HOME AND FAMILY
For home and family
Visit, 0 Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep all harm and danger far from them. Grant that we may dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy angels, sharing eternally in Your blessings; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For those who are married
Most gracious God, we give thanks for the joy and blessings that You grant to husbands and wives. Assist them always by Your grace that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep their marriage vows, grow in love toward You and for each other, and come at last to the eternal joys that You have promised; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Care of children
Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have blessed us with the joy and care of children. Give us calm strength and patient wisdom that, as they grow in years, we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For young persons
Gracious Father, Your Son grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and all people. Bless, guide, and govern the children and young people of Your Church by Your Holy Spirit, that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Your Word. Grant that they may serve You well and usefully, developing their talents not for their own sakes but to Your glory and for the welfare of their neighbor. Protect and defend them from all danger and harm, giving Your holy angels charge over them; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For children in crisis
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, be a source of strength and hope for the children in our families. When they stray, protect them from all danger and grant Your abiding presence. Guide them by Your Word into paths of wisdom and righteousness, and send Your holy angels to watch over them, that the evil one may have no power over them; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For the aged
Almighty God and gracious Father, in Your mercy look on those whose increasing years bring them weakness, anxiety, distress, or loneliness. Grant that they may always know care and respect, concern and understanding. Grant them willing hearts to accept help and, as their strength wanes, increase their faith with the constant assurance of Your love through Jesus Christ, their Savior.
For those who are moving
Lord God, Your gracious presence attends Your people wherever they go. Be with those whose lives are in transition as they move from a familiar home to a new community. Support them in times of challenge or loneliness, and surround them with caring Christian people so that they may find welcome and peace in their new location and joy in Your ongoing kindness and love; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
CIVIL REALM
For the nation
Almighty God, You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action. Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people. Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Responsible citizenship
Lord, keep this nation under Your care. Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth. Grant that we may choose trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve You faithfully in our generation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Collect for peace
0 God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
In times of war
Almighty God, You alone can establish lasting peace. Forgive our sins, we implore You, and deliver us from the hands of our enemies that-ewe, being strengthened by Your defense, may be preserved from all danger and glorify You for the restoration of tranquility in our land; through the merits of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior.
For peace in the world
Heavenly Father, God of all concord, it is Your gracious will that Your children on earth live together in hannony and peace. Defeat the plans of all those who would stir up violence and strife, destroy the weapons of those who delight in war and bloodshed, and, according to Your will, end all conflicts in the world. Teach us to examine our hearts that we may recognize our own inclination toward envy, malice, hatred, and enmity. Help us, by Your Word and Spirit, to search our hearts and to root out the evil that would lead to strife and discord, so that in our lives we may be at peace with all people. Fill us with zeal for the work of Your Church and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which alone can bring that peace which is beyond all understanding; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Armed forces of our nation
Lord God of hosts, stretch forth Your almighty arm to strengthen and protect those who serve in the armed forces of our country. Support them in times of war, and in times of peace keep them from all evil, giving them courage and loyalty. Grant that in all things they may serve with integrity and with honor; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
IN TIMES OF NEED
For the sick
0 Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need, look with favor upon Your servant name. Assure him/her of Your mercy, deliver him/her from the temptations of the evil one, and give him/her patience and comfort in his/her illness. If it please You, restore him/her to health, or give him/her grace to accept this tribulation with courage and hope; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For a sick child
Almighty God, Father in heaven, watch over Your child name now afflicted with sickness. Mercifully spare the life You have given. Relieve his/her pain, guard him/her from all danger, and restore his/her health according to Your gracious will, that he/she may be raised to a life of faithful service to You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For those undergoing surgery
Lord Jesus Christ, hear our prayers on behalf of Your servant name as he/she undergoes surgery. Bless him/her with faith in Your loving kindness and protection. Endow the surgeon and the medical team with ability and skill so that, according to Your will, this surgery may bring Your servant to a full restoration of health and strength; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
For one near death
Eternal Father, You alone make the decisions concerning life and death. We ask You to show mercy to Your servant name, whose death seems imminent. If it be Your gracious will, restore him/her and lengthen his/her earthly life; but if not, keep him/her
in his/her baptismal grace and in Your abiding care. Give him/her a repentant heart, firm faith, and a lively hope. Let not the fear of death cause him/her to waver in confidence and trust. At Your chosen time, grant him/her a peaceful departure and a joyous entrance into everlasting life with the glorious company of all Your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Time of bereavement
