Pastor’s Prayers

“O God, my Father, I see that in my inmost being I am made for confidence and trust, and not for worry and anxiety. You have fashioned me for faith and not for fear. Help me then to surrender to what I am made for—faith. Let me this day walk forth in confidence faith, afraid of nothing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

–E. Stanley Jones

Blessed be God and the Father of all mercy, who continues to pour his benefits upon us! You have elected us, you have called us, you have justified us, sanctified, and glorified us.

You were born for us, and you lived and died for us. You have given us the blessings of this life, and of a better. O Lord! Your blessings hang in clusters, they come trooping upon us! They break forth like mighty waters on every side.

And now Lord, you have fed us with the bread of life. So man did eat Angel’s food. O Lord, bless it. O Lord, make it health and strength unto us, still striving and prospering so long within us, until our obedience reach the measure of your love, who has done for us as much as may be.

Grant this dear Father, for your Son’s sake, our only Saviour, to whom with you, and the Holy Ghost — three Persons but one most glorious, incomprehensible God — be ascribed all honour, and glory, and praise forever. Amen.

–George Herbert, “A Prayer After the Sermon”

O God, we who are bound together in the tender ties of love, pray thee for a day of unclouded love. May no passing irritation rob us of our joy in one another. Forgive us if we have been swift to see the human failings, and slow to feel the preciousness of those who are still the dearest comfort in our life. May there be no sharp words that wound and scar, and no rift that may grow into estrangement. Suffer us not to grieve those whom thou hast sent to us as the sweet ministers of love. May our eyes not be so holden by selfishness that we know thine angels only when they spread their wings to return to thee. Amen.

–Walter Rauschenbusch

We beseech You, Master, to be our helper and protector.Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly;Raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly;Restore the wanderers of Your people;Feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners; Raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.

–St Clement of Rome, 1st century-101 AD

“Lord, please restore to us the comfort of merit and demerit. Show us that there is at least something we can do. Tell us that at the end of the day there will at least be one redeeming card of our very own. Lord, if it is not too much to ask, send us to bed with a few shreds of self-respect upon which we can congratulate ourselves. But whatever you do, do not preach grace. Give us something to do, anything; but spare us the indignity of this indiscriminate acceptance.”
–Robert Farrar Capon

Lord, Father all-powerful
        and ever-living God, I thank You, for
        even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not
        because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy,
        You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son,
        our Lord Jesus Christ.
        I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me
        condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation.
        May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will.
 May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions.
        May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience,
        and growth in the power to do good.
        May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible,
        and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses,
        bodily and spiritual.
        May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me
        safely through death to everlasting happiness with You.
        And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you,
        with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total
        fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect
        happiness to your saints. grant this through Christ our Lord,
        AMEN.

–Prayer of Thanksgiving by Thomas Aquinas