Category: Prayers

Merciful Father,

We confess that our hearts are deceitful and only You can understand the depths of our sins. We are full of spiritual infirmities and our sins are frequent. We are a fountain of pollution, and we would be as bad as we could be were it not for your grace. Our minds are buckets without a bottom, with no spiritual understanding, no desire for the Lord’s Day, our consciences are without conviction or contrition; at times we think so highly of ourselves that we feel we have nothing to repent of. And when we do know what we ought to repent, our spirits are so weak, that we flee from Your presence. We are a fading leaf that the wind blows away, were it not for your electing mercy. Lord, teach us to speak the language of repentance. Strengthen us even now as we bring our sins to you and cleanse us by the blood of Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ.

Let us pray
Father,
you revealed your Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star.
Lead us to your glory in heaven
by the light of faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our prayers for Doug Wilson who is currently on a tour debating atheist Christopher Hitchens.  After Bahnsen, Wilson is one of the most able debaters in the Van Tilian tradition. Next debate: Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia.

And thus you shall greet him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.

I Samuel 25:6

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest.

Almighty God, father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants
give you most humble and hearty thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness.
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 give us, we pray,
such a sense of all your mercies
that our hearts may be unfeignèdly thankful,
and that we show forth your praise,
not only with our lips but 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 all honour and glory,
for ever and ever.  Amen.                    

O Jesus,
our most loving Redeemer,
who having come to enlighten the world
with Thy teaching and example,
didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life
in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph
in the poor home of Nazareth,
thus sanctifying the Family
that was to be an example for all Christian families,
graciously receive our family as it dedicates
and consecrates itself to Thee this day.
Do Thou protect us,
guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear,
true peace and concord in Christian love:
in order that by living according to the divine pattern
of Thy family we may be able,
all of us without exception,
to attain to eternal happiness.

O God, we praise Thee,
and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships Thee.
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to Thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The wonderful company of Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges Thee:
The Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest it upon Thyself to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin’s womb.
Having overcome the sting of death,
Thou opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou willst come to be our Judge.
We, therefore, beg Thee to help Thy servants
whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Let them be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.

V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance!
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.

V. Every day we thank Thee.
R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yes, forever and ever.

V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee.
R. O Lord, in Thee I have hoped; let me never be put to shame.

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy division; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.