Title: PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Author: usr108
Last saved by: rmattek
Company: WELS

ANNIVERSARY OF A CHURCH or SCHOOL
Prayers and Litanies

Prayer of the Day
M:	O God, you have promised to be with your Church forever. We thank you for those who founded this community of believers and for the signs of your favor over these past years. Increase our faith, knit us together in the bonds of love, and make our fellowship an example to all people; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C:	Amen.
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prayer
M:	Lord God, heavenly Father, the unfailing Giver of every good gift, be beseech you to dwell continually among us with your holy Word and Sacraments, so that by grace we poor sinners may be turned to you and be saved eternally; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C:	Amen.
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PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M:	Almighty and eternal God, when the time had fully come, you sent your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to take our place under the demands of the law and to endure the just punishment for our sins. You accepted his sacrifice on the cross. You raised him from death in glorious splendor. For his sake, you richly and daily forgive the sins of all who put their trust in you.
C:	Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
M:	When the time had fully come, you bestowed your Holy Spirit on your people as a testimony that you had called them to proclaim the gospel to every creature. Equipped and encouraged, they carried the story of salvation into all the world.
C:	The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
M:	When the time had fully come, you raised up your servant Martin Luther to destroy the idols of the medieval age and to restore the pure and right teaching of the Scriptures. You renewed your people with the light of your love, you granted power and success to the proclamation of the gospel, and your holy Church grew and prospered throughout the world. 
C:	God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
M:	When the time had fully come, you brought together the founders and builders of this congregation. Guided by your Spirit, they took hold of the truth and abandoned an apathetic allegiance to your Word. They joined hands with other believers and worked together in ministry as members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. You have blessed their sons and daughters during the 150 years past and enabled us to preserve and proclaim the saving gospel of your Son. 
C:	Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
M:	Let this be the time, O Lord, when you renew us again by Word and Sacrament, when you reform our hearts and minds, and when you restore to us the joy of fellowship and service. Grant to us in this age and in this place the courage of the apostles, the steadfastness of the reformers, and the dedication of the leaders of our congregation's past.
C:	May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us or forsake us.
M:	Let this be a time, O Lord, for confession and repentance. For Jesus' sake forgive us whenever we love ourselves more than you and whenever we serve ourselves instead of your people. Forgive us for the apathy that harms our faith and hinders our work. Forgive us for boasting of our past achievements and for blaming others for our present problems. Rid us of indifference for public worship and continued growth in your Word, destroy all distrust that may plague us, and shatter every thought and word which harms the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.
C:	Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
M:	Let this be the time, O Lord, when we recommit and re-consecrate ourselves to the ministry of the gospel of your Son. Let us find joy in our unity, zeal for our work, and, if it is your will, success in our labor. And give us faith, O Lord, to truly be, in our thoughts, words, and actions, what you have called us to be--witnesses of your grace! 
C:	May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
M:	Keep in your care, O Lord, all those we love, those who are close by and those far from home. Protect them from temptation and every spiritual evil. Watch over those among us who are lonely or distressed, those who are afraid and facing danger, those who have pain of body or mind, and those who are at the hour of death.
	Hear the prayers your people bring you this day, O Lord, and answer them according to your wisdom and grace.
C:	Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
© 1999 Christian Worship: Altar Book, #59. Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
	O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. At this anniversary we reflect on your past help and are encouraged in our hope for the future.
	We praise you for keeping and sustaining your people throughout the ages and for preserving the preaching of your Word and the administration of your Sacraments among us. We praise you also for using us to touch others with the good news that sinners are reconciled to you through the life and death of Jesus Christ.
	Now we ask you to give us courage and hope as we move day by day into the future. Keep safe all those who assemble here in your name. Do not permit the evil one to pluck us out of your mighty hand. Strengthen us in the confidence that you have already overcome our greatest enemies: sin, death and the devil. Increase our trust in your precious promise that you are with us always. Cause your Holy Spirit to work mightily in us and through us, so that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Be with us as we strive to pass down to our children the truths that have been passed down to us. Continue to make our congregation a beacon of your light in this sin-darkened world.
	Special prayers and intercessions may follow.
	Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
	Silent prayer.
	Grant that this celebration of your gracious activity in years and ages past be only the prelude to that far greater celebration we will enjoy forever in the joy and glory of the world to come. Still be our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home. 
C:	Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
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litany
M:	Lord God, heavenly Father,
		For calling us to faith through your Word and bringing us together in the body of Christ;
		For awakening us to the urgency of your mission;
		For the privilege of taking your Word into all the world;
C:	We give you humble thanks and praise.
M:	This day, O Lord, we remember the past:
		We remember the missionary vision of those who first came to ___________;
		We remember their determination to show others how beautiful it is to live with Jesus;
		We remember their willingness to say, “Here am I! Send me!”
C:	Give us, we pray, that same vision and determination.
M:	This day, O Lord, we reflect on the task:
		We reflect on being equipped with the power of your Word;
		We reflect on being chosen as your ambassadors;
		We reflect on being entrusted with the message of reconciliation;
C:	Cause our reflection to lead us to action.
M:	This day, O Lord, we look forward to rejoicing that will last;
		To the rejoicing that will be ours in heaven;
		To the rejoicing others will experience through our missionary efforts;
		To the rejoicing that takes place in heaven when one sinner repents;
C:	May that future joy be ours now and always. Amen.
from 150th anniversary service bulletin of St Lorenz, Frankenmuth, Michigan
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LITANY
M:	In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For the peace from above and for our salvation, 
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all,
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For pastors, missionaries, and teachers, for all servants of the Church, and for all people,
C: 	Lord, have mercy.
M: 	For our public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may be upheld and strengthened in every good deed,
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and every place,
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times,
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in our congregations, those who toil, those who sing, and all people here present. who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, 
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord. 
