Daily Prayer
Daily Prayer is a central part of our Christian life. At St Luke's we have regular services on Sundays and mid week but have also provided here some prayers that can be used at home in the morning and the evening to help you in developing your own prayer life.
Morning and Evening Prayers
From Luther’s Small Catechism
Morning Prayer
In the morning, when you rise, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say:
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayer:
I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray Thee to keep me this day also from sin and all evil, that all my doings and life may please Thee. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to your work with joy, singing a hymn, as the Ten Commandments, or what your devotion may suggest.
The Benedictus
[Suggested for Morning Prayer]
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, ♦
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, ♦
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old ♦
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors, ♦
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: ♦
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, ♦
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, ♦
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation ♦
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God ♦
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, ♦
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say:
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayer:
I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast graciously kept me this day, and I pray Thee to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to sleep promptly and cheerfully.
The Magnificat
[Suggested at Evening Prayer]
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ♦
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed; ♦
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him, ♦
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm ♦
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones ♦
and lifting up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things ♦
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, ♦
to remember his promise of mercy,
The promise made to our ancestors, ♦
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Morning Prayer
In the morning, when you rise, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say:
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayer:
I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray Thee to keep me this day also from sin and all evil, that all my doings and life may please Thee. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to your work with joy, singing a hymn, as the Ten Commandments, or what your devotion may suggest.
The Benedictus
[Suggested for Morning Prayer]
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, ♦
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, ♦
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old ♦
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors, ♦
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: ♦
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, ♦
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, ♦
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation ♦
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God ♦
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, ♦
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say:
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayer:
I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast graciously kept me this day, and I pray Thee to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to sleep promptly and cheerfully.
The Magnificat
[Suggested at Evening Prayer]
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ♦
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed; ♦
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him, ♦
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm ♦
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones ♦
and lifting up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things ♦
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, ♦
to remember his promise of mercy,
The promise made to our ancestors, ♦
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Other Prayers
|
The Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. |
The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
The Glory be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the Beginning is now and shall be forever, Amen
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the Beginning is now and shall be forever, Amen
The Nunc Dimitis
[Suggested before sleep]
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen :
thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared :
before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
and to be the glory of thy people Israel
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever :
Amen.
[Suggested before sleep]
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen :
thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared :
before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
and to be the glory of thy people Israel
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever :
Amen.
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
