A Reading For Good Friday

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O Christ,
Thou Lamb of God,
slain for the sin of the whole world,
with penitent heart I come to Thy Cross,
pleading for mercy and forgiveness.
My sins — and they are many —
have added to the burden of Thy suffering
and have nailed Thee to the accursed tree.
For me Thou has tasted the agony of the utter darkness
that I might not perish but have everlasting life.
Have mercy upon me.

O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,
embrace me with Thy love,
and forgive me all my sins.
Thy death brings healing to my soul,
peace to my mind,
cleansing to my heart.
If Thou wouldst mark iniquity,
I could not come;
for my hands are unclean,
my lips are sullied,
and my heart is blackened by sin.
But beholding Thee bleeding,
despised, forsaken, dying, pierced,
I come to be cleansed and forgiven.

O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,
grant that I may hate sin and wickedness more and more
as I behold Thee in Thy great agony.
My grateful heart today finds hope in Thy words,
comfort in Thy promises,
salvation in Thy finished work on the Cross,
by which Though has overcome sin, Satan, and death.

O Christ, Thou Lamb of God,
grant that I may daily walk by faith,
crucifying all sinful desires
and giving myself and dedicating my all to Thee.
Keep me faithful to the end of my days,
until I stand before Thy throne to worship Thee,
the Lamb once slain but now living and reigning forever,
adored by the multitude of heaven.
Hear my cry, Redeemer of my soul.
Amen.

  • From the 1951 Lutheran Book of Prayer

A Responsive Reading For Maundy Thursday

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“Eternal Savior,
how can my heart show its appreciation for Thy love?
How can I serve Thee best,
who has loved me and given Thy life for me?
Thous has sealed unto me the forgiveness of all my sins
and offered me reconciliation and peace
in the blessed Sacrament
which Thou didst institute on this day.
Thou hast promised to give me with the bread and the cup
Thy body and blood for the remission of all my sins.

Oh, what Amazing Love!

What riches of divine wisdom!

In awe and wonderment I ponder this gracious gift.
May I ever appreciate this blessed Sacrament
that Thou has bidden me to use oft in remembrance of Thee.
May I come worthily each time when I approach Thine altar.

O Savior, cast me not away from Thy presence.
Let not my sins remain with me because of impenitence of heart
or because I doubt Thy Word and promises.
Let me become one with this blessed Sacrament.
Make me Thine, and give me strength to amend my sinful life
and walk closer to Thee.

Preserve in Thy Christian Church
this blessed Sacrament given on this day.
Let thousands and ten thousands find through it the
assurance of forgiveness, peace, and salvation.
And grant to me and all those that are Thine
to be faithful to Thy Word and Sacraments,
that Thy name be glorified,
Thy will be done,
and we at last live with Thee in Thine eternal kingdom, Thine forevermore.
Amen.

  • From the 1951 Lutheran Book of Prayer

A Prayer For Resurrection Sunday

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“Almighty God,
who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ
overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection,
may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen.”

  • Found in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Prayer In Time Of Epidemic (1951 Lutheran Book Of Prayer)

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Heavenly Father,
We beseech Thee to turn from me and fellow citizens the destruction and terror of this epidemic.
I pray Thee,
stay the hand of the Angel of Death
as he proceeds from dwelling to dwelling.

I ask Thee, above all, to draw me closer to Thee
as Thy chastening rod afflicts us.
Grief-stricken and fearful,
may we not despair of Thy mercies.

Grant me the grace in humble repentance
and sincere faith to look to Thee,
who turns all things to the good of them that Love Thee.

Grant the necessary wisdom and success
to those who strive to stem the tide of afflication,
and quicken our hearts to bear the burdens of one another’s grief and need.

Lord, in Thy mercy save us.

I am mindful of my many shortcomings and transgressions.
Blot them out that I may find peace
and rest for my soul.
Make me sure of my salvation through Thy Word.
Then give healing and relief
according to Thy good will in Christ Jesus,
our Lord and Redeemer.

Amen.

(taken from the 1951 Lutheran Book of Prayer)