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Prayers for Use in Cases of Sudden and Unexpected Death

Prayers for Use in Cases of Sudden and Unexpected Death


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Prayers for Use in Cases of Sudden and Unexpected Death

Opening Prayer

God of hope,
we come to you in shock and grief and confusion of heart.
Help us to find peace in the knowledge
of your loving mercy to all your children,
and give us light to guide us out of our darkness
into the assurance of your love,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

For the Bereaved

God our strength and our redeemer:
you do not leave us in this life
nor abandon us in death.
Hear our prayer for those in despair,
when days are full of darkness
and the future seems empty of hope.
Renew in them your sustaining strength
for we believe that there is nothing in all creation
that can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.

Most merciful God,
whose wisdom is beyond our understanding,
surround the family of N with your love,
that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss,
but have confidence in your love,
and strength to meet the days to come.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God of compassion,
in your tender love for us,
comfort and strengthen those who mourn today.
Take away any feeling of guilt and ease the burden of regret.
Keep them in your care and help them
to renew their lives in a spirit of trust.
We ask this, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


When a Young Person Dies

 

Lord God,
we grieve over the loss of …
and struggle to understand his/her death.
Draw him/her to yourself
and give him/her fullness of life in Christ.
May he/she join all the angels and saints,
who know your love and saving will. Amen.

For a Person Who Died Suddenly
(Accidentally or violently)

Lord our God, you are always faithful and true.
N. was suddenly (or violently) taken from us.
Draw near to all who mourn his/her loss …. .
Comfort his/her family and friends
with the power and protection of the cross
and the assurance of eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer for Use in the Context of Death by Suicide

Bless, O God of eternal life,
all who have died by suicide.
Grant them rest and peace from their inner turmoil
and the assurance of your compassion and love.
Comfort those who mourn in their deep sense of loss.
Strengthen them to face any questions of pain, guilt and anger
and help us to reach out in love to all who mourn for N.
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayers of Dismissal/Closing Prayers

Lord, bless us with your enabling love.
Heal our brokenness, that we may be true signs of that love.
As you send us out from this place,
be our constant companion.
Guide us in our efforts to better serve our neighbours,
and those who struggle with this life
along with all who love and support them.
Help us to share the life–giving power of your love
that those in need may experience your steadfast compassion.

Bless, guide and heal us, now and always
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God of all mystery,
whose ways are beyond understanding,
lead us, who grieve at this untimely death,
to a new and deeper faith in your love,
which brought your only Son Jesus
through death into resurrection life.
We make our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Amen.


Prayers for Use in Cases of Sudden and Unexpected Death

Propers for Use at a Celebration of Holy Communion

Introduction to Penitence

As children of a loving heavenly Father,
let us ask his forgiveness,
for he is gentle and full of compassion.

Gospel Acclamation

One of the following may be used

Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son.

Alleluia.                         cf John 3: 16

or

Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who die in the Lord
for they rest from their labour.

Alleluia.                                    cf Revelation 14: 13

The Peace

Jesus said:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.                                                                      John 14: 27

At the Preparation of the Table

Look upon us in mercy not in judgement;
draw us from bitterness to love;
make the frailty of our praise
a dwelling place for your glory. Amen.

Taking of the Bread and Wine

May all who are called to a place at your table
follow in the way that leads to the unending feast of life.

Amen.


Preface

And now we give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In him who rose from the dead
our hope of resurrection dawned.
The sting of death has been removed
by the glorious promise of his risen life.

Post Communion Prayer

Gracious God,
we thank you that in your great love
you have fed us with the spiritual food
of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ
and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet:
grant that this sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction
and a pledge of our inheritance
in that kingdom where there is no death,
neither sorrow nor crying,
but fullness of joy with all your saints;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

If the prayer above is used the following prayer should also be used, in place of the equivalent prayer on page 221 of the Book of Common Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
in your Son Jesus Christ
you have given us a true faith and a sure hope.
Strengthen this faith and hope in us all our days,
that we may live as those who believe in
   the communion of saints,
   the forgiveness of sins
   and the resurrection to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Blessing

May God give you
his comfort and his peace,
his light and his joy,
in this world and the next;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.

or

May the love of God and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ
bless and console you,
and all who have known and loved N,
this day and for evermore.  Amen.

 

 

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