Heavenly Father, into whose keeping we entrust our loved ones, help us to look to You in our time of sorrow, remembering the cloud of faithful witnesses with which we are surrounded. Grant that we may one day share in the joys of those who now rest in Your presence; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
In times of affliction and distress
Almighty and most merciful God, in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For those who are lonely
Ever-present Lord, You have promised never to leave us nor forsake us but to abide with us to the end of time. Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely but find both comfort from Your promises and fulfillment in loving You and their neighbors all their days; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For the mentally ill
0 Lord, merciful Father, sustain and comfort Your servants who are mentally ill. Do not allow the evil one to trouble them, but provide them with people who, in wisdom and sympathy, will minister to them in their need. Strengthen them and their families in the knowledge of Your redeeming love so that they may evermore look to You for rescue and help; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For the disabled
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of life and everything in Your creation that enriches our physical lives. By Your merciful guidance, aid and strengthen those with physical disabilities, and enable them to find fulfillment in their lives and encouragement and support for all their endeavors; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The unemployed
Heavenly Father, we commend to Your care those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Grant that the wealth and resources of this rich land be profitably used so that all persons may find suitable and fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
IN TIMES OF JOY
Restoration of health
Almighty and gracious God, we give thanks that You have restored the health of Your servant name, and for this blessing we praise Your name. Grant that he/she may continue joyfully through the days You have given him/her in this world and also share in eternal glory at the appearing of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
GENERAL PRAYERS
For Divine Guidance.
Almighty and ever-living" God, You make us both to will and to do those things that are good and acceptable in Your sight. Let Your fatherly hand ever guide us and Your Holy Spirit ever be with us to direct us in the knowledge and obedience of Your Word that we may obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Direct us, 0 Lord, in all our doings with Your most gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in You we may glorify Your holy name and finally, by Your mercy, obtain eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Faith, hope, and love
Almighty God, grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, a cheerful hope in Your mercy, and a sincere love for You and one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Thanksgiving to God
Heavenly Father, God of all grace, govern our hearts that we may never forget Your blessings but steadfastly thank and praise You for all Your goodness in this life until, with all Your saints, we praise You eternally in Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Grace to use our gifts
Lord God Almighty, even as You bless Your servants with various and unique gifts of the Holy Spirit, continue to grant us the grace to use them always to Your honor and glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For guidance in our calling
Lord God, You have called Your 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 where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Christian vocation
Heavenly Father, grant Your mercy and grace to Your people in their many and various callings. Give them patience, and strengthen them in their Christian vocation of witness to the world and of service to their neighbor in Christ's name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Against the love of money
Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have called us to be Your children and heirs of Your gracious promises in Christ Jesus. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may forsake all covetous desires and the inordinate love of riches. Deliver us from the pursuit of passing things that we may seek the kingdom of Your Son and trust in His righteousness and so find blessedness and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Proper use of wealth
Almighty God, all that we possess is from Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Proper use of leisure
0 God, give us times of refreshment and peace in the course of this busy life. Grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds that we may be opened to the goodness of Your creation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Newness of life in Christ
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon ourselves the armor of light now in the time of this mortal life in which Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to visit us in great humility, that in the Last Day, when He shall come again in glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For a right knowledge of Christ
Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life, grant us perfectly to know Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the way, the truth, and the life, that following His steps we may steadfastly walk in ,the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For spiritual renewal
Almighty God, You gave Your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon Himself. Grant that we, Your adopted children by grace, may daily be renewed by Your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For humility
0 God, You resist the proud and give grace to the humble. Grant us true humility after the likeness of Your only Son that we may never be arrogant and prideful and thus provoke Your wrath but in all lowliness be made partakers of the gifts of Your grace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For patience
0 God, by the patient endurance of Your only-begotten Son You beat down the pride the old enemy. Help us to treasure rightly in our hearts what our Lord has borne for our sakes that, after His example, we may bear with patience those things that are adverse to us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Answer to prayer
Almighty God, You have promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in Your Son's. name. Mercifully incline Your ears to us who have now made our prayers and supplications to You, and grant that those things that we have faithfully asked according to Your will we may receive to meet our need and bring glory to You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For a blessed death
Almighty God, grant Your unworthy servants Your grace, that in the hour of our death the adversary may not prevail against us but that we may be found worthy of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Hope of eternal life in Christ
Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.