thee in all our suffering brethren that we may serve them gladly for thy sake; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

 

1626.  Almighty God, the giver of all good things, without whose help all labour is ineffectual, and without whose grace all wisdom is folly: Grant, we beseech thee, that in our undertakings thy Holy Spirit may not be withheld from us, but that we may promote thy glory, and the coming of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Samuel Johnson

 

1627.  Blessed Lord, who for our sakes wast content to bear sorrow and want and death: Grant to us such a measure of thy Spirit that we may follow thee in all self-denial and tenderness of soul.  Help us by thy great love to succour the afflicted, to relieve the needy, to share the burdens of the heavy laden, and ever to see thee in all that are poor and destitute; for thy great mercy’s sake.

B. F. Westcott

 

1628.  Almighty God, give us grace to do the work to which thou hast called us with reverence and godly fear; not with eye-service as pleasers of men, but with singleness of heart as in thy sight; and do thou so direct all our thoughts, words and deeds by thy Holy Spirit, that we may set thy will ever before us, and give ourselves to thee, to spend and be spent in thy service; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

OUR DAILY WORK

1629.  Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ has shown us that the secret of happiness is a heart set free from selfish desires: Help us to look not only on our own things, but also on the things of others; and inspire in us such fair dealing and fellow-feeling as may show our brotherhood in thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1630.  O Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son declared to his disciples, I am among you as he that serveth: Take from us, we pray thee, the spirit of selfishness, and deepen within us the spirit of service; that we may think less of our own interests and more of the needs of others, after the perfect example of the same thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1631.  O Everlasting God, who from all eternity dost behold and order all things, and hast called us to serve in this our generation, doing the work of God after the manner of men: Enable us to use the talents entrusted to us, to thy glory and the service of others, that at the last we may hear that most joyful voice, Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord; through the same our Saviour Jesus Christ.

After Jeremy Taylor

 

1632.  O Son of God, who by thy lowly life hast made manifest the royalty of service: Teach us that it is better to give than to receive, better to minister than to be ministered unto, after thine own example, who now livest and reignest in the glory of the eternal Trinity, world without end.

 

1633.  O Lord God, who dost by thy Holy Spirit endow thy servants with manifold gifts of knowledge and skill: Grant us grace to use the same always to thy glory and for the service of men; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Artists’ Prayer Guild*

 

1634.  O Almighty God and Heavenly Father, who by thy divine providence has appointed for each of us our work in life, and hast commanded us that we should not be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving thee; help us always to remember that our work is thy appointment, and to do it heartily as unto thee.  Preserve us from slothfulness, and make us to live with loins girded and lamps burning, that whensoever our Lord may come, we may be found striving earnestly to finish the work that thou hast given us to do; through the same Jesus Christ our Saviour.

E. M. Goulburn

 

1635.  O Lord, our heavenly Father, by whose providence the duties of men are variously ordered: Grant to us all such a spirit that we may labour heartily to do our work in our several stations, as serving one Master and looking for one reward.  Teach us to put to good account whatever talents thou hast lent to us, and enable us to redeem our time by patience and zeal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

B. F. Westcott

 

1636.  O Lord, renew our spirits and draw our hearts to thyself, that our work may not be to us a burden but a delight; and give us such a mighty love to thee, who thyself didst work as a craftsman in wood, as may sweeten all our obedience.  O let us not serve thee in a spirit of bondage, as slaves, but with cheerfulness and willingness, cooperating with thee in thy work of creation; for the glory of thy holy name.

Benjamin Jenks*

 

1637.  We offer to thee, O Lord our God, the work which thou hast appointed for us.  Help us to do it heartily and faithfully, as in thy sight and for thy glory, that so we may be drawn nearer to thee and confirmed in thy service, which alone is true freedom; in the name of our Master and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

William Bright

 

1638.  O God of love, who dost give to each of us our appointed work: Help us steadfastly, and as in thy sight, to fulfill the duties of our calling; so that when our Lord shall take account of us, we may be found his good and faithful servants and enter into his eternal joy; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Westminster Prayers*

 

1639.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who at the carpenter’s bench didst manifest the dignity of honest labour, and dost give to each of us our tasks to perform: Help us to do our daily work with readiness of mind and singleness of heart, not with eye-service as menpleasers, but as thy servants, labouring heartily as unto thee and not unto men, so that whatever we do, great or small, may be to the glory of thy holy name.

J. R. W. Stott

 

1640.  O Master Workman, who in the carpenter’s shop at Nazareth spent thy days from youth to manhood in making and mending things: We thank thee that thou hast ever sanctified all labour by thyself making it an offering of service in thy Father’s world.  Increase in us the spirit of service, of joy in work well done, of loyalty and devotion, so that with all our strength we may do the tasks that fall to our share, for thy sake who did all things well, Jesus Christ our Lord.

With all our Strength

 

1641.  Almighty God, who didst ordain that thy Son, Jesus Christ, should labour with his hands to supply his own needs, and the needs of others: Teach us, we beseech thee, that no labour is mean, and all labour is divine, to which thou dost call us; to the glory of thy holy name.

 

THE CHRISTIAN WARFARE

1642.  O God, our Father, we are exceedingly frail, and indisposed to every virtuous and gallant undertaking: Strengthen our weakness, we beseech thee, that we may do valiantly in this spiritual war; help us against our own negligence and cowardice, and defend us from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Augustine

 

1643.  O Lord God, keep ever in our remembrance the life and death of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Make the thought of his love powerful to win us from evil.  As he toiled and sorrowed and suffered for us, in fighting against sin, so may we endure constantly and labour diligently, as his soldiers and servants, looking ever unto him and counting it all joy to be partakers with him in his conflict, his cross and his victory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. J. Vaughan

 

1644.  O Lord Christ, thou Prince of peace, the faithful and true: Grant to us all, we beseech thee, that putting on the whole armour of God, we may follow thee as thou goest forth conquering and to conquer; and, fighting manfully under thy banner against sin, the world, and the devil, may be found more than conquerors, and at the last may be refreshed with the multitude of peace in the holy city of our God; whose is the greatness and the power, the victory and the majesty, world without end.

