A Liturgy for the Home

The following service order is intended for use in the home at a time when our congregation cannot gather. It may be lead by a family member, or if you live alone, you may use it by yourself, in which case, simply say all parts. Of course this is not intended to be a substitute for the Divine Service of the gathered church, but as 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 (LSB p. 294ff) .

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 Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

L: I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
R: to you, O LORD, I will make music.
L: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
R: Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
L: Know that the LORD, he is God!
R: It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
L: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
R: Give thanks to him; bless his name!
L: For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
R: and his faithfulness to all generations.
L: I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
R: to you, O LORD, I will make music.

L: O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
R: Amen.

READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE

Acts 1:12-26
Psalm 68:1-10 (antiphon: v. 32)
1 Peter 5:12-19; 5:6-11
John 17:1-11

L: Alleluia! We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again;
R: Death no longer has dominion over Him.
L: Alleluia! I will not leave you as orphans;
R: I will come to you. Alleluia!

HYMN – Christ is the World’s Redeemer (LSB #539)

SERMON – “Jesus Prays for His Church”

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, the confidence of Jesus’ ascension, and the proclamation of His saving death throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord,
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the holy Church, here and scattered to the ends of the earth, for the proclamation of the Gospel far and wide; let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For congregations including our own, that they would soon be able to gather again, for the Spirit’s care and preservation in this time of scattering, for a renewed sense of the presence of Christ in our hearts; let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For our Preschool and AfterSchool, for our directors Vicki and Kristy, and for all our staff and children; let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For our nation and our leaders, our president, Congress, and courts, our governors, mayors, and all who lead our public life, that they would be guided in all wisdom in their policies, acting for the common welfare and protection of all, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: In thanksgiving for those who have given their lives in service and protection of country, remembering their sacrifice, cherishing our liberties and using them in sacrificial service of one another; let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For rain and sunshine in due season, for a bountiful harvest, for daily bread on our tables, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For those whose work is difficult or dangerous, for medical workers, emergency workers, and all who labor, for our economy and the economies of this world, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the poor, the unemployed, for those who have lost their jobs to this pandemic, 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, for those who are alone, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the victims of abuse and for all whose homes are not safe shelters, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the sick and dying, and for all those who care for them, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For those who grieve the death of loved ones, that they would be comforted by the death and resurrection of Jesus; 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 Our Father (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 take them to heart 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.