C:	Lord, have mercy.
M:	For the faithful who have gone before us and are at rest, let us give thanks to the Lord. 
C:	Thanks be to God.
M:	Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
	Silence for meditation
M:	Rejoicing in the fellowship of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ, our Lord.
C:	To you, O Lord. Amen.
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PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M:	O Lord, our God, how glorious is your name in all the earth. You have made us, and you still preserve us with everything we need to nourish our body and bring joy to our life.
C:	You are our gracious Father in heaven.
M:	Lord, our God, how glorious is your name in all the earth! You have freed us lost and condemned creatures from the curse of sin, from the sting of death, and from slavery to the devil.
C:	You made us your own that we may serve you with a joyful heart.
M:	You have united us into one family through our Lord Jesus Christ and kept us in the true faith.
C:	Give us the gifts of the Spirit: unwavering trust, love that knows no limit, and courage to meet every trial now and at the end of our life.
M:	You have been good to us for so many years and given us many opportunities to glorify your name and proclaim your wonderful deeds from one generation to another.
C : 	We thank you for upholding your little flock through fortune and misfortune, through times of war and peace, of depression, recession, and prosperity. 
M: 	We praise you that you have prospered Christian Education among us, by which the truths of our Savior are imprinted on young souls.
C:	We thank you for the ministry and service of the called workers and lay volunteers now fallen asleep.
M: 	Keep your little flock firm in faith and steadfast in their service, so that generations yet unborn may share your gift of eternal life.
C: 	Continue to be with us in the future as you have been in the past.
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Dialog of Remembrance
P.	Throughout history God has blessed his Church. In 1846 God, through the work of missionary __________ gathered Christians at this place................
C: 	Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. We shall not die but live and declare the praises of God.
M:	[continue with a brief recounting of the parish’s history] We join in thanks to our God for these called workers God has provided us with in the past, since:
C: 	It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
M:	Even as King David desired to build God a house of worship, so also ________ congregation laid plans [continue with a brief recounting of the parish’s history] For these blessings and their sanctified use we admit
C: 	Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
M:	[continue with a brief recounting of the parish’s history] Growth came not only from within, but also from without as God moved the hearts of non-members to join the flock....... For the growth God has granted we confess:
C: 	Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow-workers.
M:	The devil would have us glory in none other than outward achievements, rather than praise God for his marvelous grace. Workers, buildings, and growth in numbers are all blessings from God. Still, what remains our crowning jewel is the Gospel, preached through the Word and administered through the sacraments. Throughout its history, Calvary. has acknowledged God’s sovereignty and his grace by conducting regular worship, distributing the sacraments, offering opportunities for Bible Study, using the keys of the kingdom of heaven, carrying on personal ministry, and training the youth. All these have been used with God's command, holding firmly to these three promises of God:
C: 	Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
	“This is my body,” and “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
	This water symbolizes that baptism that now saves you.
M:	Eden was a paradise. We live in a sinful world. Our Lord instructed us to bear our crosses and follow him. __________ has weathered rocky paths in the past, dealing with sin and sinners, personality clashes, financial challenges, and spurts of growth and decline. And there have been joys: God claimed little babies for himself through water and the Word, he warmed cold adult hearts by the Gospel, he recalled impenitent sinners back to his fold, and faithful saints were laid to rest in his sure hands. The apostle Paul echoes our sentiments, saying:
C:	I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
M:	Already in Eden God promised the solution for sin by his grace. Lord, that grace is what has taken __________ through these past ___ years. Your grace provided wisdom, love, patience, and courage. Your grace gave contentment, kindness, and a spirit of service. Lord, we confess that we live alone by grace through faith. Make us ever mindful of our total dependence upon your grace for life, health, and eternity:
C:	I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm- – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.
from the church  anniversary service bulletin of Calvary, Dallas, Texas
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Dialog of Promises
P.	Gracious Father, for centuries you promised a Savior who would crush the head of Satan. You revived Adam and Eve with this promise. You uttered it again to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You announced it from the mountaintops through your prophets Moses, Isaiah, David, and others. And when your time was right, you fulfilled your promise through your Son, Jesus Christ We stand here today as spiritual heirs of the forgiveness you promised and accomplished through Christ.
C: 	Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
M:	Almighty Father, together with your Son you promised to send the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost you vividly displayed the keeping of that promise. Today this promise continues in its fulfillment as you send your Holy Spirit to our hearts through the gospel in Word and Sacraments which are administered in this congregation and around the world.
C: 	The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
P.	We are attacked on every side. Our flesh tempts us from within, the world tempts us from without, and the Devil schemes with both our flesh and this world. Though all else will fail, we rely on your Word, because the promises you give us there will survive
C: 	God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
P.	When your Holy Christian Church has struggled, your wisdom always prevailed. You have had plans and ideas for us - you have had a direction you wanted to lead us.
C: 	Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
M:	Renew us again through Word and Sacrament, reform our hearts and minds, and restore to us the joy of fellowship and service. Grant to us in this age and in this place the courage of the apostles, the steadfastness of the reformers, and the dedication of the fathers of our church's past.
C: 	May the Lord be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us or forsake us.
M:	Let this be a time, O Lord, of confession and repentance. Forgive us for the apathy which harms our faith and hinders our work. Forgive us for boasting of our past achievements and for blaming other for our present problems. Rid us of indifference for public worship, destroy the distrust that plagues us, and shatter every thought and word which harms the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.
C:	Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
P.	Let us find joy in our unity, zeal for our work, and if it is your will, success in our labor. Give us faith to take up again the trumpet none can silence or mistake – for all the world to hear: The feast is ready! Come to the feast!
C: 	Amen!
from the church  anniversary service bulletin of Calvary, Dallas, Texas