A Form of Prayer, May 1940

 

1645.  Almighty God, in whose presence is fullness of joy, and whose power is made perfect in our weakness: Grant us so to dwell in thy presence, that we may ever be glad of heart; and so to rest on thy strength, that we may have victory over evil; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New Every Morning

 

1646.  O God our Father, who hast sent thy Son to be our Saviour: Renew in us day by day the power of thy Holy Spirit, that with knowledge and zeal, with courage and hope, we may strive manfully in thy service, and ever live as faithful soldiers and servants of thy Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Adapted

 

1647.  O Lord God, who hast called us to be thy soldiers and to fight manfully under Christ’s banner: Enable us constantly to contend for truth, goodness, and justice without fear or favour; and relentlessly to oppose evil wherever it is found, and whatever form it takes; in the name and strength of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Frank Colquhoun

 

Contending for the faith

1648.  Heavenly Father, the Father of all wisdom, understanding, and true strength: We beseech thee look mercifully upon thy servants, and send thy Holy Spirit into their hearts, that when they must join to fight in the field for the glory of thy holy name, then they, strengthened with the defence of thy right hand, may manfully stand in the confession of thy faith, and continue in the same unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nicholas Ridley

 

1649.  Eternal God, who hast taught us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds: Help thy soldiers to fight the good fight of faith, refusing the weapons of the devil and the world, and overcoming hatred with love, evil with goodness, falsehood with truth, and so extending the victory of the cross; through him who triumphed thereon, even thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Adapted

 

1650.  O Lord, who lovest not the strife of men, and yet wouldest have thy servants strive earnestly for the faith of the gospel; grant us so to seek thy truth that we may never forget to obey it, so to contend, for it that we may never cause our brethren to stumble, and so to hold the form of godliness that we lose not at last the life and substance of it; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Trinity College, Dublin

 

VARIOUS

For purity

1651.  Most merciful Lord, who hast taught us that the pure in heart shall see God: Cleanse our hearts from all impurity; give us such hatred of all that is evil, and such love of all that is beautiful and good, that we may be delivered from temptation, and become a strength to others who are tempted; for the glory of thy name.

A Book of Prayers for Students*

 

1652.  Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being: Grant unto us such purity of heart and strength of purpose that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing thy will, and no weakness from doing it; but in thy light may we see light, and in thy service find perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Uppingham School Prayers

 

1653.  Cleanse our hearts, O God, we beseech thee, by the fire of thy Holy Spirit, that we may henceforth serve thee with chaste bodies and pure minds, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted

 

1654.  O Lord, help us to be masters of ourselves, that we may be the servants of others; in obedience to thy Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

For humility

1655.  O Lord God, we pray thee to keep us from all self-confidence and vainglory, and to bestow upon us thy great grace of humility and self-forgetfulness.  To thee may we look, in all that we do, both for the will and for the power; and to thee may we ascribe with a sincere heart all the praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. J. Vaughan

 

1656.  Almighty and everlasting God, who resisteth the proud and givest grace to the humble: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may not exalt ourselves and provoke thy indignation, but bow down to receive the gifts of thy mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

William Temple

 

1657.  O God our Father, who hast taught us never to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think: Help us to attain to that greatness of spirit that is ready for humble tasks, and ever to be servants of others because we are servants of thine; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted

 

For sincerity

1658.  Lift up our hearts, we beseech thee, O Christ, above the false show of things, above fear, above laziness, above selfishness and covetousness, above custom and fashion, up to the everlasting truth and order that thou art; that so we may live joyfully and freely, in faithful trust that thou art our Saviour, our example, and our friend, both now and for evermore.

Charles Kingsley

 

1659.  Lord Jesus Christ, who hast called us to be thy disciples: Defend us by thy power from all self-deception and hypocrisy, that our eyes may never be blind to thy truth, nor our ears deaf to thy call, nor our wills slow to thy bidding; but that in all the tasks of life we may seek thy kingdom and serve thy cause; for the glory of thy holy name.

New Every Morning

 

1660.  Uphold us, O Lord of life, with thy free Spirit.  Save us from unreality, from praising what is lofty while practising what is base, from thinking high thoughts while living a poor life.  Keep us from ignoble fears, and send us on our way with hope; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

For freedom

1661.  O thou who hast taught us that we are most truly free when we lose our wills in thine: Help us to attain to this liberty by continual surrender unto thee; that walking in the way which thou hast prepared for us, we may find our life in doing thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gelasian Sacramentary

 

1662.  O God our Father, whose perfect law is a law of liberty: Give us wisdom to use aright the freedom which thou hast given to us by surrendering ourselves to thy service; knowing that, when we are thy willing bondsmen, then only are we truly free; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1663.  Set us free, O Lord God, from the bondage of sin and the fear of man; that in thy service we may find our freedom, and in thy will our peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

For joy

1664.  O God, who hast made the heaven and the earth and all that is good and lovely therein, and hast shown us through Jesus our Lord that the secret of joy is a heart free from selfish desires: Help us to find delight in simple things, and ever to rejoice in the riches of thy bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

 

1665.  O God, who by the lowliness of thy Son hast raised a fallen world: Grant to thy faithful people perpetual gladness; and as thou hast delivered them from eternal death, so do thou make them partakers of everlasting joys; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Roman Breviary

 

1666.  O Thou who art the sun of righteousness, the eternal source of light and life: Shine upon us, we beseech thee, with the beams of thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad in thee all the days of our life; for the praise and glory of thy holy name.

Adapted from an ancient collect

 

For a forgiving spirit

1667.  Grant, O Lord, that as thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ prayed for his enemies on the cross, so we may have grace to forgive those that wrongfully or scornfully use us, that we ourselves may be able to receive thy forgiveness; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

For contentment

1668.  Teach us, O Father, in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content, that we may know both how to be abased and how to abound; that in prosperity we may bless thee who givest us richly all things to enjoy, and in adversity may not suffer our faith in thy love to fail; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

For grace

1669.  O God our Father, let us find grace in thy sight so as to have grace to serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear; and further grace not to receive thy grace in vain, nor to neglect it and fall from it, but to stir it up and grow in it, and to persevere in it unto the end of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lancelot Andrewes

 

For reverence          

1670.  O God, most holy, most loving, infinite in wisdom and power: Teach us to reverence thee in all the works of thy hands, and to hallow thy name both in our lives and in our worship; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

For heavenly mindedness

1671.  Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to cleave to those that shall abide; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Leonine Sacramentary

 

Reconciliation

1672.  Heavenly Father, who hast reconciled us to thyself through the cross of thy Son, and hast committed to us the ministry of reconciliation: Grant that we who bear witness to thy reconciling word with our lips may also demonstrate thy reconciling power in our lives; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

Think on these things

1673.  O God our Father, whose will is our sanctification: Grant that thy Holy Spirit may so fill and possess our souls that we may be delivered from all unclean thoughts and imaginations, and may have grace to direct our minds to whatsoever things are true and honourable, just and pure, lovely and of good report, as revealed to us in thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

Jesus Master Carpenter

1674.  O Jesus, Master Carpenter of Nazareth, who on the cross through wood and nails didst work man’s whole salvation: Wield well thy tools in this thy workshop; that we who come to thee rough hewn may by thy hand be fashioned to a truer beauty and a greater usefulness; for the honour of thy holy name.

