Personal Prayer Book

Part of living in faith is a habit of daily prayer. These prayers are often quick, heart-felt expressions of faith directed toward God. The strongest practice includes a dedicated time for personal prayer each day, along with regular times every week for joining with our fellow Christians to call upon the name of the Lord. These dedicated times of prayer are enhanced by the practice of composing our prayers beforehand. Christians have been using composed prayers ever since Jesus taught us the Lord's Prayer.

Through the years of catechesis, students will gradually write a prayer book of their own. The assignments listed below are topics for these personal prayers. These are the student's private prayers, and the catechist/teacher will only check to see that the assignments are being done. It is commendable for a student to retain these personal prayers at the end of each school year by copying them into a special personal prayer book that will be kept for a lifetime.

Structures of Prayer

ACTS or CATS: Acclamation (praise), Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication
The collect structure. Generally address, gospel foundation, petition, benefit, and Trinitarian termination. Some parts may be adapted or omitted as follows:
- (address) Almighty and everlasting God, (gospel foundation) You have sent Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all should follow the example of His great humility: (petition) Mercifully grant that we both follow the example of His patience, and also, by Your grace alone, be made partakers of His resurrection; (Trinitarian termination) through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. [Collect for Palm Sunday]
- (address with petition) Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, (benefit) so that by His coming we may worship You with pure minds; (Trinitarian termination) through the same, Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. [Collect for Advent 2]
- (address with gospel foundation) Lord, (petition) we beseech You, give ear to our prayers, and enlghten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; (Trinitarian termination) for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. [Collect for Advent 3]

Prayers for Old Testament Catechesis

Prayers for New Testament Catechesis

Prayers for Junior Catechesis

7th

For parents and teachers
For classmates
On the First Article of the Creed
During times of sickness
Thanksgiving for recovery from sickness
On the Second Article of the Creed
Prayer for others suffering with illness
Prayer on the Third Article of the Creed
Prayer for someone being baptized.
Prayer on the First Commandment
Prayer on the Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
Prayer on the Second Commandment
Prayer on the Third Commandment
Prayer after someone is baptized
Prayer on the Fourth Commandment
Prayer on the Fifth Commandment
Prayer for someone who has fallen from baptism
Prayer on the Sixth Commandment
Prayer for a penitent Christian who needs comfort
Prayer about Sunday's prayer theme (for the joy of the resurrection and for true and godly worship)

8th

Before the Divine Service
For classmates
On the First Article of the Creed
After the Divine Service
For those who do not believe in Christ
On the Second Article of the Creed
Prayer for others suffering with illness
Prayer on the Third Article of the Creed
Prayer for your pastor
Prayer on the First Commandment
Prayer on the Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
Prayer on the Second Commandment
Prayer on the Third Commandment
Prayer for your government
Prayer on the Fourth Commandment
Prayer on the Fifth Commandment
Prayer to grow up to be a faithful husband or wife
Prayer on the Sixth Commandment
Prayer to grow up to be a faithful mother or father
Prayer to be a faithful child (son or daughter)