Bathe your pastoral prayers in the deeper streams of faith.

Book of Common Worship
(Westminster John Knox, 1993)

Blessed are you, Lord our God,
creator and redeemer of all;
to you be glory and praise forever.
From the waters of chaos you drew forth the world
and in your great love fashioned us in your image.
Now, through the deep waters of death,
you have brought your people to new birth
by raising your Son to life in triumph.
May Christ your light ever dawn in our hearts
as we offer you our sacrifice of thanks and praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

Prayers from Imitation of Christ
by Thomas a Kempis,
edited by Ronald Klug (Augsburg, 1996)

O Lord, there can be no goodness in us, if you   withdraw yourself. No wisdom can benefit us, if you cease to guide us. No strength can preserve us, if you no longer defend. No purity can be secure, if you do not guard it. No watchfulness of our own can protect us, if you   do not keep watch. If you abandon us, ...