 

An act of faith, hope, and love

1675.  My God, I believe in thee, and all that thy Church doth teach, because thou hast said it and thy Word is true.

      My God, I hope in thee, for grace and for glory, because of thy promises, thy mercy, and thy power.

      My God, I love thee, because thou art good; and for thy sake I love my neighbour as myself.

 

The beauty of the world

1676.  O Heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes, we beseech thee, to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him by whom all things were made, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

American Prayer Book

 

1677.  O God, who hast made the earth so fair, and written thy glory in the heavens: Help us inwardly to respond to all that is outwardly true and beautiful, so that as we pass through things temporal we may never lose the vision of the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Health of body

1678.  O God, the Father of lights, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: We beseech thee to grant us such health of body as thou knowest to be needful for us; that both in our bodies and our souls we may evermore serve thee with all our strength and might; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John Cosin

 

1679.  O Lord our God, who hast taught us to love thee not only with all our heart and soul and mind but also with all our strength: Grant us, we pray thee, the blessing of good health, and also wisdom to guard the health that thou dost give; that we may devote the whole of our powers to thy service and evermore glorify thee in our bodies, which are thine; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

In time of adversity

1680.  Almighty God, whose sovereign power none can make void: Give us faith to stand calm and undismayed amid the tumults of the world, knowing that all things work together for good to them that love thee; through thy beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

A Form of Prayer, May 1940

 

1681.  Be thou unto us at this time, O Lord, a tower of strength, a place of refuge, and a defence in our day of trouble.  Keep us calm and brave, because our trust is in thee.  Let thy comfort support us, thy mercy pardon us, and thy wisdom guide us; and give us, if it please thee, deliverance from all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1682.  Grant us, O Lord our God, ever to find in thee a very present help in trouble.

      When we are in the darkness of doubt or perplexity, shed thy light upon our way.

      When we are burdened with the affairs of our daily life, lift us to the calm of thy presence.

      When we are battling with temptation and the flesh is weak, by the might of thy Spirit make us strong to overcome.

      We ask these things through him in whom we are more than conquerors, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

BENEDICTIONS AND DOXOLOGIES

Benedictions

1683.  Bless us, O God the Father, who hast created us.

      Bless us, O God the Son, who hast redeemed us.

      Bless us, O God the Holy Spirit, who sanctifieth us.

      O Blessed Trinity, keep us in body, soul, and spirit unto everlasting life.

 

1684.  May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rest upon us and upon all our work and worship done in his name.  May he give us light to guide us, courage to support us, and love to unite us, now and for evermore.

 

1685.  God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church, the Queen, the commonwealth, and all mankind, peace and concord; and to us and all his servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with you and abide with you always.

Based on a sixteenth century prayer

 

1686.  May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself; may the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service; may the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls; and may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with you and abide with you always.

William Temple

 

1687.  Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection we commit you.

      The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.

      The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace, both now and for evermore.

Based on Numbers 6:24–26

 

1688.  May the love of the Father enfold us, the wisdom of the Son enlighten us, the fire of the Spirit inflame us; and may the blessing of the triune God rest upon us, and abide with us, now and evermore.

 

1689.  God the Father, Maker of men; God the Son, born amongst men; God the Holy Spirit, sanctifying men; bless, preserve, and keep us, and all for whom we pray, now and for evermore.

 

1690.  Go in peace; and may the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit rest upon you and remain with you, this day (night) and for evermore.

 

1691.  May the Lord of his great mercy bless you, and give you understanding of his wisdom and grace;

      May he nourish you with the riches of the Catholic Faith, and make you to persevere in all good works;

      May he keep your steps from wandering, and direct you into the paths of love and peace;

      And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.

Southwark Diocese

 

Doxologies

1692.  To God the Father, who first loved us, and made us accepted in the Beloved; to God the Son, who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood; to God the Holy Ghost, who sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts; to the one true God be all love and all glory, for time and for eternity.

Thomas Ken

 

1693.  Blessing and honour, thanksgiving and praise, more than we can utter, be unto thee, O most adorable Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, by all angels, all men, all creatures, for ever and ever.

Thomas Ken

 

1694.  To God the Father, who has made us and all the world; to God the Son, who has redeemed us and all mankind; to God the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies us and all the elect people of God; to the one living and true God be all glory for ever and ever.

 

1695.  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us; unto him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end.

Ephesians 3:20, 21

 

1696.  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Hebrews 13:20, 21

 

1697.  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

Jude 24, 25

 

1698.  May the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle us; to whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

1 Peter 5:10–11

 

1699.  Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

Revelation 1:5, 6

 

VI.  SUPPLEMENTARY PRAYERS

 

CHURCH MEETINGS

A parochial church council

1700.  O Lord God, the Father of lights and the fountain of all wisdom, who hast promised through thy Son Jesus Christ to be with thy Church to the end of the world: We humbly beseech thee with thy favour to behold us thy servants who are now assembled in thy name to take counsel together for this parish.  Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may rest upon us, enlighten, and guide us; that all our consultations may be prospered to the advancement of thy honour and glory, and the welfare of thy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted from a prayer for the General Synod in the Irish Prayer Book

 

1701.  Almighty God, who in thy great mercy hast called us into the fellowship of thy Church and the service of thy kingdom: Hear us as we lift up our hearts to thee to seek thy blessing upon the work of this council.  So guide and empower us by thy Holy Spirit that we may be enabled both to know and to do thy will; unite us in brotherly love one towards another; and fill us with zeal to work together for the benefit of thy Church in this place, and for the advancement of thy kingdom throughout the world.  We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.

