Invocations
Gracious God, make each of us an instrument of your grace. Weave us into a community showing forth your power and tenderness. Bless us and our differences and under gird our courage to stand together. We call on you today to gather us in your love. Lead us to better know you and glorify you on each step of the journey of our lives. In the name of Jesus, let us now keep silence and breathe in the love of God. Amen.
Sweet, loving Jesus - how often we forget that it is because of You that we live.
You made us from the very dust that You created. Then You did the most wondrous
of all things, You made us in Your image and You breathed life into us. We thank you
today for our lives and we pray that You continue to sustain us each day. From Your
heavenly place accept our prayers and our praise. Amen.
Lord, we come before you today and we thank You for all the blessings that You have given us. Many times our lives are so full of busy work that we neglect our relationship with You, for that we are sorry. We know that You never neglect us, for if You did our very lives would cease to be. Continue to pull us to Yourself, guide us in our journey, and hold us close in Your bosom until the day we come home to be with You forever. Be with us now as we gather in Your name, may we feel your presence among us. In Jesus precious name we pray. Amen.
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires know, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Christ the Lord. Amen.
From The Book of Common Prayer, 1979
Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto You and does promise that when two or three are gathered together in Your name You will grant their requests; fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Your servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
By Chrysostom
Great You are, O lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Your power, and Your wisdom is infinite. You would we praise without ceasing. You call us to delight in Your praise, for You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts find not rest until we rest in You; to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit all glory, praise, and honor be ascribed, both now and forevermore. Amen.
By St. Augustine
For the presence of God
O God, be present with us always, dwell within our hearts. With thy light and thy Spirit guide our souls, our thoughts, and all our actions, that we may teach thy Word, that thy healing power may be in us and in thy church universal. Amen.
By Melanchthon, 1550
Thanksgiving to the eternal Father
We give thanks to thee, omnipotent, everliving God of truth, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of heaven and earth, of men, and of all creature, Sustainer of all things, Giver of all life, order, and wisdom, unfailing Source of help: And to thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Word and eternal Image: And to thy Holy Spirit, with whom thou didst endow the apostles at Pentecost. We give thanks to thee, O God of holiness, and truth, wisdom and goodness, justice and mercy, purity and loving-kindness, for with goodness and wisdom unmatched thou didst reveal thyself to us, sending thy Son into the world, destined to assume human nature and to become a sacrifice for us.
We give thanks to thee, O God, for gathering thy eternal church, for guarding the ministry of thy Word, for granting thy Holy Spirit, and for giving life everlasting. We thank thee, O God, because thou givest us all good things, because thou dost alleviate and take away the chastisement we justly deserve, because thou bestowest upon us all the blessings of soul and body. To thee be all glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.
By Melanchthon, 1559
Prayers of the Reformers,
compiled by Clyde Manschreck
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
James D. Robertson,
Minister’s Worship Handbook, Gregorian Sacramentary,
Grand Rapids, Baker House, 1974
O Lord our God, who is always more ready to bestow Your good gifts upon us than we are to seek them, and Who is more willing to give more than we desire or deserve: help us so to seek You that we may truly find You, so to ask that we may joyfully receive, so to knock that the door of Your mercy may be opened for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
James D. Robertson,
Minister’s Worship Handbook, Book of Common Order of St. Giles’ Cathedral,
Grand Rapids, Baker House, 1974
“Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8)
Let us pray.
O Father, majestic is you name!
From the rising of the sun to its setting your name is to be praised,
Merciful God, gracious Lord.
Hear us in the name of Your Son,
For He has promised that where two or three of us are gathered in Your name
He would be with us and our prayer would be heard.
Hear us in the name of Your Son,
For He is the revelation of Your wisdom, the outpouring of your glory,
The incarnation of your mercy toward us and the whole human race.
To You be the glory,
All praise and honor, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One God, now and evermore. Amen.
Hughes Oliphant Old,
Leading in Prayer,
Grand Rapids: Erdmans Publishing, 1995
Almighty God, Who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee and does promise that when two or three are gathered together in Thy name you will grant their requests; fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting, Amen.
Paul E. Engle,
Baker’s Worship Handbook,
Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998
How excellent is Thy loving kindness, O God; therefore do the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. Satisfy us now with the goodness of Thy House. In Thy light make us to see light. May Thy Holy Spirit be with us in prayer and praise, in speaking and hearing from Thy Holy Word. And do Thy bless us with all spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ, for His name’s sake. Amen.
A New Directory For The Public Worship of God,
Edinburgh: MacNiven & Wallace, 1898