What is an opening prayer?

Invocation Prayers

HOLY angels, guide these mortals
O'er the mystic waves of time―

Open wide the shining portals
Leading unto heights sublime―
Lift, O lift the veil that hides them
From their loved ones, gone before!
Show them but their shining faces,
Waiting on the other shore.

Christmas Invocation

O THOU, whose mysterious presence
Fills the earth, the air and sea,
We would chant undying praises,
We would worship only thee.

From the earth's unnumbered altars
Human sighs and tears are born,
Praying for a glad hereafter—

Weary watchers in the storm.

Let them hear the chime of voices
Voices from the spirit-land—

Waking all the slumbering echoes,
Strengthening heart and strengthening hand.

Let them see the star of promise
That shall lead to brighter days,
Over all the plains of error,
Where the babe of Bethlehem lays.

Let them sing that holy anthem,
Sung by angels long ago—

Peace on earth, goodwill from Heaven,
Golden side of human woe.

Then the night shall grow to morning,
Then the angels join the song,
For the day of peace is dawning―
Lo! the Son of Truth is born!

Invocation

O THOU source of endless wisdom,
Lord of earth and land Elysian,
We would bathe our weary spirits
In the fullness of thy love.

We would drink the healing waters
Flowing from unnumbered altars—

Altars where no blood-stained offerings
Fill the earth with woe.

We would rise redeemed—redeeming,

Losing all our earthly seeming,
In the holy words, forgiveness
Of all earthly sin.

We would dwell with saints and sages,
Whose great thoughts have thrilled past ages,
Calling all men to adore thee,
Lord of heaven and earth.

Hear our prayer, ye guardian angels—

Be to us as bright evangels,
Bearing our poor sin-stained message
To the throne of love.

Invocation

O GOD of all nations! O light of our souls!
Whose loving hand guides us—whose wisdom controls,

Through the weakness and darkness 

And sorrows of time,

O lead these thy children to soul-heights sublime.

Let us teach them to love thee and serve thee aright,
Never fearing the darkness, yet loving the light—

Never doubting thy presence, ever trusting thy grace,
To give to each soul its true portion and place.

And unto thee, O God of our life, be the homage and honour of nations and individuals, forever. Amen.

Invocation

O THOU, whose love prevaileth
Over all the ills of life,
Whose mercy never faileth
When we are weary of the strife
That comes of human weakness,
By some called human sin,
Whose wisdom opens heaven's gates,
That all may enter in—

We would sing thee glad hosannas,
We would join the earth and air
In their everlasting chorus,
And their one eternal prayer.
For all that life can give us,
For all that hath been given,
For every tear of sorrow,
And every hope of heaven,
We thank thee, O, our God.

Invocation

O SPIRIT of mercy, of justice and love,
O'ershadow thy children—with peace from above—

Let the phantoms of fear, of doubt and despair,
Be lost in the radiance of spiritual air—

Let the songs of the angels be heard in the skies,
Proclaiming the truth that the soul never dies—

That all things are carefully guarded by thee,
But the soul in its beauty at death is set free.

Christmas Invocation

O GOD, our God!

Faint and weary are thy children,

Toiling up the steep of time,

Seeking for the Eastern token,

Listening for the morning chime—

Waiting, waiting, ever waiting

For the voice of long ago,

With its soft, melodious accents,

Soothing every human woe.

Know they not the star has risen,

And its glory gilds the earth?

Hear they not the song of angels

O'er this glorious second birth?

Peace on earth! goodwill from Heaven!

Sing that white-robed angel band—

Peace on earth! goodwill from Heaven!

Echoes over all the land.

O thou God of past and present!

O thou light of every soul!

We will chant thee deathless praises

While eternity shall roll. 

Flashes of Light from the Spirit-Land