Prayers

Prayer for when you can’t go to a funeral

Dear God,

Thank you for x, for all that they meant to me and to others.
I so wanted to say goodbye, to be alongside my friends and family.
Help me to know you are there,
Holding all my hopes,
Holding all those I Love, especially x,
And holding me this day.
Be close with your peace and hope. 

Amen.

Loving God,
Life is so strange just now – I don’t know what to do.
Comfort me with your presence,
Be with all who grieve
And give us strength and courage to face this and all the days ahead.

Amen.

God of love,
Surround all those I love,
Especially those I can no longer meet.
Be light in my darkness,
Be hope in my fear,
Be love in every moment,
And give me grace to face each day ahead.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer in contemporary language

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer in traditional language

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers in the days when waiting for a funeral

God of love,
Surround all those I love, especially xx
who I can no longer see.
Be light in my darkness,
be hope in my fear,
be love in every moment,
and give me grace to face each day ahead. Amen

Loving God,
the shadow of death has fallen over me
because someone I love has died.
Be with me through this time,
comfort me with your presence,
and let me see the light of hope,
for you promise eternal life
through Jesus Christ your son,
who died and rose again. Amen.

For a grieving friend

Dear Lord,
as Jesus followers asked him to help their friends,
so I ask you today to help my friends
struggling in the darkness of grief.
May they know moments of peace in their pain,
moments of joy in their memories,
and moments of hope in your love. Amen.

Knowing what to do

Dear God,
shall I bake a cake or take a casserole,
drop by with a card or flowers?
Give me wisdom as I visit my friend,
help me to listen well,
to share good memories
and offer the right words of hope.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Going to a friend’s funeral

Lord of all love,
be with me today in the stillness
and comfort me as I remember my friend.
Be with me as I look back,
remembering all whom I mourn,
and be with me as I look forward
to the journey that lies ahead.
Give me the strength to talk of hope
and the courage to show love.
In Jesus name. Amen.