Dying_and_Bereaved

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Jesus said to her: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die,
yet shall he live and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." John 11:25-26a

Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3

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

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen
asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. I Corinthians 15:20-22

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is
being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal
weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but
to the things that are unseen; for the things that are unseen are eternal.
II Corinthians 4:16-18

We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that
you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that
Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus;
God will bring them with him.
I Thessalonians 4:13-14

PRAYERS

Almighty God: by your power Jesus Christ was raised from death. Watch over ______ as
his earthly life is ending. Help him to see beyond here and now to a home within your love,
where pain is gone and frail flesh turns to glory. Banish fears. Brush tears away. Let death
come as gently as sundown, promising a sunrise into a new day which shall make us happy
to be together with Jesus Christ who is the Lord of eternal life. Amen.

Heavenly Father, enable _____ to do her own dying rather than just letting death happen
to her. Be with her and guide her as she puts her affairs in order. Help her say the things
she needs and wants to say to her family and friends. May she deal honestly with her fears
and express joyfully her faith, so that our memories will heal our loss and help us continue
living. Amen.

Merciful God: You know fully who we are and what we have done, and yet You accept us.
We thank You that when we confess and repent of our sins that You forgive us. Fill _____
with the wonder of your grace, made known in Christ. May he trust your love and
confidently enter the full joy of your presence beyond this life; through Jesus Christ, who
has died for us and who has risen for us. Amen.

There are moments of bitterness, O God, because of this death. We are tempted to accuse
You of cruelty. We dare to doubt your concern and your love. And yet we believe You are a
gentle Father who forgives, blesses, and knows the pain You enable us to endure. We only
pray that You will help _____ to feel gratitude for the time they shared with _____. We
thank You because we know he is yours forever. Amen.

O Lord, _____ has died and _____ feels so alone. Through their many years together they
became so close. It is difficult for _____ to contemplate how she can possibly exist apart
from _________. Give to her the assurance, God, that your grace will continue to comfort
and sustain her. Give her the assurance that both she and _____ belong to You and that
nothing can separate either of them from your love. Amen.

O God, we thank You for _____, for the gift of his life, for the grace You have given him, for
all in him that was good and kind and faithful. We thank You that for him death is past, and
pain is ended, and he has entered the joy You have prepared. Give this family faith to trust
your love which never fails. Lift heavy sorrow and give them good hope in Jesus, so they
may live their lives with courage and look forward to a glad heavenly reunion; through
Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.