Home Prayer
BAS p. 687

A Form of Prayer for Groups or Families

1 The Preparation

The candle or candles on the table or in the worship area may be lit. The one
who lights them says one of the following:

[Leader] God is our light and our salvation, and in his name
we light these candles. May they remind us of the
beauty of his truth and the radiance of his love. May
our hearts be open to the light of Christ now and at
all times.
All Lord, in your mercy, let there be light.

Or
[Leader]  O God, you command a light to shine out of
darkness. Shine in our hearts that we may be as
lights in the world reflecting the glory of Jesus in
our lives.
All God is light and in him is no darkness. 
Pentecost
[Leader] Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the
earth.
All Come, Holy Spirit, and kindle in our hearts the
fire of your love.
[Leader] God of love, of your goodness set us aflame with
that fire of the Spirit which Christ brought upon the
earth and longs to see blazing throughout the
world, through him who lives and reigns with you
and the Spirit now and for ever. Amen.
(The following may also be sung as a hymn. Tune: Tallis’s Canon)
O gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ,
in you the Father’s glory shone.
Immortal, holy, blest is he,
and blest are you, his holy Son.
Now sunset comes, but light shines forth,
the lamps are lit to pierce the night.
Praise Father, Son, and Spirit: God
who dwells in the eternal light.
Worthy are you of endless praise,
O Son of God, Life-giving Lord;
wherefore you are through all the earth
and in the highest heaven adored.

Any of the following may follow as appropriate.

2. The Meal:

Grace may be said if before a meal.

3.  Praise:

A psalm, hymn, song , or instrumental music

4.  Readings: 

One or more passages of scripture may be read

5. Response: 

Silence, discussion of the scripture passage or theme of the day, study of special material from the parish,  concerns to be discussed.

6. Intercession:

Prayer may be offered for the Church, the Monarch and all in authority, the
world, the special needs of the group, those in need, and the departed, followed by...

 

[Leader]  Let us pray together to the Lord, saying, “Lord,
hear our prayer.”
All Lord, hear our prayer.
[Leader] Loving God, we thank you for your many gifts to
us, for the love which brings us together, for the
earth which provides for our needs, for the new life
you have given us in Jesus Christ, (for . . . ).
All Lord, hear our prayer.
[Leader] We pray to you for our Christian family (especially
for . . . ) and for grace to grow in your love.
All Lord, hear our prayer.
[Leader] We pray to you for our world, for all its cares and
needs, and for all who lead us and care for us,
(especially . . . )
Lord, hear our prayer.
[Leader] We pray to you for those in need, for the sick and
the lonely, for the hurt and the frightened, and for
those who live without hope (especially . . . ).
All Lord, hear our prayer.
[Leader] We pray for those we love who have died, that you
will surround them with your care and love
(especially . . . )
All Lord, hear our prayer.
[Leader] We pray for one another, asking you to bless us,
our friends, and relatives. Bless the places where
we work, and bless our home and our life together.
All Lord, hear our prayer.

Members of the home may wish to share in personal prayer. Then may be
said,
 
[Leader]  Let us remember before God our selfish ways, the
things we have done wrong, the sorrows we have
caused, the love we have not shown.
Silence for reflection is kept.
[All] Most merciful Father,
forgive us our sins against you
and against each other.
Strengthen us to overcome our weaknesses,
that we may live in love
as you would have us live,
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

One of the following prayers may be said.
 
[Evening]  The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and peace
at the last. Amen.
Or
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your
great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of
this night; for the love of your only Son, our Saviour
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Or
Remain with us, Lord, for the day is far spent and
evening is at hand. Kindle our hearts on our way
that we may recognize you in the scriptures and the
breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your
love. Amen.
Morning
Fill our hearts, O God, with your Holy Spirit that
we may go forth this day in peace and joy, serving
you eagerly in all we do, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
7 The Lord’s Prayer
[Leader]  As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
All Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
Or
[Leader]  And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say,
All 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 into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
8 Conclusion
One of the following may be said.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with
us all evermore. Amen.
Or
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Or
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; whoever
follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life.” 
Monday in Week One:
Each day we will read a portion of Holy Scripture, using it to hear God’s word to us
about living as followers of Jesus. We will end with a prayer. We should also begin
with a brief time of focusing on God in prayer. (You may wish to begin by praying
the Kyrie, following the directions on the inside cover below the Table of Contents.)
Today please read: Genesis 15: 1‐21.
The Bible’s story of faith begins with Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 15:6). God had
made Abraham (originally named “Abram”) a promise that through his progeny, all
the people of the world would be blessed (Gen. 12: 2‐3). To get the fulfilling of that
promise started, they were to leave security behind and become pilgrims in the
Promised Land. They were to adopt a lifestyle of faith and hope! We might call this
a “spirituality” or a “Rule of Life”. This opened their lives to a partnership with God,
in God’s great plan, eventually realized in their descendent Jesus, to redeem the
human family.
We can be befuddled by customs in the Bible that were very meaningful to the
people in their culture, but now seem odd to us. In today’s reading, Abram is told
not to be afraid, for his “reward will be very great” (Gen. 15:1). But he needs
reassurance (15:2). He is asking for help for his faith in God. For this help to be real
for Abraham, it would have to be experienced in a way that was meaningful to him.
God accepts us and works with us as we are. So God commands Abraham to
prepare a display of cut‐up sacrifices. In his day, people would walk between such
slain carcasses to give a bloody surety to their oath. God lovingly condescends to
guarantee his promise to Abraham in this gruesome yet mystical experience.
The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer Canada concludes with an invitation
to personalize our faith, with a six‐fold “Rule of Life” (see Page 2). That is a
disciplined offering of our own suitable preparations and sacrifices, by which we
become open to God’s presence, and grow to better trust in him. A “Rule of Life”,
personally designed for our lives, will help us to be prepared to experience God.
Prayer:
Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings
With Thy most gracious favour,
and further us with Thy continual help;
That in all our works,
Begun, continued, and ended in Thee,
We may glorify Thy holy Name,
And finally by Thy mercy obtain everlasting life;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(BCP pages 87‐88, and 644, 656, 667)