I wanted to share this lovely prayer in preparation for Pentecost from
Lutheran Prayer Companion, but you’ll have to pray it after the Pentecost Day liturgy:
“94. Prayer of preparation for Whitsunday
Lord God, Holy Spirit, who on the sacred day of Pentecost filled the hearts of the apostles with new gifts: enlighten our hearts also and grant that we may keep the feast devoutly. Come, precious Guest of our hearts; come, only Treasure of our souls. Dwell in us as in Your temple; purify our hearts from sin. Make us all the anointed of the Lord, and help us by Your power to resist all our spiritual enemies and to obtain the victory. In our prayers and thanksgivings, intercede for us with groanings too deep for words. Comfort all troubled hearts, that the bones that You have broken may rejoice. Support us by Your power against the accusations of our heart and conscience, that there may be no condemnation for us. May Your peace, which surpasses all human understanding, guard our hearts and our minds
unto joy everlasting. Give and grant us, O God, Holy Spirit,
sincere joy in this holy feast, and when this life is done, let us ever proclaim Your wondrous works; who with the Father and Son are most blessed forever. Amen.”
Excerpt From
Lutheran Prayer Companion
Concordia Publishing House
https://books.apple.com/us/book/lutheran-prayer-companion/id1434070829This material may be protected by copyright.
It is impossible to miss the joy that rings through the readings and the propers and hymns. I still miss the old wording, but the thought is in the Preface: “Whereat the whole earth rejoices with exceeding joy.” Exceeding joy. That’s the Spirit’s great gift. So in the Introit: “Let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; yea, let them EXCEEDINGLY rejoice.” From the collect: “And EVERMORE TO REJOICE in His holy comfort.” The epistle from Acts 2 - the Apostles are mistaken for drunks, and I take not just because of the tongues but because of the joy that filled them to overflowing. From the Entrance Hymn (O Holy Spirit, Enter In): “To joy and gladness wake us that we may be truly living!” From the final hymn: “O Day Full of Grace” - “Great joy for us all retrieving, for Jesus all mortals did embrace” and “All joys of the heavens sharing.” St. Seraphim of Sarov, the Russian mystic, said that the Holy Spirit turns to joy whatever He touches. And He has touched the liturgy that celebrates His Holy Day!
At the late service today, some five young men are being confirmed and welcomed to the holy Eucharist, so the joy of the congregation overflows this day even as we pray for them to be faithful unto death that they may receive the crown of everlasting life.