 

1702.  O Lord and heavenly Father, who hast united us as members of one body in the work of thy Church in this parish: Give us grace faithfully and wisely to discharge our duties as in thy sight.  Guide us by thy Holy Spirit in all our deliberations, and bring our minds into accordance with thy perfect will.  Keep our vision clear, our sympathies broad, our resolution firm, our zeal unabating; and grant that whatever we do, in word or deed, we may do all for thy glory, and in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1703.  Almighty God, give us grace to do the work to which thou hast called us with reverence and godly fear; not with eye-service as pleasers of men, but with singleness of heart as in thy sight; and do thou so direct all our thoughts, words and deeds by the power of thy Holy Spirit, that we may set thy will ever before us, and give ourselves wholly to thee, to spend and be spent in thy service; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Adapted

 

1704.  O Eternal God, the fountain of all wisdom, who didst send thy Holy Spirit to lead thy disciples into all truth: Vouchsafe his gracious presence, we beseech thee, to thy servants here assembled; and grant that he may so rule our hearts and guide our counsels that in all things we may seek only thy glory and the good of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted from Scottish Prayer Book

 

1705.  Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh wisdom and understanding: Be present, we humbly beseech thee, with thy servants assembled to deliberate in council upon those things that make for the maintenance, wellbeing, and extension of thy holy Church; and grant that they, seeking only thine honour and glory, may be guided in all their consultations to perceive the more excellent way, and may have grace and strength to follow the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scottish Prayer Book

 

An annual church meeting

1706.  We praise thee, O God, that thou hast made us members of the Church of Jesus Christ which he purchased with his own blood, and hast called us into a worldwide fellowship of love and service; and now, meeting in his name, we pray that thou wilt preside over this gathering in the power of thy Holy Spirit.  So direct our thoughts and our words that all our decisions may be pleasing to thee; enable us to elect to the various offices in our church men and women endowed with the gifts that their service requires; keep us from all misunderstanding, from all dissension, and from every breach of the law of love; and prosper every effort to make Christ known throughout this parish.  Thus, O Lord, may thy name be glorified and thy kingdom extended, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Frank Houghton

 

1707.  O God our heavenly Father, who hast called us to be members of thy Church which is the body of thy Son: Grant, we beseech thee, that thy Holy Spirit may direct us now in all our concerns and deliberations for the welfare of this parish.  We give thanks to thee for all the blessings of the past year, and for the opportunities of the present time; and we pray thee so to lead us forward into the work that lies before us that we may advance from strength to strength in the service of thy kingdom, and ever magnify thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1708.  Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who by thy wise and loving Spirit dost guide thy Church into the way of truth and holiness: We beseech thee to direct the counsels of us thy servants at this time, that we may be enabled to do those things that are pleasing in thy sight, and may wisely plan for the furtherance of thy Church in this place.  Remove from us all that hinders thy purposes; establish among us peace and love, unity and concord; and grant that thy blessing may continually rest upon our worship, our work, and our witness; for the glory of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

A committee meeting

1709.  Almighty and everlasting God, from whom alone cometh wisdom and understanding: Be present, we pray thee, with thy servants here assembled; that seeking only thy honour and glory, we may wisely take counsel together for the good of thy Church and the advancement of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1710.  Grant us, O God, the light of thy Holy Spirit, and declare unto us thy will; that in the business before us we may be guided to make right decisions, for the edifying of thy Church and the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1711.  Mercifully look upon us, O Lord, as we meet together at this time in thy name and in thy service; save us from all pride and self-assertion, from all desire for the praise of men; and grant that whatever we do for thy Church may be done for his sake alone, who loved us and gave himself for us, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Adapted

 

1712.  O Lord, who hast taught us that the way of man is not in himself, and hast mercifully promised to keep the way of thy saints: Direct our thoughts and inspire our actions, we humbly pray thee, to the good of thy Church and the fulfillment of thy eternal purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

J. Armitage Robinson

 

A missionary committee

1713.  Lord of the nations and God of love, who through thy Son Jesus Christ hast bidden us to lift up our eyes and look on the fields, white unto harvest: Mercifully enlarge our vision of the world’s great need, and of thy yet greater love.  May thy Holy Spirit assist us now as we think and speak and plan together for the furtherance of the gospel and the work of the Church overseas.  Show us, O Lord, what thou wouldest have us to do, and fill us with such burning love and zeal that we may not fail to fulfill whatever purpose thou hast for us.  We ask it that thy power, thy glory, and the mightiness of thy kingdom might be known unto men, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

A finance committee

1714.  Almighty Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that the silver and the gold are thine, and that we are but stewards of thy bounty: Graciously assist us, we pray thee, as we meet together at this time to care for the financial interests of thy Church in this parish.  Give us heavenly wisdom in handling these earthly things; enable us faithfully to fulfill our responsibility as in thy sight; and grant that, seeking first thy kingdom and righteousness, we may prove thy sufficiency in all things, according to the promise of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Frank Colquhoun

 

A school managers’ meeting

1715.  O Lord and heavenly Father, who hast called us to serve thee in the administration of this school, and hast committed to us a solemn trust: Prosper, we beseech thee, the work of our hands and accept the service we now seek to render.  Give us understanding of thy will in all matters that lie before us, and also grace faithfully to discharge our duties; that in all things we may seek the true wellbeing of those who are in our care; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

A men’s meeting

1716.  O God, who in thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord has given us an example of perfect manhood: Give us strength to follow in his footsteps; give us courage ever to stand for the hard right against the easy wrong; give us compassion for weakness, and chivalry towards womanhood; and grant us ever to walk before men as the devoted servants of him who sacrificed his life for the cause of good, and went to the cross for our salvation, even the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

W. L. Anderson

 

1717.  Almighty Father, whose blessed Son for thirty years shared our human life and showed forth the glory of our manhood: We pray that the mind that was in him may also be in us, that we may be conformed to his image.  Save us from the fear of man, from the bondage of self, from indifference to the claims of others; and grant that, following his steps, we may dedicate our life, our strength, our time, and all that we have, to the service of mankind and the advancement of thy kingdom; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adapted

 

Church of England Men’s Society Prayer

1718.  O Almighty God, who hast called us to thy service in the fellowship of thy holy Church: Bless, we beseech thee, the Church of England Men’s Society in all its branches, both in this place and throughout the world.  Make all our members sound in faith and holy in life; bestow upon us the spirit of prayer and supplication; grant us by love to serve one another; and perfect in us that good work which thou hast begun; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

A women’s meeting

1719.  O Blessed Lord, who by thy holy incarnation didst consecrate womanhood to thy glory: Make us pure, we beseech thee, by the vision of thy purity; make us lowly by the example of thy lowliness; make us holy by the indwelling of thy Holy Spirit.  Strengthen us, we beseech thee, that we may strengthen each other in courage and in faith; and show us how to use all our gifts in thy service; for thy tender mercy’s sake.

