A Reading For Holy Saturday

Divine and everlasting Savior,
Thou didst go into the grave to make death a sleep
from which our mortal bodies shall arise on the Last Day.
We shall live because Thou livest.
Let me look forward with joy
to the day of my departure,
confidently believing that I shall rise
from the dust of the earth
with a body like unto Thy glorious body.
Be with me when my last hour cometh.

Forgive me all my sins,
fill my soul with peace.
Make me unafraid of the Judgment to come,
knowing that there is no condemnation
for them that believe.
O death, where is thy sting?
I thank Thee, Lord,
for Thine eternal victory over death and the grave.

Comfort the hearts of those who are sorrowing
because the angel of death has
crossed the threshold of their homes
and taken a precious soul out of their midst.
Hold out to them through Thy Word
the glory of heaven,
when by Thine infinite grace
they shall see Thee and those who are Thine
gathered around Thine eternal throne.

Give me daily the blessed assurance
that heaven is my home.
Make me watchful and wakeful.
Keep me on the narrow way
which leads me to eternal glory.
Give me the grace to say with confident assurance:
I believe in the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting.
Abide with me day by day
until I, now believing,
shall see Thee face to face forevermore.
Amen.

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• From the 1951 Lutheran Book of Prayer

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A Reading For Good Friday

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.

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• From the 1951 Lutheran Book of Prayer

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A Prayer of General Thanksgiving (Lutheran Book of Worship)

“Almighty God,
Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and all whom you have made.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world
by our Lord Jesus Christ,
for the means of grace,
and for the hope of glory.

And we pray,
give us such an awareness of your mercies
that with truly thankful hearts
we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips,
but also in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you in holiness
and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages.

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• (Taken from Lutheran Book of Worship (Augsburg, 1978)

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

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)