Monday, April 26, 2010

Not TDP - Prayer of the Church for the 40th Anniversary of St. Peter's Sanctuary

(revised from TLH's companion book, "The Lutheran Liturgy")


P    We thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father that Your Son has built Your Church upon His Word and Sacraments.  Through the work of the Holy Spirit, You have given us the privilege of enjoying Your Holy Gospel in this house of worship to this day.

      We humbly ask You to graciously preserve this beloved sanctuary for us, for our children, and for the strangers we do not yet know, but whom You love.  Let Your glory dwell in this place for many more generations.  Keep safe those who will work on its repairs in the coming months.  At all times give us godly preachers who will care for Your Church by feeding the pure Word to Your flock.  Open the ears of all who come here, so that they might listen to Your Son’s voice with gladness, and follow Him to eternal life.  We confess that we have turned a deaf ear to You far too often and we deserve for You to be silent.  But by the work and for the sake of Christ, we ask You to forgive our sins.  Restore and renew us daily in Your truth and faithfulness.  Do this work not only among us, but provide workers for Your harvest around the World, especially as You guide Rev. Sieveking and all the District Presidents in their decisions on where to send men to serve as Pastors.  Use them to do Your work of washing the robes of every nation, tribe, people, and language and make them white in the blood of the Lamb, bringing them safely through death to eternal life.

P    By Holy Baptism, continue in this and all places to receive little children into communion with You, and keep them in Your gracious covenant by Your mighty power.  Grant repentance and true faith to those who desire the blessing of absolution.  Comfort souls and strengthen faith at this altar with the true body and most holy blood of Christ. 

P    O Lord, when we bring to You our offerings of thanksgiving for the gifts of Your bounty, accept the sacrifice and bless us in all our labors, so that our joy may be full.  When we offer to You our prayers for the Church, for our nation’s President and all in authority, and for all sorts and conditions of people, may it please You to hear our supplications.  Pour out Your blessings upon all for whom intercession is made here – upon confirmands, husbands and wives, parents and children, the needy, the afflicted, and those who give thanks.  Especially today do we pray in thanksgiving for the pastors, teachers and members who have served St. Peter Lutheran Church.  Let Your holy angel be with them, that the evil foe may have no power over them.

P    O God, our help in ages past and our hope for years to come, we praise You that by the death and Resurrection of the Good Shepherd, You have brought our dead loved ones to dwell with You in Your House forevermore.  Grant us Your Holy Spirit, that we may together with them look forward to the joy of our resurrection; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, one God, now and forever.  Amen.
  

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