 

1720.  O God our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son grew up at Nazareth in his mother’s care, and in his earthly ministry revealed to us the true honour of womanhood: Grant us, we pray thee, the blessing of thy Holy Spirit, that as Christian women we may walk worthy of our calling, and may faithfully serve our church, our homes, and our neighbours; for the honour of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1721.  Gracious Lord, who wast born of a woman, look in mercy, we beseech thee, on the women of thy Church.  Grant that they may know and enjoy the honour that thou didst purpose for women, and that as in old time women brought good tidings of thy resurrection, so in these days they may be the bearers of thy light and heavenly benediction; for thy name’s sake, to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be honour and glory, world without end.

 

1722.  O Merciful Jesus, who when thou tookest upon thee to deliver man didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb: Vouchsafe evermore to dwell in the hearts of us thy servants; inspire us with thy purity; strengthen us with thy might; make us perfect in thy ways; guide us into thy truth; that we may be wholly devoted to thy service and conformed to thy will, to the glory of God the Father.

 

The Mothers’ Union Prayer

1723.  O Lord, fill us with thy Holy Spirit, that we may firmly believe in Jesus Christ, and love him with all our hearts.  Wash our souls in his precious blood.  Make us to hate sin, and to be holy in thought, word, and deed.  Help us to be faithful wives and loving mothers. Bless us and all who belong to the Mothers’ Union, unite us together in love and prayer, and teach us to train our children for heaven.  Pour out thy Holy Spirit on our husbands and children.  Make our homes homes of peace and love, and may we so live on earth, that we may live with thee for ever in heaven; for Jesus Christ’s sake.

 

A PRAYER MEETING

1724.  Heavenly Father, this is the hour of prayer, and we come to this place where prayer is wont to be made.  We come to thee, who hearest prayer. We thank thee for the prayers thou hast answered; for thou hast heard our cry, and hast met our deepest need.  We thank thee for the prayers thou hast denied, for often we have asked amiss.  Grant us now thy Holy Spirit to help our infirmity, that we may pray as we ought, and our prayers may be acceptable in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Book of Services and Prayers

 

1725.  Eternal and holy God, we ask that thou wilt meet with us in this hour of prayer.  As we remember thy love to us, may thanksgiving rise from our hearts.  As we remember our failures and sins, may we become contrite and humbly beseech thy forgiveness.  As we remember the needs of mankind, may we become more sure that Jesus is the Light of the world, the Bread of life, and the Saviour of all men.  As we remember our own need, deepen our trust in thee, renew our faith in thy purpose, and grant us some word from thyself for our comfort and help; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Book of Services and Prayers

 

1726.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast promised that where two or three are gathered together in thy name, there thou art in the midst of them: Fulfill to us now thy gracious word as we unite our hearts in this fellowship of prayer.  Make us to know the joy of thy presence; teach us how to pray aright; and grant that all that we say and do may be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord our strength and our redeemer.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1727.  Heavenly Father, who through thy Son Jesus Christ hast taught us, saying, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you: Give us grace now to ask in faith, according to thy Word; to seek only what is agreeable to thy holy will; and to knock with patience at the door of thy mercy, until our petition is granted and prayer is turned to praise; for the glory of thy holy name.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1728.  This is the hour of prayer.  Draw near to us, O Lord, in the fullness of thy blessing as we wait upon thee.  May we know that thou art in our midst, according to thy word.  As thou hast given a place for prayer, so also give us hearts to pray; and grant that in the fellowship of intercession we may be drawn nearer to thee and to those for whom we pray; for thy honour and glory.

Adapted

 

1729.  O Almighty God, we believe that thou art here present; help us to remember thy presence.  Thou knowest all things; there is nothing in us but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.  Help us in the prayers we are about to offer for thy Church, for the world, and for ourselves, that what we ask may be according to thy will and for the enlargement of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Concluding prayer

1730.  Lord, it has been good for us to be here, for thou hast been here with us.  We thank thee for thy presence, and for the fellowship we have enjoyed one with another in this act of intercession.  And now, O Lord, we ask thee to accept our petitions, to answer them as seems best in thy sight, and to bless all those for whom we have prayed.  So send us now upon our way refreshed in spirit, and with thy peace in our hearts; and to thy name be praise and honour both now and for evermore.

Frank Colquhoun

 

BEFORE BIBLE STUDY

1731.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who art the truth incarnate and the teacher of the faithful: Let thy Spirit overshadow us in reading thy Word, and conform our hearts to thy revelation; that learning of thee with honest hearts, we may be rooted and built up in thee, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

William Bright

 

1732.  O Lord, thy holy Word is before us; open to us its sacred truths, and enable us to receive it, not as the word of men, but as the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.  Be thou, O blessed Spirit, our teacher.  Enlighten our minds and prepare our hearts.  Bring home some portion to our souls, and thus make us wise unto salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ashton Oxenden*

 

1733.  O Almighty God, who hast taught us that thy Word is a lantern unto our feet and a light unto our path: Grant that we, with all who devoutly read the holy Scriptures, may realize our fellowship one with another in thee, and may learn thereby to know thee more fully, to love thee more truly, and to follow more faithfully in the steps of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God blessed for evermore.

