Family Prayer
These Family Prayer’s were part of John R. Gunn’s legacy which is shared with anyone who would like to use them.
A Family Christmas Prayer
by John R. Gunn
Lord, behold out family here assembled. We thank you for each other, for the love we have for one another, for the peace and pleasure accorded us this day.
We thank you for the gift of your beloved son. As we observe His birthday, our thoughts turn to Bethlehem. We see the Holy Child in the manger, and we worship Him.
He glorified the cradle; He beautified boyhood; He sanctified motherhood. He brought human affection to its highest tide. He has kindled among us the feelings of human brotherhod. He gave us Christmas with its spirit of friendliness, kindness, generosity and good will.
For the brightness and happiness of Christmas we are grateful to you, O God. May we be mindfiul that its brightness comes from the radiance of the Star of Bethlehem, that its happiness springs from the gift of your love in Christ.
We welcome you, blessed Savior, to our hearts. We welcome you to our home. You have made life sweet and delightful. You have inspired us with kindness to our neighbors, kindled in us compassion toward those less fortunate than ourselves, and softened us to our enemies.
Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Grant that the spirit of Christmas may continue to possess our hearts throughout the coming year. Let mercy, peace and love be multiplied to us.
Amen
A Family New Year's Prayer
by John R. Gunn
Our Father, we thank Thee for our family and for the ties that bind us together in a happy family circle.
We thank Thee for the health and food, the peace and happiness accorded us this day; for the blessings that have attended us during the year past, and for the hope with which we look forward to in the year ahead.
Grant that the New Year’s opening days may be filled with love and prayer and praise. And may we, Lord, in consecrated devotion, serve Thee through all the years.
Help us to put away every ugly thought and enter the new year with clean minds. May we enter the year with a kind thought for every one. May it be a year of usefulness, a year of greater helpfulness to one another, of more thoughtfulness, a more kindness--a year in which we shall live to make this earth better.
We are grateful to Thee, O God, that we are granted one more New Year’s day on which to begin again. Help us to make every day a fresh beginning. In spite of the day’s trouble or pain, may we have the faith to take heart with the day and begin anew. resolved to press on to higher excellence.
May it be granted unto us to make the year a happy one in our homes. Give us the disposition to be cheerful, to carry our burdens with a smile, to make our homes be a sunshine, so as to give warmth to all those around us.
Bless us in all our endeavors and rightful pursuits. Give us courage to tread without faltering the path of duty. Give us strength to encounter that which is to come. Keep us loyal and loving to one another in all circumstances. We know nothing of what the year will bring, we only know it is God’s new year. May he bless it to us all. Let His name be praised. Let mercy, peach and love be multiplied to us.
Amen
