Prayers
at the time of a bereavement
WE
GIVE THEM back to you, dear Lord, who gave them to us.
Yet as you do not lose them in giving, so we have not lost them by their
return.
Not as the world gives do you give, O Lover of souls. What you gave you do
not take away; for what is ours is ours always, if we are yours. And life
is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only an horizon, and an horizon
is nothing save the limit of our sight.
Lift us, strong Son of God, that we may see farther.
Cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly.
Draw us closer to yourself that we may know ourselves nearer to them.
And while you are preparing a place for us, prepare us for that happy place,
that where they are and you are, we too may be; through Jesus Christ, our
Lord. Amen.
ALMIGHTY
GOD, we rejoice to know
that your reign extends far beyond the limits of this life.
In the mystery of what lies beyond our sight
we pray that your love may complete its work
in those whose days on earth are done;
and grant that we who serve you now in this world
may at last share with them
the glories of your heavenly kingdom;
through the love of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayers taken from Common
Worship: Pastoral Services, © The Archbishops' Council of
the Church of England, 2000.
Prayers
before a funeral
HEAR US,
O merciful Father,
as we remember in love [Name of deceased].
whom we have placed in your hands.
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock,
a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold him/her in the arms of your mercy,
in the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and in the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
[Name of deceased]., go forth upon your journey from this
world,
in the name of God the Father almighty who created you;
in the name of Jesus Christ who suffered death for you:
in the name of the Holy Spirit who strengthens you;
in communion with the blessed Saints,
and aided by angels and archangels,
and all the armies of the heavenly host.
may your portion be in peace,
and your dwelling the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.
GIVE REST, O Christ, to your servant with the saints:
Where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only
are immortal, the creator and maker of all:
and we are mortal, formed from the dust of the earth,
and unto earth we shall return.
For so you ordained when you created me, saying:
'Dust you are and to dust you shall return'.
All of us go down to the dust,
yet weeping at the grave me make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give
rest, O Christ, to your servant with the saints:
Where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Russian
Contakion
Prayers
taken from Common
Worship: Pastoral Services, © The Archbishops'
Council of the Church of England, 2000. |
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