Entrance and Departure Prayers
(a Danish tradition)
The churches in Denmark have the tradition of praying these prayers before and after the Sunday service.
I’ve added them to the prayers section of the website.
ENTRANCE PRAYER
O Lord,
God the Father, my Maker,
Lord Jesus, my Redeemer,
Holy Spirit, my Comforter in life and death,
I have entered Your house to hear what You will speak to me.
Lord, renew now my heart through Your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ,
that from Your Word
I learn to grieve over my sins,
trust in Jesus in life and in death,
and daily to better myself in holy life and conduct.
Hear and answer me through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
DEPARTURE PRAYER
O Lord,
I give thanks to You with all my heart.
You have taught me Your will that I might perform it.
Help me now, my God,
by Your Holy Spirit, for Jesus Christ's sake,
that I may treasure Your Word in a heart unblemished,
and fortified in faith,
lead a sanctified life after the manner of our forefathers,
and therein find solace in life and in death.
Amen.
Here are the Danish originals.
INDGANGSBØN
Indgangsbønnen læses af kirkesangeren, kordøren eller et andet medlem af menigheden. Under bønnen knæler præ- sten ved alteret.
Lad os alle bede!
Herre, jeg er kommet ind i dette dit hus for at høre,
hvad du, Gud Fader, min skaber,
du Herre Jesus, min frelser,
du gode Helligånd, i liv og død min trøstemand,
vil tale til mig.
Herre, oplad nu således ved din Helligånd
for Jesu Kristi skyld mit hjerte,
at jeg af dit ord kan lære
at sørge over (for) mine synder
og at tro i liv og død på Jesus
og hver dag forbedre mig i et helligt liv og levned.
Det høre og bønhøre Gud, ved Jesus Kristus. Amen.
UDGANGSBØN
Udgangsbønnen læses af kirkesangeren, kordøren eller et andet medlem af menigheden. Under bønnen knæler præ- sten ved alteret.
Lad os alle bede!
Herre, jeg takker dig af hele mit hjerte,
fordi du har lært mig, hvad du vil, at jeg skal gøre.
Hjælp mig nu, min Gud,
ved din Helligånd for Jesu Kristi skyld,
at jeg må bevare dit ord i et rent hjerte,
deraf i troen styrkes,
i et helligt levned forbædres
og mig derved i liv og død trøste. Amen.
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The Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary from the ELS retains a version of these opening and closing prayers in its first order of service. This order of service was prepared by Johannes Bugenhagen for the Danish-Norwegian church. Here are the prayers as we use them:
The Opening Prayer
O Lord, our Maker, Redeemer, and Comforter, we are assembled in Your presence to hear Your holy Word. We pray You to open our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that through the preaching of Your Word we may be taught to repent of our sins, to believe on Jesus in life and death, and to grow day by day in grace and holiness. Hear us for Christ's sake. Amen.
The Closing Prayer
O Lord, we render unto You our heartfelt thanks that You have taught us what You would have us believe and do. Help us, O God, by Your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ, to keep Your Word in pure hearts, that we thereby may be strengthened in faith, perfected in holiness, and comforted in life and death. Amen.