Bible Reading Fellowship

 

1734.  O Lord, heavenly Father, in whom is the fullness of light and wisdom: Enlighten our minds by thy Holy Spirit, and give us grace to receive thy Word with reverence and humility, without which no man can understand thy truth; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

John Calvin

 

1735.  O God, eternal light, in whom is no darkness at all: Illuminate our hearts and minds, we pray thee, in this time of corporate Bible study; and grant that thy Holy Spirit, who is the inspirer of all holy Scripture, may be to us its interpreter, and may lead us through the written word to him who is the living Word and the Truth incarnate, even thy Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Frank Colquhoun

 

1736.  O Heavenly Father, by whose inspiration all holy Scripture has been written: Grant that thy Word may be profitable to us for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; that thereby we may be made wise unto salvation and equipped for every good work; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Based on 2 Timothy 3:5–17

 

1737.  O Lord, who hast given us thy Word for a light to shine upon our path: Grant us so to meditate upon that Word and to follow its teaching, that we may find in it the light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

After St. Jerome

 

1738.  O God, whose Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path: Open our eyes, we pray thee, that we may behold wondrous things out of that Word, and rejoice as one who finds great spoil; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Based on Psalm 119. 105, 18, 162

 

VESTRY PRAYERS

Before divine service

1739.  Cleanse us, O Lord, and keep us undefiled, that we may be numbered among those blessed ones, who, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, shall stand before thy throne, and serve thee day and night in thy holy temple; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1740.  Sanctify, O Lord, our hearts and minds, and inspire our praise; and give us grace to glorify thee alike in our worship and in our work; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

 

1741.  O Lord our God, we humbly beseech thee to purify our hearts from all vain and sinful thoughts, and so to prepare us to worship thee acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1742.  O Heavenly Father, who hast called us to thy service in the ministry of praise: Grant us grace to serve thee faithfully, that both in our hearts and with our lips we may magnify thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1743.  Cleanse our consciences, we beseech thee, O Lord, by thy visitation; that with pure hearts and minds we may worship thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1744.  Deliver us, we beseech thee, O Lord, as we enter thy house from all vain and wandering thoughts; and grant that with pure hearts and hallowed lives we may show forth thy praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1745.  O Lord, open thou our lips, and purify our hearts, that we may worthily praise and magnify thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1746.  O God, who hast given us minds to know thee, hearts to love thee, and voices to show forth thy praise: Help us to worship thee with understanding, with reverence, and with joy; for the glory of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

After divine service

1747.  Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, that the words we have said and sung with our lips we may believe in our hearts and show forth in our lives, to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1748.  Accept, O Lord, the praise we bring to thee; pardon the imperfections of our worship; write upon our hearts thy holy Word; and give us grace to love and serve and praise thee all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1749.  Sanctify, O Lord, both our coming in and our going out; and grant that when we leave thy house we may not leave thy presence, but may abide evermore in thy love; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

1750.  O thou who art the high and holy one that inhabitest eternity, yet dwellest with the humble in heart: Be pleased to accept the worship which we have now offered in thy house, and prepare us for the service of thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1751.  Heavenly Father, be pleased to accept and bless all that we have offered to thee in this act of worship; and give us grace to show forth thy praise not only with our lips, but in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1752.  Accept, O Lord, these our prayers and praises, to the glory of thy great name and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

For the Holy Communion

1753.  O Lord, who in this wonderful sacrament hast left unto us a memorial of thy passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy Body and Blood that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of thy redemption; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

Gelasian Sacramentary

 

1754.  Visit, O Lord, we pray thee, and cleanse our consciences; that thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself; who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Roman Missal

 

1755.  O God, of whom and through whom and unto whom are all things: Let our participation in these holy mysteries be unto us both a foretaste of that heavenly city which thou hast prepared for us, and also a quickening of our zeal to walk worthy of our vocation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1756.  Most gracious God, incline thy merciful ears to our prayers, and enlighten our hearts by the grace of thy Holy Spirit; that we may worthily approach thy holy mysteries, and love thee with an everlasting love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1757.  As watchmen look for the morning, so do we look for thee, O Christ; come with the dawning of the day, and make thyself known to us in the breaking of the bread; for thou art our God for ever and ever.

 

Before a choir practice

1758.  O God, whose glory the countless hosts of heaven so ceaselessly proclaim: Graciously aid us, we beseech thee, as we seek worthily to fulfill our service and ministry in thy house; that in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs we may sing and make melody to thee with our whole heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Book of Common Order

 

1759.  O God, who hast given us minds to know thee, hearts to love thee, and voices to show forth thy praise: Give us grace, we beseech thee, to dedicate ourselves freely to thy service, that we may reverently fulfill the worship of thy sanctuary, and beautify the praises of thy house; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Book of Common Order

 

PULPIT PRAYERS

1760.  O God, the Father of lights, who by the entrance of thy Word giveth light unto the soul: Grant to us the spirit of wisdom and understanding; that, being taught of thee in holy Scripture, we may receive with faith the words of eternal life, and be made wise unto salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Book of Common Order

 

1761.  O God, whose truth is hidden from the wise and prudent, and revealed to babes: Grant us pure and childlike hearts, that being taught of thy Spirit we may know the things which belong to our peace and to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1762.  O God, who hast so made us that we live not by bread alone but by every Word of thine: Cause us to hunger after the heavenly food, and to find in it our daily provision on the way to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1763.  O God, who didst command the light to shine out of darkness: We pray thee to shine into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and honour for evermore.

Based on 2 Corinthians 4:6

 

1764.  Heavenly Father, we pray that thy Holy Spirit may rest upon us now, as we approach the study of thy holy Word, and that he may make that Word a living message to our souls; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1765.  O Lord, uphold me, that I may uplift thee; and may the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

 

1766.  Give us grace, O Lord, not only to hear thy Word with our ears, but also to receive it into our hearts and to show it forth in our lives; for the glory of thy great name.

 

1767.  O Lord, open to us thy Word, and our hearts to thy Word, that we may know thee better and love thee more; for thy mercy and for thy truth’s sake.

 

1768.  Heavenly Father, sanctify us by thy truth, and grant that the Spirit of truth may guide us into all truth, through him who is the truth incarnate, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

OFFERTORY PRAYERS

1769.  All things come of thee, and of thine own do we give thee.  Accept and bless, O God our Father, these our gifts, and pour out upon us the spirit of thine own abundant giving; that as we have freely received, so we may freely give, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1770.  Almighty God, from whom all good things do come: Mercifully accept these our gifts as a token of our love and gratitude; and teach us to bring to thee also that which thou most desirest, the offering of ourselves for thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1771.  O God, the fountain of all good, we bring to thee our gifts, according as thou hast prospered us; and we pray thee to enable us, with our earthly things, to give thee the love of our hearts and the service of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1772.  O Lord our God, the author of all good things, who lovest the cheerful giver: We beseech thee to receive and bless these our offerings which we here present to thee, and with them ourselves, our souls and bodies, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1773.  O God of love, who didst not spare thine only Son, and with him dost freely give us all things: Mercifully accept and bless the offerings which we here present to thee with thankful hearts; and grant us grace this day, with our gifts, to dedicate our lives anew to thy service; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1774.  O Lord our God, send down upon us, we beseech thee, thy Holy Spirit, to cleanse our hearts, to hallow our gifts, and to perfect the offering of ourselves to thee; for the glory of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1775.  Accept, O Lord God, these our gifts which we here present to thee, and grant that they may be wisely used for the extension of thy kingdom and the greater glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1776.  Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that these our gifts, being dedicated to thy service, may be used for thy glory and the good of thy Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

VARIOUS

A retreat or quiet day

1777.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst say to thy disciples, Come ye apart into a desert place and rest awhile: Grant, we beseech thee, to thy servants now gathered together, so to seek thee whom our souls desire to love, that we may both find thee and be found of thee; and grant such love and such wisdom to accompany the words which shall be spoken in thy name, that they may not fall to the ground, but may be helpful in leading us onward through the toils of our pilgrimage to that rest which remaineth to the people of God; where, nevertheless, they rest not day nor night from thy perfect service; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest ever one God, world without end.

