From the Pastor:

 

"FRAMING THE DAY"

 

A while back (13 years ago to be exact) I wrote to you about "framing the day" with two gem-like prayers originally composed by Martin Luther: his Morning Prayer and his Evening Prayer. (Both can be found in both his Small Catechism and in the front part of our hymnals under Daily Prayers.)

 

Both prayers are easy to memorize, because Luther frequently used parallel and/or contrasting phrases writing these two prayers. They are almost like poetry.

 

(1) Both begin with words of thankfulness: I thank You, my heavenly Father..that You have kept me this night/this day.

 

(2) That is followed by a petition in the AM: Keep me this day also from sin and every evil that all my doings and life may please You; and in the PM: forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong and graciously keep me this night.

 

(3) And then for both the AM and the PM the prayers continue: Into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. That's everything.

 

(4) Finally both prayers end with another petition, in both cases the same petition: Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.

 

After the morning prayer is concluded Luther urges us to then go joyfully to your work singing a hymn. After the evening prayer he urges us to go to sleep in good cheer.

 

What a wonderful way to begin and end each and every day: commending ourselves,  placing our lives into the very hands of God, trusting Him to watch over us night and day, to guard and protect us, to provide for us, even to provide forgiveness when at the end of the day we confess that we haven't done very well.

 

Finally, I think that Martin Luther had in mind Jesus--Jesus on the cross of crucifixion saying "Father into Your hands I commend myself" and then in full trust breathing His last.

 

Father in heaven: grant me such faith that night and day I fully and completely trust You. In Jesus' name: trusting and believing in Him and in what He has done for me. So may I be inspired for each day, and so may rest in peace every night. Amen.  

 

Pastor David M. Albertin

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