A Service 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: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
R: will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
L: I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
R: my God, in whom I trust,
L: Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place –
R: the Most High, who is my refuge –
L: no evil shall be allowed to befall you;
R: no plague come near your tent.
L: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
R: will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

L: Gracious God, our heavenly Father, Your mercy attends us all our days. Be our strength and support amid the wearisome changes of this world, and at life’s end grand us Your promised rest and the full joys of Your salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
R: Amen.

READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE
Zechariah 9:9-12
Psalm 145:1-14 (antiphon v. 19)
Romans 7:14-25
Matthew 11:25-30

L: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
R: How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
L: For from him and through him and to him are all things.
R: To him be glory forever. Amen.

HYMN – Come Unto Me, Ye Weary (LSB #684)

SERMON – Romans 7:14-25

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 right confession of the Faith and for true unity in the Spirit, let us pray to the Lord,
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the holy Church, here and scattered to the ends of the earth; let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the gathered and the scattered, for all our congregations; 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, acting for the common good and welfare of all, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For peace in our times, for justice in our land, for the opportunity of all to exercise their gifts in vocation, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For those who maintain order and enforce the law, that they be protected in their duty and serve the cause of peace, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For those who care for our health, our doctors, nurses, and medical workers, researchers and technicians, those who labor in hospitals and nursing homes, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the poor, the unemployed, for those in need, let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the restoration of our priestly image that we may again reflect your goodness and mercy in our common humanity; for healing among our people, for mutual understanding, compassion, and empathy; let us pray to the Lord;
R: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the right use of our liberties, as we celebrate our independence, that we would use our freedom not in self-service but in self-sacrifice for the common good and welfare of all; 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.