Thine endless, blessed, fatherly mercy and grace, therefore we call upon Thee in this calamity and entreat Thy love through Jesus Christ Thy dear Son. O Lord God, do not chastise us in Thine anger; suffer not Thy lightnings, which glare so terribly, to injure us, or set our house on fire, nor let the strokes of Thy powerful hand destroy us. Keep us from evil and sudden death. Let Thine almighty hand and the wings of Thy grace be over us, and keep body and life, house and home, cattle and the fruits of the field, and all that we have, and let this terrible storm pass by. Let it be manifest that Thou art the true helper in need, a sure defence in all trouble; and let us again see Thy fatherly love, through Jesus Christ. Amen!

PRAYER FOR FAITH.

I thank Thee, dear Lord, that I have learned not to atone for my sins with mine own penitence, nor with my works to cover my sins. Before men I might perhaps do so. Before the world and its judges this might avail. But with Thee, O Lord, there is an everlasting anger; this I could not appease. Therefore I thank Thee that Another has attacked my sins for me, has borne them, and made atonement for them. This I am so anxious to believe, I deem it right and precious too, but I can not so entirely yield myself to this precious truth as I would like. I find no power in me to do it, I can not comprehend it as I ought. Lord, do Thou draw me; help me, and give me the power to believe! As David says in the 51st Psalm; Create in me, O God, a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me! A new and pure heart I am not able to give myself, it must be the creature of Thy hands. Even as I can not make the sun or moon to rise and shine in the heavens; so little can I cause my heart to be pure, my spirit to be right, my faith to be strong; so strong that it may not doubt nor waver concerning the promises of Thy word. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, O Lord, who art my God and my salvation; that my tongue may praise Thy righteousness, through Jesus Christ! Amen!

PRAYER BEFORE CONFESSION.

Almighty God, Heavenly Father! Since now, after a true knowledge of sin, I desire to go to confession for the strengthening of my weak faith, to receive absolution and the forgiveness of sins, therefore I heartily beseech Thee, grant me Thy Spirit, that I may look upon this holy institution with the right understanding and in true faith. Let me not doubt, but firmly believe what Thy servant by Thy command speaks to me in confession and absolution. Let me be assured that this is certain and positive, and that Thou Thyself in the voice of Thy servant dost absolve me and pardon my sins. Grant too that I may now and always comfort myself with this absolution, that I may be assured of Thy grace and eternal life, through Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! Amen!

PRAYER AFTER CONFESSION.

O Thou merciful and gracious God and Father! Thanks and praises be unto Thee, that Thou hast again through Thy servans

forgiven me poor sinner all my sins, and again hast assured me of life eternal, and graciously received and adopted me. I heartily beseech Thee, grant me Thy Holy Spirit, and create within me a clean heart, that I may firmly believe that all my sins are forgiven for Jesus' sake. That I may be the more positively assured of this, let me to-morrow eat and drink the true body and blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ with the bread and wine, for my soul's salvation. Grant also, Thou faithful God! that henceforth I may more zealously strive to keep myself from all sin, that I may more earnestly hate them, and regulate my life according to Thy will, that I may become more pious and amend my life. To this do Thou help me by Thy Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ Thy dear Son! Amen.

May all this come to pass as a result of my prayers and heartfelt supplications, for the salvation of my soul and for Thine eternal praise, honor and glory; Thou, who wast, art now, and ever shall be, rich, powerful, good, merciful and gracious! Amen!

PRAYER BEFORE GOING TO THE HOLY SUPPER.

Lord Jesus Christ! May Thy holy body be my food; Thy holy blood be my drink; Thy sufferings and death strengthen me! Lord Jesus Christ, O hear me! Hide me in Thy holy wounds, let me never more be separated from Thee! Lord Jesus Christ, keep me against the evil one; be merciful to me in the hour of death; that with all the elect I may praise Thee, world without end! Amen!

PRAYER AFTER GOING TO THE HOLY SUPPER.

Dear Lord Jesus Christ! Thanks and praises be unto Thee, that Thou hast again so graciously vouchsafed to feed me at Thy holy table with Thine own body and blood. I heartily beseech Thee, grant that I may thereby be led from this world of sorrow into life eternal! Amen!

A SHORT FORM FOR BAPTISM IN CASES OF NECESSITY.

(If the pastor be called in cases of urgent necessity to baptize a child, he will proceed according to the form given in the Liturgy of the Church. In very urgent cases, in the absence of the pastor, any Christian present, and in the absence of men, even women, and especially the midwives, may, according to well approved custom, administer baptism. In this case the following formula may be used):

Let us pray:

Eternal, merciful God! We pray Thee, extend Thy goodness and mercy unto this child, who now asks, open the door to it who knocks! that it may enjoy the everlasting blessing of 'I hy heav enly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which Thou hast prepared through Christ our Lord! Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not inte

temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen!

(Now let pure water be taken, the child be called by its name and baptized thus):

N. N. 1 baptize thee in the name of God the Father, and of the Sou, and of the holy Spirit. Amen!

(If the child be thus baptized let all be assured that it is properly baptized. Yet afterward if the life of the child be spared let it be brought to the church, that the pastor may publicly confirm and declare such baptism valid, for the surety and comfort of all concerned.)

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with reference to the Sundays and Festivals of the
Church Year.

The presentation of Jesus in the temple... 12, 66.
Annunciation-Day.
John the Baptist-Day

Presentation of the Augsburg Confession.. 103, 131, 150.