R. M. Benson

 

1778.  O Almighty God, whose blessed Son held communion with thee in the retirement of solitary places: Look mercifully, we beseech thee, upon thy servants who, following his example, do seek in solitude and silence refreshment for our souls and strength for thy service, and grant that we may be abundantly blessed; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

James Wareham

 

A parish convention

1779.  O Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who didst gather round thee thy holy apostles and didst teach them the things concerning the kingdom of God: Grant that all those who come together in this convention may desire to be taught of thee, and to learn those things which thou dost desire to impart to us.  Give us the open ear and the willing mind; clear our thoughts of all prejudice; remove all hindrances to the glad acceptance of thy holy will; and train us in all godliness of life, that we may be further equipped to serve thee and glorify thy holy name; who art with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, world without end.

 

A parish conference

1780.  We thank thee, heavenly Father, for the conference which lies before us and which we now begin in thy name.  Give us quiet in our minds, seriousness in the depth of our hearts, and the restful spirit which comes from faith in thee.  Bless those who are to instruct us, that their words may possess clarity and power.  Bless our listening, and give us grace both to understand and to take to heart all that thou wouldest teach us.  Bless our fellowship one with another and make us to realize the unity of the Spirit.  So come, Lord, and visit us; manifest thy presence, fulfill thine own purpose, and glorify thy holy name.

Adapted from Student Prayer

 

1781.  O Lord and Master, who didst take thy disciples apart with thyself, that they might more perfectly learn thy holy will: We pray thee to draw near to us who at this time would draw near to thee.  Deepen our fellowship one with another; make us sensitive to the guidance of thy Holy Spirit; and so direct our thoughts and words that thy purpose for our lives and for this parish may be advanced; for the honour and glory of thy name.

Frank Colquhoun

 

A parish fellowship

1782.  O Lord Christ, who on the night before thy passion didst have a last supper with thine apostles and prayed that they might be one family, united in loyalty to thee and in the service of mankind: Inspire, we pray thee, our fellowship with the spirit of love and sacrifice, that we may be true to thee and to one another, and serve thee gladly in thy Church all the days of our life; to the glory of God the Father.

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory*

 

A mission of teaching

1783.  O God of truth and charity, be pleased to use these days of teaching, learning, and discussion to furnish thy Church with men and women committed unto thee.  Direct what is said and done in thy name, that it may have success beyond our endeavour; and grant to all so to learn of thee that our faith in thy kingdom, our hope in thy promises, our love towards all men, may be renewed and enlarged; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

A Diocesan Service Book

 

Parish visitors

1784.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst bless thy home at Nazareth with love and understanding and with the labour of thy hands: Let thy blessing, we beseech thee, rest upon all the homes in this parish; open their doors to those who come in thy name, and make all who live in them swift to hear and ready to answer thy call.  We ask it in thy name, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

 

1785.  Blessed Lord, who didst send thy disciples into every place whither thou thyself wouldest come: Pour out thy Holy Spirit upon these thy servants as they go forth in thy name, that they may humbly prepare the way before thee as messengers of thy peace; for the praise of thy holy name.

 

Bell ringers

1786.  Grant, O Lord, we pray thee, that those who are appointed to ring the bells of this house of prayer may do it worthily and to thy glory; and that those who shall be called by the ringing of these bells to worship thee may enter into thy gates with thanksgiving, and into thy courts with praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Music and worship

1787.  O God, who hast bidden us to worship thee with the sound of the trumpet, with psaltery and harp, with stringed instruments and organs, and also to be glad in thee and to shout for joy: Help us to contrive by all means to set forth thy most worthy praise, that the art of man may be tuned to the glory of God; for the sake of him whose voice is as the sound of many waters, Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.

J. R. W. Stott

 

Before a recital of music

1788.  O Holy and eternal God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, whom all the companies of heaven laud and adore: Graciously vouchsafe to receive the offering we are about to make; and so bless us, as we magnify thee upon earth with music and the voice of melody, that hereafter we may sing the new song in the heavenly city; where thou reignest, almighty, all glorious, world without end.

King’s College Chapel, Cambridge

 

1789.  Almighty God, who hast given unto men power to invent for themselves instruments of music, and skill to use them in sounding forth thy praise: Grant that the music heard in this thy house may kindle a spirit of devotion in us thy servants; that we,. taking our part in prayer and praise to thee here on earth, may hereafter be admitted to thy heavenly temple, and join in the everlasting songs of the redeemed around thy throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Salisbury Cathedral

 

1790.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who art adored by the holy angels in heaven, yet dost deign to receive the praises of thy Church on earth: We beseech thee to bless and accept this our offering of music; and grant that the hearts of all who hear may be refreshed, and uplifted to thy throne in heaven; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.

