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.
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.