A Liturgy for the Home
The following service order is intended for use in the home at a time when we cannot gather as we desire in church. It may be led by a family member, or if you are alone, you may use it by yourself, in which case, simply chant or speak all the parts.
This is not a substitute for the Divine Service of the gathered church, but a provision for household devotion and prayer.
You may also use the service orders of Matins, Morning Prayer, Vespers, Evening Prayer, or Compline depending on the time of day.
For a simple service order, see Daily Prayer (Lutheran Service Book p.294ff).
The First Sunday in Advent
---NOTE: Mid-week sermons will be published on Pastor's blogsite and not here.---
Leader: O Lord, open my lips.
Response: And my mouth will declare your praise.
L: Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
R: Make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
L: Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in Thee: let me not be ashamed,
R: Let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed:
L: Show me Thy ways, O LORD;
R: Teach me Thy paths.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
L: Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in Thee: let me not be ashamed,
R: Let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed:
L: Let us pray:
Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O LORD and come: that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Thy Mighty Deliverance; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end.
R: Amen.
L: Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
R: Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
L: Show us Thy mercy, O LORD,
R: And grant us Thy salvation. ALLELUIA!
THE APOSTLES CREED (confessed together)
THE PRAYERS
L: In peace, let us pray to the Lord,
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the gift of divine peace and of pardon, with all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord,
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the joy of the resurrection and the proclamation of Jesus’ saving death throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord,
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the holy Church, here and scattered throughout the world, and for the proclamation of the Gospel and the calling of all to faith, and for newborn Christians everywhere, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For congregations, that we would soon be able to gather again as a body, and for their preservation in this time of scattering, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For our nation and our leaders, for our cities and communities, and for the common welfare of us all,
let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For rain and sunshine in due season and for the fruitfulness of the earth, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For those who labor, for those whose work is difficult or dangerous, and for all who travel, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the unemployed, for those who businesses are closed, for the economy and for the vocations of our people,
let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For all those in need, for the hungry and homeless, for the widowed and orphaned, and for all those in prison,
let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the sick and the dying, and for all those who care for them, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For doctors, nurses, orderlies, EMT workers, and all who work in hospitals and medical clinics, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For those who are alone, afraid, isolated from family, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For [insert any additional bids, others may also contribute their own bids in the same form for all manner of people, needs, and
circumstances] … let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: Finally, for these and all our needs of body and soul, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
THE LORD'S PRAYER (prayed together)
L: Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
R: Amen
(Morning) I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day 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 evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
(Evening) I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
L: Let us bless the Lord.
R: Thanks be to God.
L: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the +Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us.
R: Amen.