O Thou who art from everlasting to everlasting, without beginning or end of
days: Replenish us with heavenly grace, at the beginning of this year, that we
may be enabled to accept all its duties, to perform all its labors, to welcome
all its mercies, to meet all its trials, and to advance through all it holds in store for us, with cheerful courage and a constant mind. O Lord, suffer us not to be separated from thee, either by joy or sorrow, or by any sin or weakness of our own; but have compassion upon us, and forgive us, and keep us in the strong
confidence of thine eternal love in Jesus Christ; that as thou hast called us to
immortality through him, so we may pass the remainder of our years in the power of an endless life; and to thy name shall be all the praise. Amen.

from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965

O God our Father, who didst send forth thy Son to be King of kings and
Prince of Peace: Grant that all the kingdoms of this world may become the
kingdom of Christ, and learn of him the way of peace. Send forth among all men the spirit of good will and reconciliation. Let those who are offended forgive, and those who have offended repent, so that all thy children may live together as one family, praising thee and blessing thee for the great redemption which thou has wrought for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

 from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965

Most merciful God, who so loved the world as to give thine only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life: Grant unto us, we humbly pray thee, the precious gift of faith, that we may know that the Son of God is come, and may have power to overcome the world and gain a blessed immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965

We beseech thee, O Lord, to behold us, members of this household, with thy favor. Be patient with us still; suffer us a while longer to endure, and if it may be, help us to do better. Bless to us our extraordinary mercies. Go with each of us to rest; if any awake, temper to them the dark hours of watching; and when the day returns to us, call us up with morning faces and with morning hearts, eager to labor, eager to be happy – if happiness should be our portion – and, if the day be marked for sorrow, strong to endure it. Amen.

 Taken from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965

Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being,
who hast created us for thyself, so that our hearts are restless until they find
rest in thee: Grant unto us such purity of heart and strength of purpose, that
no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing thy will, and no weakness from
doing it. In thy light may we see life clearly, and in thy service find perfect
freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965)

O God, thou great governor of all the world: We pray for all who hold public
office and power, and for the life, welfare, and virtue of the people who are in
their hands. Strengthen the sense of duty in our political life. Grant that the
servants of the state may feel ever more deeply that any diversion of their
public powers for private ends is a betrayal of their country. Purge our cities,
states, and nation of the deep causes of corruption which have so often made sin profitable and uprightness hard. Breathe a new spirit into all our nation. Give our leaders new vision and set their hearts on fire with large resolves. Raise up a new generation of public men [and women] with the faith and daring of the kingdom of God in their hearts, who will enlist for life in a holy warfare for the freedom and the rights of all people. Amen.

 Taken from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965

Almighty God, who abidest always, and who art ever near to uphold and bless: Hear now our prayers for thy servants bowed down with grief. May they find strength and peace in thee. For all that has been gracious and helpful in days past we devoutly thank thee. Visit us with thy comfort, and be thou thyself our companion. Keep us mindful of the many good things which make life dear and sacred. May our hearts be united in a closer bond of love and sympathy, and give us strength to return to the duties of life with increased devotion and with purer and more earnest purpose. May we ever feel that the eternal God is our refuge, and that underneath are the everlasting arms; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Taken from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965

O Thou mighty Lord, whose Son died on the Cross to redeem all the children of men, those who are near and those who are far off. I pray Thee to look with compassion upon the millions of my fellow men who are still sitting in the darkness and shadow of death, with immortal souls still lost, dead in trespasses and sin. Blinded they cannot find Thee. Dead, they cannot rise to newness of life. Grant that the missionaries may reach them with the message of the Cross that they may believe and live.

 Wherever consecrated men and women are engaged in the blessed task of bringing the Gospel to the heathen, do Thou give success to their labors. Open the hearts of many to receive the saving Word of reconciliation. Establish Thy Church in the midst of the enemies, and let the fruits of true righteousness abound. Give Thy protection to all our missionaries abroad, and ward off all persecution. Keep them healthy and strong in body and mind. Give them the grace to be patient and faithful, and finally receive them and those whom they lead to Christ into the glory of heaven. I ask it in his name. Amen.

Taken from The Lutheran Book of Prayer, 1951

Lord,

 Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

 Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all; but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

 Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains; they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

 I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.

 Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person is one of the crowing works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people; and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. Amen.

 This prayer is attributed to Theresa of Avila. Either the language has been very, very updated, or some contemporary person wrote it and attributed it to Theresa. Whichever it may be, it’s a great prayer that rings all too true.

O God, who didst prepare of old the minds and hearts of men for the coming of thy Son, and whose Spirit ever worketh to illumine our darkened lives with the light of the Gospel: Prepare now our minds and hearts, we beseech thee, that Christ may dwell in us, and ever reign in our thoughts and affections as the King of love, and the very Prince of Peace. Grant this, we pray thee, for his sake. Amen.

 from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965