11/01/2021
Prayer of the Church
Reformation Day
31 October 2021
Gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for the comfort of the Gospel restored to Your Church on earth through the work of Martin Luther and other faithful pastors and leaders during the Reformation. We praise You that by Your rich grace we have come to the sure knowledge that we stand justified before You, not by what we have done, but rather by faith in what Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, has done on our behalf. We implore You, defend Your Church from all enemies of Your saving Word. Cause Your eternal Gospel to be proclaimed in our time to every nation, tribe, language and people on earth, and graciously preserve Your truth for generations to come. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, make us truly Your disciples. Keep us in Your Word, free us from all errors, and make our homes and families peaceful. Preserve all fathers and encourage them for their godly task, that children would be brought up in the fear and instruction of the Lord. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Be with our catechumens. Teach us also to hear and learn Your Word anew as disciples with them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on our nation. Give us good and faithful rulers who will govern after Your good pleasure. Give us comfort and a right understanding of Your rule in this world, that we would not be deceived to think earthly powers will last forever, but have confidence in You alone. Your kingdom come! Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear our prayers for the sick, the joyful and those in any need. Answer their prayers, preserve them by Your promises and bring them safely through this world to everlasting life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
You have given us the certainty of sins forgiven in Your Son, set forth as the propitiation for our sins by His blood to be received by faith. So lead us to eat and drink Your holy body and precious blood in repentance and faith, now and always. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank You that You have brought us by Your Word out of the darkness of error and into the light of Your grace. Mercifully help us to walk in that light. Guard us from error and false doctrine, and grant that we do not become ungrateful and despise Your Word, but receive it with all our heart, conduct our lives according to it and put our trust in Your grace; through the merits of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
