Goodnight Sweet Jesus, Guard us in sleep. Our souls and bodies in Thy Love keep. Waking or Sleeping, keep us in sight. Dear Gentle Savior, Goodnight Goodnight. Amen

I visited your website today and was impressed with the number and variety of graces you have accumulated. While there I noticed that Scott Deuel submitted a grace "Bless our friends . . ." but said he couldn't describe the tune for it. You may be interested to know that his grace fits well to the tune "Edelweiss" made popular in the movie "Sound of Music".

Another prayer that goes to the same tune is:

Thank you Lord, on this day
for our many good blessings.
Thank you Lord, on this day
for our many good friendships.

Glory to God, may you hear our prayer
Guide us on forever
thank you Lord, on this day
for our blessings and friendships.

O lord, lay me down to sleep tonight
Forget the world, and hold me tight
And in my dreams, it's her I see
Do you do this, just to punish me?
But if you must, don't let me wake
For without her, my heart will break
But all is peaceful, and all is still
So let me dream, and dream I will

   AMEN

Thank you Lord for the Food we are about to eat.
Thank you Mum/Dad/Cook for preparing it.
Welcome to our place for a meal tonight/today (name visitor if any).
Bestow your Grace, Lord, on those less fortunate than we who have less to eat and nowhere to sleep.
Amen

I say one at the end of the day with my Kindergarten students. We use our hands to do actions.

Two little eyes to look to God
Two little ears to hear His word
Two little feet to walk in His ways
Two little lips to sing His praise
Two little hands to do His will
And one little heart to love him still
Amen

At lunch we say:
Come Lord Jesus be our Guest, let this food for us be blessed.
Amen

mealtime: God is great God is good and we thank you for this food Amen

bedtime: now i lay me down to sleep i pray the lord my soul to keep guide me and gaurd me through the night and wake me up in the mornings light

song: ohhhhh the lord is good to me and so i thank the lord for giving me the things i need the sun and the rain and the apple seed the lord is good to me amen

may God be with u and be blessed

Not being particularly religious, and having been asked to say grace at a dinner/dance function I came on to the internet for material. I happened across your website. Can I just say thank you, to you, and all your contributors. It instilled a little more faith in me, whilst travelling life's course in this troubled world. Particularly all the postings relating to encoraging kids and making them think for themselves. Some made me smile, some made me think, some rekindled hope that we can all get on together with God's guidence.
Just a note to suggest that Benedictus, benedicat (May the blessed One bless) is followed at the end of the meal by Benedicto, Benedicatur. (May the blessed One be blessed).
Also Masonically we use the Laudi Spirituali (A.D. 1545) which unless the tune is known, is difficult. When it is sung correctly, it can be quite rousing!
Regards
Alan Burnett.

I don't like to interrupt the flow as folks add their contributions to this discussion thread, but I read Alan's kind words tonight and simply wanted to say you're very welcome, and thank you for writing!

My grandfather always said the prayer before meals when we had our holiday gatherings. The prayer ended with "and eventually save us" He belonged to Oak Grove Missionary church. Can anyone help me with the rest of the prayer?

Edited by author 02-05-2009 08:03 AM
i love the now i lay me down to sleep but at the end of it,it needs to say god bless the people you love and [name them]

My mother taught me this prayer, it is slightly different to the others but here goes:

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
Bless this bed that I lay on.
With four angels to guard me,
one at the head
one at the foot
two at the sides
amen.

I prefer this one as it does not relate or refer to death it just is asking God to protect for the night until the sun rises.

i can't remember where i learned this years ago but i think its a lovely little gem of a prayer and thought i would share it,hope you all like it.

Angels sent from god to guide me
be my light and walk beside me
be my guadian and protect me
and on the path's of life please direct me...Amen

As a child my parents always taught me the prayer;
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake i pray the Lord my soul to take; God bless my Dad, my Mom,( then my siblings, grandparents and pets) and everyone. Lord if I should not wake, let the three little angels around my bed, one to pray, one to sing, and one to carry my soul away reunite me with you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

Your sermon Sunday was excellent. I appreciated your focus on the words of the Epistle: "Give thanks in all circumstances."

Here is the prayer our elderly people with dementia and Alzheimers at Friendship Adult Day Services in Burlington pray in unison before the noon meal: "God is great; God is good. And we thank him for our food. By his hand we all are fed. Give us Lord our daily bread." Amen

Sorry, Ted. You've got the wrong Tim Chambers. Maybe you're referring to the author of this blog? http://timjchambers.wordpress.com/

When I was a little girl, my mother always said a prayer at bedtime that started out, "Epen Kline....", that is a phonetic spelling. I was wondering if that is German for part of the prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep..." Is there anyone out there who knows German who might remember how this prayer is said in German?