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?

Our bedtime prayer when I was little:

Jesus hanging on the cross
Tell me was it I ?
There are great big teardrops Lord.
Did I make you cry ?
I have been a naughty child,
naughty as can be.
Now I am so sorry Lord.
Won't you pardon me?
Amen

Then we would ask God to bless everyone we loved.

It is a sweet memory...............

Angel of God,
My guardian dear,
to whom God's love entrusts me here.
Ever this (day/night), be at my side,
to light, to guard,
to rule, and to guide.
Amen.

(we say this every morning as a school. i say it to my baby every night.)

Edited by author 06-14-2009 04:19 AM
I've written a beautiful lullaby, "Safely Through the Night". Anyone interested in listening to it and linking it to their site?
I'll be happy to send you an MP3.
In the meantime, you can hear it at www.myspace/stacyrobinsongs

I can be reached at: rstock2@hotmail.com


thanks..
be well..
RichardS

I am with VASA Order of America, A Swedish-Fraternal Organization and compiling songs for the local lodge. I have been given a copy of a meal blessing sung to edelweiss from one of our elder members, but have been unable to find it on the internet. Have you heard this song? If possible, I need information today as we have Midsummer tomorrow 6/20.
 
Meal Blessing (tune Edelweiss)
Bless our friends, bless our food
Come, O Lord, and sit with us.
May our talk glow with peace,
May your wisdom surround us.
 
Friendship and Love, May it bloom and grow,
Bloom and Grow forever.
Bless our friends, bless our food,
Come O Lords, and sit with us.

My dad forgot the words to the prayer he learned as a child and made up these ones instead:

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 mommy and daddy and (Aaron) and (Amanda)
Help us to be good servents of the lord
In Jesus name, Amen