some guidelines for praying set prayers

Anglo-Catholic Prayers

"Lord, make me a channel of your peace"

(Prayer of St Francis of Assisi)

(Prayer of St Richard)

(The Serenity Prayer)

(The Grace Blessing)

(Judeo-Christian prayer)

Celtic prayers

(St Patrick's Breastplate)

(traditional gaelic blessing)

Wedding Blessings

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

God Grant Me The Serenity...
About the Serenity Prayer

This prayer is most commonly attributed to the American theologian and writer Reinhold Neibuhr (1892-1971). The prayer appears in print form in 1950, although Reinhold claims to have first used it in a sermon as early as 1934. The first four lines of the prayer are an adaption of the original text, the next section appears to have been added later by an unknown author.

The Serenity prayer is at the very heart of the ethos of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Twelve Steps program, originally published in 1939, emphasizes the need to recognise we have a problem we are unable to change on our own, and believe in a power greater than ourselves who is able to help us. The AA then encourages its members to adopt a new code of behaviour through prayer and the help of a sponsor (another experienced member). This program of twelve steps is not restricted to the work of the AA - it is also the cornerstone of many other groups devoted to the recover of people suffering from behavioural addictions, such as Debtors Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

The 12 Step Lord's Prayer

(Addressing God as the "Higher Power")

Higher Power
Who is always with me
Blessed be Your name.
Come into my life,
Let me know Your will, and help me to live it out each day.
Give me today that which I need
And help me show forgiveness to others
just as You show forgiveness to me.
Please protect me from temptation
And restore me when I fall.
For Everything I have comes from You
And all good things are Yours.
As it has always been, and will always be,
Forever and ever
Amen

Thanks to Kevin from Minneapolis, MN, USA for this contemporary version of the Lord's Prayer. For more information about this 12 step version of the prayer, and a line-by-line commentary on the work, please visit Kevin's website - www.12steplordsprayer.org

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