Heavenly Father, you know the secrets of life and death. You know the sorrows of our hearts at this time. Give us your comfort and peace, and help us to trust you for the future; that we may face every new circumstance of life with courage, patience and hope, in the faith of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Father, you have given all peoples one common origin, and your will is to gather them as one family in yourself. Fill the hearts of all people with the fire of your love and the desire to ensure justice for all their brothers and sisters. By sharing the good things you gave us may we secure justice and equality for every human being, an end to all division, and a human society built on love and peace.

God our father, you reveal that those who work for peace will be called your sons and daughters. Help us to work without ceasing for that justice which brings true and lasting peace. May those who are at peace with one another hold fast to the good will that unites them; may those who are enemies forget their hatred and be healed.

We thank you, Father, for the gift of Jesus your Son who came to our earth and lived in a simple home. We have a greater appreciation of the value and dignity of the human family because he loved and was loved within its shelter. Bless us this day; may we grow in love for each other in our family and so give thanks to you who are the maker of all human families and our abiding peace.

Michael Buckley

Receive, O Lord, our prayers and works of this day, and grant us rest, so that we may serve you with renewed fervour.
Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that when we wake, we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep, we may rest in peace.
Glory to thee, my God, this night
for all the blessings of the light;
keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
beneath thine own almighty wings.
Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
the ill that I this day have done,
that with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread
the grave as little as my bed;
teach me to die, so that I may
rise glorious at the awful day.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Thomas Ken

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world may repose upon your eternal changelessness, through the everlasting Christ our Lord.

Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent; abide with us and with your whole church. Abide with us in the evening of the day, in the evening of life, in the evening of the world. Abide with us and with all your faithful ones, O Lord, in time and eternity.

Lutheran Manual of Prayer

Watch, dear Lord with those who wake or watch or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ, rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, shield your joyous ones, and all for your love’s sake.

S. Augustine