 

Religious drama: before rehearsal

1791.  Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, who art pleased to receive the gifts thy children bring of thine own bounty: Regard us, we beseech thee, with thy favour who purpose to present this play in thy name; grant us the help of thy Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to create the characters we are to play; and make us one body, working together in love to thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Religious Drama Society

 

Religious drama: before performance

1792.  Before our play begins we offer it to thee, O Lord, beseeching thee to accept our good intention, for our desire is to do thee service.  Assist our art, we pray thee, that by thy grace we may offer our best to thee; and grant that in fellowship with our audience we may rejoice in thy goodness and make manifest thy praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Religious Drama Society

 

A sale of work

1793.  O Gracious God, be pleased, we pray thee, to accept the offerings of us thine unworthy servants today; and grant that as we work together in Christian fellowship, thy name may be hallowed, thy kingdom be extended, and thy will be done; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

J. R. W. Stott

 

Laying of a foundation stone

1794.  O Eternal Lord God, mighty in power, of infinite majesty, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands; yet who hast promised to be present wherever two or three are gathered in thy name: Direct and bless, we pray thee, our efforts to build this house for thy worship and service, and grant us such success as may tend to thy glory and the salvation of thy people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Canadian Prayer Book

 

1795.  O Lord Jesus Christ, who art the one foundation of thy Church and its chief cornerstone: Bless the laying of this stone in thy name, we humbly beseech thee; and be thou the beginning, the increase, and the consummation of this work which is undertaken to thy glory; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

 

Dedication of a house

1796.  O Merciful Saviour, who with thy presence didst hallow an earthly home at Nazareth: Send thy blessing, we beseech thee, on all who dwell in this house; that, being preserved both in body and soul, they may offer to thee a faithful and willing service; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

 

1797.  O Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was a welcome guest in the house of his friends at Bethany: Visit, we beseech thee, this home with thy blessing; and grant that all who dwell herein may be of one heart and soul, and remain in true love and peace together, according to thy laws; through the same our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Before a borough council meeting

1798.  O Eternal Lord God, from whom alone cometh wisdom and understanding: We beseech thee to direct aright the minds of those who are about to take counsel together on matters pertaining to the common life of this borough; that in all their deliberations and decisions they may faithfully discharge the duties of their office, and ever promote the health, the safety, and the wellbeing of those whom they seek to serve; for the honour and glory of thy holy name.

Frank Colquhoun

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

        The Editor wishes to express his thanks to the following for granting him permission to reproduce material of which they are the publishers, authors, or copyright owners:

The British Broadcasting Corporation for prayers from New Every Morning.

The Committee on Public Worship and Aids to Devotion of the Church of Scotland for prayers from The Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland; Prayers for the Christian Year (Revised Edition); Let Us Pray; and Service Book for the Young.

The Publications Committee of the Episcopal Church in Scotland for prayers from the Scottish Prayer Book.

The Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland for prayers from the Irish Prayer Book.

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Cambridge University Press for prayers from the Canadian Prayer Book.

The General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. for prayers from the American Prayer Book.

The Synod of Bishops of the Church of the Province of South Africa for prayers from the South African Prayer Book.

His Grace the Metropolitan of the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma, and Ceylon for a prayer from the C.I.P.B.C. Prayer Book.

The Synod of the Church of South India for prayers from The Book of Common Worship of the Church of South India.

Oxford University Press for prayers from A Diocesan Service Book, edited and ordered by Bishop Leslie Stannard Hunter; Daily Prayer, compiled by Eric Milner-White and G. W. Briggs; The Daily Service (Revised Edition); A Book of Public Worship; Divine Service by W. E. Orchard; A New Prayer Book; and The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory.

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge for prayers from A Procession of Passion Prayers by Eric Milner-White; Euchologium Anglicanum by John Wallis and Leslie Styler; Black Letter Saints’ Days by W. H. Frere; The Children’s Service by C. S. Woodward; The Splendour of God; and Acts of Devotion.

Messrs. A. R. Mowbray for prayers from The Prayer Manual, compiled by Frederick B. Macnutt; After the Third Collect, edited by Eric Milner-White; Sursum Corda; and The Priest’s Book of Private Devotion.

Student Christian Movement Press for prayers from Student Prayer; A Book of Prayers for Students; A Devotional Diary, arranged by J. H. Oldham; and A Prayer Book for Juniors by Margaret Cropper.

Independent Press for prayers from A Book of Services and Prayers.

Messrs. Allenson for prayers from Prayers for Common Worship, edited by James Ferguson.

Messrs. Rivingtons for prayers from The Sanctuary.

Scripture Union and C.S.S.M. for prayers from Windylow Prayer Book by Ruby Cleeve.

United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel for prayers from Prayers of the World-wide Church.

Church Missionary Society for prayers from With all our Strength.

The Epworth Press for a prayer from the Book of Offices of the Methodist Church.

The Faith Press for a prayer from The Unfolding Year, compiled by Francis W. Wheeler.

Iliffe Books for prayers from Country Services.

The Most Rev. George Appleton for prayers from Daily Prayer and Praise (by permission of Lutterworth Press) and In His Name (by permission of Edinburgh House Press).

The Most Rev. A. E. Morris for prayers from Anglican Altar Services, 1941.

The Right Rev. Leslie S. Hunter for prayers from A Diocesan Service Book and other sources; and for prayers by the Rev. Dr. John Hunter from Devotional Services.

The Bishop of Oxford for prayers from the Oxford Diocesan Service Book.

The Bishop of Salisbury for prayers from The Salisbury Book of Occasional Offices.

The Bishop of Southwark for prayers in use in the Southwark Diocese.

Mrs. Frances Temple for prayers by Archbishop William Temple.

Mrs. Beatrice Robinson for prayers by Canon Arthur W. Robinson.

Mrs. L. A. Anson for prayers by Canon Harold Anson.

The Rev. Harold Riley for prayers from A Book of Daily Prayer (S.P.C.K.).

The Rev. Dr. Leslie D. Weatherhead for prayers from A Private House of Prayer (Hodder and Stoughton).

The Rev. James M. Todd and the Rev. Dr. H. F. Leatherland for prayers from A Book of Services and Prayers (Independent Press).

The Dean of St. Paul’s for a prayer in use at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The Dean of King’s for prayers in use at King’s College, Cambridge.

The Most Rev. Archbishop Lord Fisher of Lambeth; The Rt. Rev. W. L. Anderson; the Rt. Rev. Douglas H. Crick; The Rt. Rev. Joost de Blank; The Rt. Rev. R. Ambrose Reeves; The Rev. A. S. T. Fisher; The Rev. Preb. P. N. Gilliat; The Rev. O. K. de Berry; The Rev. M. A. P. Wood; The Registrar of the Convocation of York.

Advisory Council for the Church’s Ministry; The Central Board of Finance of the Church of England; The National Society; The Mothers’ Union; Church of England Men’s Society; The Church Army; The Royal School of Church Music; The Church’s Ministry among the Jews; The Bible Reading Fellowship; Student Christian Movement; Inter-Varsity Fellowship; The Girl Guides Association; Radius (Religious Drama Society of Great Britain); The Guild of Health; The Guild of St. Raphael; Industrial Christian Fellowship.

The text of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer is Crown copyright, and the extracts used herein are reproduced by permission.

 

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