Comments on: Prayers at Close of the Day

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 02:05:37 +0000

The “absolutions” in both cases are not true absolution. The LSB version is very similar to what is found in the Brotherhood Prayer Book (an english translation of a German Lutheran breviary using gregorian chant) and also what is found in the Roman Antiphonale Monasticum (Pre-vatican II book for the offices). The liturgist, if he be ordained, confesses his sins to God and his brothers. We do not pronounce him forgiven, but instead we say “[may] almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to everlasting life.” In the same way, the liturgist (if he be ordained) would respond to our confession. At the end of the day we will confess our sins and rest on the hope and promise of God to forgive our sins. No one is doing anything wrong here. Perhaps we would prefer the sure comfort of absolution from one acting “in the stead and by the command of Christ”. For that we have our private confession time. Compline is different, and that’s alright.

By: Necessary Roughness»Blog Archive » Lutheran Carnival XLI: The Post Season

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 05:39:45 +0000

[...] Yours truly submits Prayers at Close of the Day, which has been a good discussion on Compline, the LSB’s Compline service, and Luther’s evening prayer from the Catechism. The interchurch basketball league that I referee for also offers the opportunity to give a five minute speech at halftime. I offer Halftime Message: This Man Receives Sinners! in an effort to discuss Christ, what he has done, and why. [...]

By: Derek

Derek — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:37:53 +0000

We use Luther’s evening prayer (the one at the end of your post), and we pause after “graciously keep me this night” to include prayers for others. Our daughter is just over a year old, and this seems like a good length for her (who am I kidding, my attention span is even shorter than hers! )

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:06:49 +0000

Linda: Thanks. There is value in being consistent at the girls’ early age. I don’t want to tell them, “you’re doing it wrong.” That was the big reason I was looking for something new, to give them something additional.

Scott: Sweet. I’ll have a little fun learning the new tunes. I’ll probably have to memorize it, as one of my daughters is a sheet music kleptomaniac!

Barb: No, but I find that incident humorous.

By: Barb the Evil Genius

Barb the Evil Genius — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:03:31 +0000

Did you ever read On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony? A mortal man unwittingly becomes the Grim Reaper, and becomes aware of a small boy who is afraid to pray “if I should die before I wake.” So he calls the boy on the phone and promises him that Death will never come for him while he’s sleeping. Yes, it’s weird.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 16:14:18 +0000

Dan, my family and I have sang compline before bed in the past. We did it out of LW. It is a good thing for a family to do. I encourage it!

Scott

By: Linda (Nonni)

Linda (Nonni) — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 12:42:31 +0000

I really like that bedtime prayer! My own two children, when they were young, prayed the version of “if I should die before I wake” and I guess it could be a little frightening for little ones. I use the newer version with the twins, however!