Evening Prayer

[In the evening, when you go to bed, you shall make the sign of the holy cross, and you shall say:]

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[Then, kneeling or standing, you shall say the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. Then you may say this prayer:]

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that Youhave graciously kept me this day; and I pray You to forgive me all my sins where Ihave done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands Icommend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be withme, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

[And then lie down in peace, and sleep.]

Soli Deo Gloria

I Pray the Catechism

Lenten daily prayers based on Dr. Martin Luther

sSmall Catechism

Prepared by the ELS board for Parish Education & Youth Adapted by Pastor Shawn D. Stafford

In the early Church, Lent was a time when the catechumens- those people,who, after a long period of instruction, were now preparing for baptism onEaster morning. They “walked the way of Lent and Easter,” as in baptism,they would share in the mystery of Christ’ s death and resurrection, buried andraised with Him.This year, during Lent, we too, with the catechumens, will “walk the way of Lent and Easter,” by meditating on the basic teachings of the faith as MartinLuther expressed them in the Small Catechism.It has been said that

part of the genius of the

Small Catechism

is that it is theonly catechism ever written that is capable of being prayed. One can simplyopen the Catechism and begin at any point and address the words to the Lord.Concerning the use of the Catechism for daily prayer and meditation, MartinLuther wrote,

“I, too, am a doctor and a preacher - yes, and as learned and experienced as any of those who act so high and mighty. Yet I do as a child who is being taught the Catechism. Every morning, and whenever else I havetime, I read and recite word for word the Lord's Prayer, the TenCommandments, the Creed, the Psalms, etc. I must still read and study theCatechism daily, yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and I do it gladly”

(Large Catechism, Preface, 7-8;Tappert, p. 359). Luther was so delighted with the Catechism as a resource forworship and devotion, that he wrote a hymn for each of the six chief parts.This booklet has been adapted from an ELS Board of Parish Education andYouth publication entitled, “I Pray the Catechism.” Included with prayersbased on Luther’s

Small Catechism

are also some verses from Luther’scatechetical hymns. It is intended to serve as a daily prayer guide during Lent.For further devotional material based on the Catechism, the following aresuggested:

Lauersdorf, Richard E.

As Luther Taught the Word of Truth

. Northwestern PublishingHouse, 2002.Lucas, James A.

What’s That Supposed to Mean?

CSS Publishing, 2000.Luther, Martin. A Simple Way to Pray. Translated by C.J. Trapp. NorthwesternPublishing House, 1983.

The Lord Will Answer: A Daily Prayer Catechism

. Concordia Publishing House, 2004.

Prayers for Daily Use

Morning Prayer

[In the morning, when you rise you shall make the sign of the holy cross, and you shall say:]

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[Then, kneeling or standing, you shall say the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. Then you may say this prayer:]

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that Youhave kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray You to protect me thisday also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

[And then you should go with joy to your work, singing a hymn, or the Ten Commandments or whatever your devotion may suggest.]

Prayers Before Eating

The eyes of all wait upon You, O Lord, and You give them their food in due season;You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these Your gifts which we receive fromYour bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayers After Eating

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.We thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for allYour benefits, You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Good Friday, April 10, 2009

Hymn: 327:3 "O Lord, We Praise Thee"

3. May God bestow on us His grace and favor To please Him with our behavior And live as brethren here in love and union Nor repent this blest Communion!O Lord, have mercy!Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;Grant that heav'nly minded He make us;Give Thy Church, Lord, to seeDays of peace and unity:O Lord, have mercy!

Holy Saturday, April 11, 2009

On Being Rightly Prepared

O God, help me to be rightly prepared to receive the Lord’s Supper. While fastingand other outward preparations serve a good purpose, make me truly worthy andwell prepared by strengthening my faith in these Words, “given and shed for youfor the remission of sins.” Take away any unbelief and overcome any doubts that Imay have in these Words, for I do not wish to be unprepared or unworthy. LordJesus, give me a believing heart that the Words “for you” truly are for me. Amen.

Part I –

The Ten Commandments

As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household

“I am the Lord your God.”

Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The 1

Commandment

You shall have no

other gods.

O Lord, my God, You command me to have no other gods. May I fear, love, andtrust in You above anything else; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Lord. Amen.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The 2

Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.

O God, You command me not to take Your name in vain. May I so fear and loveYou, that I do not use Your name to curse, swear, practice witchcraft, lie, or deceive. Instead, lead me to call upon You in every trouble, to always pray and praise and give You thanks; through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Friday, February 27, 2009

The 3

Commandment

You shall keep the Day of Rest holy.

O God, You command me to keep the Lord’s Day holy. May I so fear and loveYou, that I do not neglect Your Word and the preaching of it, but cause me toregard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it; through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.