Author: Keith C. Wessel
Last saved by: Bryan Gerlach
Company: Beautiful Savior Luth. Church

A Service of Prayer for the Nation

September 11, 2001

Opening Hymn: #517   “Almighty Father, Strong to Save”

Invocation and Prayer
P:	In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C:	Amen.

P:	Almighty God, merciful Father, our ever-present help in time of trouble, once again we have come to realize that your thoughts are not our thoughts, your ways are not our ways. In your wisdom you have permitted a disastrous _event_ to cause pain and loss. Do not let the hearts of your people despair, but sustain and comfort them. Heal the injured, console the bereaved and afflicted, protect the helpless and deliver all who are still in danger, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C:	Hear us, O Lord.

P:	Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. By your life, death, and resurrection you earned for us peace with God. In a restless and turbulent world enable us who know your peace to be peacemakers. Help us by word and example to promote harmony in our homes, places of work, churches, schools and wherever you place us in life.
C:	Hear us, O Christ.

P:	O Lord, Ruler of nations and Savior of all people, we remember before you today the men and women who serve in our nation's armed forces. Be with them, protect them, and help them faithfully to carry out their difficult duties. Relieve the anxious thoughts of loved ones who are concerned about their safety. We know, Lord, that the ultimate cause of aggression and war is sin. Lead us to repent of our sins and hold fast to your forgiving love. When you determine to restore peace, grant that what is just and right in your eyes will prevail. We ask this for Jesus' sake.
C:	Hear us, O Lord.                                  –1-

The Psalm
Psalm 140 (read responsively)

P:	Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, 
C:	who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. 

P:	They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; 
C:	the poison of vipers is on their lips.  

P:	Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; 
C:	protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet. 

P:	Proud men have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net 
C:	and have set traps for me along my path. 

P:	O LORD, I say to you, "You are my God." Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy. 
C:	O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle—

P:	Do not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD; 
C:	do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud. 

Prayer
P:	Heavenly Father, God of peace and harmony, You would have Your children on earth live together in peace and quietness. Nevertheless, in Your wisdom You have permitted this attack of terror to be unleashed against our nation. Watch over, we pray, all those whose lives have been impacted by this tragedy. Heal the injured, comfort those who mourn, and give patience and strength to those who must now wait to learn the fate of their loved ones. Give endurance to all police, fire, and medical personnel as they struggle to attend to the needs of the injured. To all those involved in the investigation of these attacks, grant patience and diligence as they go about their important work of identifying those who have brought about this great suffering. Frustrate any further attacks that may be planned, and guide the leaders of our nation so that they may act wisely in response to this crisis. Above all, enable Your holy Church to speak Your comforting Word of peace in Jesus Christ, so that in the midst of this dying world we all may know the true source of our hope; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

C:	Amen.

-2-
The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 24:1-14
	Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings.  "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
	As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 
	Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, 'and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains. 
	"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Prayer
M:	Let us pray.

	Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his name, you will be with them. Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth and in the ages to come life everlasting. 

C:	Amen.

Hymn: #441  “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”

-3-

Meditation

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. 
Psalm 46:10
The Great Litany
Prayer of Approach to God
M:	O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
C:	Have mercy on us.

M:	O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
C:	Have mercy on us.

M:	O God the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide,
C:	Have mercy on us.

M:	Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God,
C:	Have mercy on us.
Prayers for Deliverance
M:	Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses nor the offenses of our forebears. Spare us, good Lord; spare your people whom you have redeemed with your precious blood.
C:	Spare us, good Lord.

M:	From all spiritual blindness; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all lack of charity:
C:	Good Lord, deliver us.

M:	From all deadly sin and from the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil:
C:	Good Lord, deliver us.

M:	From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism, from hardness of heart and contempt for your Word and your will:
C:	Good Lord, deliver us.

M:	From earthquake and tempest; from drought, fire, and flood; from civil strife and violence; from war and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared:
C:	Good Lord, deliver us.
-4-
Prayer Recalling Christ’s Saving Work
M:	By the mystery of your holy incarnation; by your baptism, fasting, and temptation; and by your proclamation of the kingdom:
C:	Good Lord, deliver us.

M:	By your bloody sweat and bitter grief, by your cross and suffering, and by your precious death and burial:
C:	Good Lord, deliver us.

M:	By your mighty resurrection, by your glorious ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Spirit:
C:	Good Lord, deliver us.

M:	In our times of trouble, in our times of prosperity, in the hour of death, and on the day of judgment:
C:	Good Lord, deliver us.

M:	Receive our prayers, O Lord our God.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.
For the Church
M:	Govern and direct your holy Church, fill it with love and truth, and grant it that unity which is according to your will.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Enlighten all ministers with true knowledge and understanding of your Word, that by their preaching and living they may declare it clearly and show its truth.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Encourage and prosper your servants who spread the gospel in all the world, and send out laborers into the harvest.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Bless and keep your people, that all may find and follow their true vocation and ministry.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Give us hearts to love and reverence you, that we may diligently live according to your commandments.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

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M:	To all your people, give grace to hear and receive your Word and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Strengthen those who stand firm in the faith, encourage the fainthearted, raise up those who fall, and finally give us the victory.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.
For Our Country
M:	Rule the hearts of your servants, the president of the United States (or of this nation), and all others in authority, that they may do justice, love mercy, and walk in the ways of truth.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Bless and defend all who strive for our safety and protection, and shield them in all dangers and adversities.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Grant wisdom and insight to those who govern us and to judges and magistrates the grace to execute justice with mercy.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.
For All People
M:	To all nations grant unity, peace, and concord, and to all people give clothing, food, and shelter.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Grant us abundant harvests, strength and skill to conserve the resources of the earth, and wisdom to use them well.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Enlighten with your Spirit all who teach and all who learn.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Come to the help of all who are in danger, necessity, and trouble; protect all who travel by land, air, or water; and show your pity on all prisoners and captives.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

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M:	Defend and provide for the widowed and the orphaned, the refugees and the homeless, the unemployed, and all who are desolate and oppressed.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Heal those who are sick in body or mind, and give skill and compassion to all who care for them.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.

M:	Grant us true repentance, forgive our sins, and strengthen us by your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your Holy Word.
C:	Hear us, good Lord.
Concluding Prayers
M:	Son of God, we ask you to hear us.
C:	Son of God, we ask you to hear us.

M:	Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
C:	Have mercy on us.

M:	Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
C:	Have mercy on us.

M:	Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
C:	Grant us peace.

M:	Lord, have mercy on us.
C:	Christ, have mercy on us.

M:	Lord, have mercy on us.

The Lord’s Prayer
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.

-7-
M:	Let us pray.
	Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his name, you will be with them. Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth and in the ages to come life everlasting. 
C:	Amen.

The Blessing

M: God grant us a quiet night 
C:  And peace all our days.

M: The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: 	Amen.

Closing Hymn: #619   “God Bless Our Native Land”