Friedrich Lochner's Prayer at the Opening Service of a Synodical Assembly

Friedrich Lochner's Prayer at the Opening Service of a Synodical Assembly

Almighty, merciful God and Father, who hast called us also to the communion of Thy holy church on earth and blessed us with her treasures of grace: we beseech Thee to continue to preserve us therein against all the deceit of the world, against all the power and cunning of the wicked foe.  Let the ship of Thy holy church remain unharmed in the midst of the tempestuous sea, among all the waves and billows which roar round about her, and stand firm and unshaken upon the foundation of Thy pure and undistorted truth.  Let not the bright and infallible light of Thy Word, that now shines upon us, be ever suppressed or put out, but give succor by Thy mighty arm and sustain Thy congregation amid so many assaults, that among us Thou mayest always have here on earth a people that knows, honors, and worships Thee.

Let Thy blessing rest especially upon the work that is to be carried out in these days by the ministers of Thy church and the elected representatives of our congregations, to Thy glory and the welfare of our Synod.  Equip all who are called to this work with the Spirit of truth, power, love, unity, and peace, and add to the planting and watering Thy gracious increase.  Lighten and strengthen all in authority, whom Thou hast set over us, that under their protection and in the maintenance of the full freedom of conscience granted to our land Thy church may be built up and enlarged in peace.  Show us Thy kindness and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands – establish Thou it!

And as Thou wilt take the church in our land into Thy almighty protection and attend and wait upon it, so let her everywhere, wherever she is planted on earth, grow into a holy and blessed congregation which proclaims the virtues of Him who has called us out of the darkness to His wonderful light, that in al estates of Christendom the power of the truth may be revealed and Thy name glorified from east to west.

Lord our God, have mercy, hear our humble prayer and supplication for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son.  Amen.

This prayer, modified gently by Friedrich Lochner, is from Löhe´s Agenda, 3rd ed., 1884.  From Lochner, Friedrich, Liturgical Forms and the Shorter Liturgical Works, 1894. Trans. Matthew Carver.  2023, Fort Wayne: Emmanuel Press. 168.