Prayers
The Great Litany
O Lord, have mercy.
O Christ, have mercy.
O Lord, have mercy.
God the Father, in heaven, have mercy.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy.
God the Holy Spirit. have mercy.
Be gracious to us. Spare us, good Lord.
Be gracious to us. Help us, good Lord.
From all sin, from all error, from all evil; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from sudden and evil death; from pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed; from sedition and from rebellion; from lightning and tempest; from all calamity by fire and water; and from everlasting death; Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy nativity; by Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your cross and passion; by Your precious death and burial; by Your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter; Help us, good Lord.
In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our prosperity, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Help us, good Lord.
We poor sinners implore You, To hear us, O Lord.
To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church, to preserve all pastors and ministers of Your church in the true knowledge and understanding of Your wholesome Word and to sustain the in holy living; to put an end to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived; to beat down Satan under our feet; to send faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace and Spirit; We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
To raise those that fall and to strengthen those that stand, and to comfort and help the weakhearted and the distressed, We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in ever time of need; to direct and defend our president and governor and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people; to watch over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and guide all who travel; to grant all women with child, and all mothers with infant children, increasing happiness in their blessing; to defend all orphans and widows and provide for them; to strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all; We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth; and graciously to hear our prayers; We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, We implore You to hear us.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Have mercy.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Have mercy.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Grant us Your peace.
O Christ, Hear us.
O Lord, Have mercy.
O Christ, Have mercy.
O Lord, Have mercy. Amen
For the Church
Almighty God, grant to Your church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; through Jesus Christ, our Lord
Defending the Church from error
Almighty and everlasting God, You would have all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. By Your almighty power and unsearchable wisdom break and hinder all counsels of those who hate Your Word and who, by corrupt teaching, would destroy it. Enlighten them with the knowledge of Your glory that they may know the riches of Your heavenly grace and, in peace and righteousness, serve You, the only true God; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For persecuted Christians
Lord Jesus Christ, before whom all in heaven and on earth shall bow, grant courage that Your children may confess Your saving name in the face of any opposition from a world hostile to the gospel. Help them to remember Your faithful people who sacrificed much and even faced death rather than dishonor You when called upon to deny the faith. By Your Spirit, strengthen them to be faithful and confess You boldly, knowing that You will confess Your own before the Father in heaven, with whom You and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, now and forever.
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.
O Lord, have mercy.
O Christ, have mercy.
O Lord, have mercy.
God the Father, in heaven, have mercy.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy.
God the Holy Spirit. have mercy.
Be gracious to us. Spare us, good Lord.
Be gracious to us. Help us, good Lord.
From all sin, from all error, from all evil; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from sudden and evil death; from pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed; from sedition and from rebellion; from lightning and tempest; from all calamity by fire and water; and from everlasting death; Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy nativity; by Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your cross and passion; by Your precious death and burial; by Your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter; Help us, good Lord.
In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our prosperity, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Help us, good Lord.
We poor sinners implore You, To hear us, O Lord.
To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church, to preserve all pastors and ministers of Your church in the true knowledge and understanding of Your wholesome Word and to sustain the in holy living; to put an end to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived; to beat down Satan under our feet; to send faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace and Spirit; We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
To raise those that fall and to strengthen those that stand, and to comfort and help the weakhearted and the distressed, We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in ever time of need; to direct and defend our president and governor and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people; to watch over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and guide all who travel; to grant all women with child, and all mothers with infant children, increasing happiness in their blessing; to defend all orphans and widows and provide for them; to strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all; We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth; and graciously to hear our prayers; We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, We implore You to hear us.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Have mercy.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Have mercy.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Grant us Your peace.
O Christ, Hear us.
O Lord, Have mercy.
O Christ, Have mercy.
O Lord, Have mercy. Amen
For the Church
Almighty God, grant to Your church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; through Jesus Christ, our Lord
Defending the Church from error
Almighty and everlasting God, You would have all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. By Your almighty power and unsearchable wisdom break and hinder all counsels of those who hate Your Word and who, by corrupt teaching, would destroy it. Enlighten them with the knowledge of Your glory that they may know the riches of Your heavenly grace and, in peace and righteousness, serve You, the only true God; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For persecuted Christians
Lord Jesus Christ, before whom all in heaven and on earth shall bow, grant courage that Your children may confess Your saving name in the face of any opposition from a world hostile to the gospel. Help them to remember Your faithful people who sacrificed much and even faced death rather than dishonor You when called upon to deny the faith. By Your Spirit, strengthen them to be faithful and confess You boldly, knowing that You will confess Your own before the Father in heaven, with whom You and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, now and forever.
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.