Gracious God and Father, watch over all your people, those who struggle with doubts, those who struggle with the labors of life, those who sometimes struggle as they seek you. Calm our hearts with your Word, and with your dear Son’s promise, “I will give you rest.” Pour out your abundant blessings on us, give us the assurance of your love in Jesus Christ. Give us confidence as we face the challenges ahead. Give us health of body and spirit, and blessings in all things; through your Son who gave himself for us so that we could be his, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Source: Paul C. Stratman, April ..read more

The book Prayers Ancient and Modern was also published under the title Great Souls at Prayer. Mary Wilder Tileston made a revised edition in 1928 in which she removed about a quarter of the prayers from the 1897 edition and added newer prayers. This revision is based on the 1897 edition to give preference to ancient prayers. A few prayers resisted revision and even rewriting. Prayers from the 1928 edition were included as replacements, noted, and the originals are included in an appendix. Devotional writing in the late 1800s was often very flowery and redundant. (“Why use one word when ten wi ..read more

Gracious Father, grant that I may never dispute your will, but accept it as the best. Prepare me always for what your plans bring forth. Do not let me murmur, be dejected, or impatient under any troubles, but let me always find rest and comfort in this, this is the will of my Father and my God; grant this for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen. Thomas Wilson (1663–1735). God, you are the consolation of all the sorrowful, and the salvation of all who put their trust in you. In our mortal life, grant us the peace for which we pray, and when this life is done, bring us to eternal joy in your presence; thr ..read more

Each day brings us a petty round of irritating concerns and duties. Help us to be mature. Help us to perform all duties with laughter and kind faces. Let our cheerfulness abound with useful work. Let us go about our business all this day without care. Bring us to our beds weary and content and innocent and grant us in the end the gift of sleep. Amen. Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894). God, through the grace of your Holy Spirit you pour the gift of love into the hearts of your faithful people. Give us health of mind and body, that we may love you with all our strength, and do what is pleasing ..read more

Dearest tender Father, our defender and nourisher, fill us with your grace, that we may open our eyes and minds, cast aside all worldly cares, and give our attention and to the study of your commands. Give your blessing to all our work and provide for all our needs, that we may be confident of your care like the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, since you have promised to care for us, and have invited us to cast our care on you; you live and reign now and forever. Amen. Henry VIII’s Primer, 1545. Lord, fill us with adoring gratitude to you for all you are for us, to us, and in us ..read more

Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern, edited by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. It will be available from Amazon.com ..read more

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, for you have granted us to pass through this day and to reach the beginning of the night. Hear our prayers and those of all your people. Forgive our sins and hear our evening requests. Send down on us the fullness of your mercy. Arm us with the armor of your righteousness, fence us round with your truth, guard us with your power. Deliver us from every assault and device of evil, and grant that we may pass this evening, and the approaching night, and all the days of our life, in the fullness of peace and holiness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen ..read more

The Service of the Sacrament begins with the Great Thanksgiving, a prayer that leads up to the Words of Institution, and in some cases includes the Words of Institution. The Great Thanksgiving begins with the same greeting as the Service of the Word. “The Lord be with you. And also with you.” Only here there is a full dialogue that follows as we begin “The Great Thanksgiving.” Some early liturgies have the Apostolic Greeting at the beginning of the Great Thanksgiving / Preface Dialogue instead of the Salutation and Response. The Great Thanksgiving The Great Thanksgiving, sung in Latin to the ..read more

At one time, Advent began near St. Martin’s Day, November 11. We’re extending the discounted price of Praying with the Readings for Year B and Historic Lectionaries, and adding the volumes for Minor Festivals and Occasions, and Now and Forever: Contemporary Collects. The sale will continue through St. Andrew’s Day, November 30. The Praying with the Readings series strives to create Prayers of the Church (Prayers of Intercession, Prayers of the People) using classic forms and presenting the needs of God’s people in fresh ways. Prayers for each Sunday and Major Festival are composed o ..read more

October 31 through November 10, the following resources will be on sale for $26.00 each: Praying with the Readings, Three-Year Lectionary, Year B (regularly $30.00) Praying with the Readings, Historic Lectionary (regularly $30.00) Each book includes directions for downloading and finding passwords to unlock the downloadable files. Download package now includes an HTML page with links to import prayers directly into Christian Worship: Service Builder with no copying or pasting. You can view all the books in the series at this link on Amazon.com ..read more