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 Responsive Reading For Maundy Thursday

“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.

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• From the 1951 Lutheran Book of Prayer

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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)

Thanksgiving Day Prayers (Lutheran Books of Prayer)

“Great and merciful God and Father, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, on this day of our national thanksgiving, I appear before Thee with gratitude in my heart and praise upon my lips. I extol Thee who hast opened Thy hands to supply our needs and Thy heart to forgive us our many sins. Thou hast permitted our fields to be tilled, the seed to be sown, the grain to ripen, the harvest to be gathered, gardens and orchards to give their yield. Thou hast prospered industries and business. Thou hast blessed the labors of our hands. Thou has preserved peace within our borders and spared our country from the horrors of war. Thou hast mercifully permitted the nation to pursue its course under the protection of our Constitution, granting us liberty of conscience and worship, freedom of speech and movement. I confess that we are unworthy of all these many blessings and undeserving of Thy love. Forgive us our many transgressions, and draw us closer to the heart of Christ, our Redeemer, who has atoned for all our iniquities. Continue Thy blessings on our beloved land; grant us an enduring peace and continued prosperity; graciously provide employment for all breadwinners. Let Thy Gospel be preached throughout the length and breadth of the nation for the salvation of many souls. Hear me for the sake of Thy Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. (1951 Lutheran Book of Prayer)

Heavenly Father,

From whom come all good and perfect gifts,

from whom come mercies new each day,

from whom come blessings beyond measure:

Accept our thanksgiving

for protection and those who provide it,

for daily bread and those who prepare it,

for clothing and those who manufacture it,

for family and those dear to us,

for friends and those associated with us,

for jobs and those working with us,

for social security and support programs.

We confess we think too little

about the fact that we deserve nothing,

about the many who serve us,

about the blessings of Your Spirit.

We pray You,

forgive our ingratitude,

open our eyes to behold Your goodness,

fill our hearts with thankfulness,

make us respond in appreciation,

help us to serve in love.

We thank You: through Christ, our Lord,

Your best gift to us. Amen.

(1970 Lutheran Book of Prayer)

Wednesday Morning

“Lord God,

You have given me another day,

a day to live in your service

and for the good of my fellow people.

I am indeed a poor tool in your hand

and deserving to be cast aside.

Forgive me all my sins for Jesus’ sake,

and by your Spirit, grant me fitness for the work of today.

I ask you to make me mindful, dear Lord,

that I am but a stranger and a pilgrim in this present world.

Let me not devote my efforts today to purposes unworthy of you;

let me not gather treasures merely for this world;

let me not serve money and greed.

This life is but a vain show; let me not search for an abiding city here.

But, Lord, fasten my heart and hope on the life that is in you,

and let my strivings and desires be directed to the treasure of your Love.

As long as I am in the land of my pilgrimage,

hold my hand; keep me from every path that strays.

If I should stumble in sinful weakness, grant me repentance and faith.

For Jesus’ sake.

Amen.”

(taken from the 1951 Lutheran Book of Prayer)