Dear friends in Christ, lift up your hearts to God and pray with me as Christ has taught us and graciously promised to hear us…

God, our Father in heaven, look with mercy on us, your needy children. Grant us grace, so that your name will be holy among us and all the world. Turn from us all false teaching and evil living, by which your precious name is misused and blasphemed.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Your kingdom come to us and expand, that all who are blinded and bound in by evil be brought to know Jesus Christ, and that the Church may grow.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit, to do and to respect your will, both in life and death, in good times and bad, and always to break, slay, and sacrifice our own wills.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Give us our daily bread, save us from greed and selfishness, and help us to trust that you will provide for all our needs. Lord, in your mercy,

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us, so that our hearts may rest and rejoice in a good conscience before you, and that no sin may ever frighten or alarm us.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Lead us not into temptation but help us by your Spirit to subdue our sinful desires. Help us to reject the ways of the world.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Lastly, O heavenly Father, deliver us from all evil of both body and soul, now and forever.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

(Special prayers and intercessions may follow.)

We trust, O Lord, in your great mercy that you will hear and answer us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

– Martin Luther (1483-1546AD)

– From Luther’s Works, adapted for modern english by Matt.