Prayers

Bereavement

From Watching for the Kingfisher, Ann Lewin

Dark place

Where, vulnerable, alone,
We lick the wounds of loss.
Wise friends say little,
But hold us in their love,
And listen.
There are no guarantees,
Only reports from those
Who’ve been there,
That there is hope,
And life persists.

When I die and leave behind

When I die and leave behind
This earth I love
These trees, this sky
The pounding sea
The yearly hope of spring
Cry not for me
Rejoice
My soul has wings
And in its freedom sings.

A Navajo Prayer

Grieve for me, for I would grieve for you
Then brush away the sorrow and the tears
Life is not over, but begins anew
With courage you must greet the coming years
To live forever in the past is wrong
It can only cause you misery and pain
Dwell not on memories overlong
With others you must share and care again
Reach out and comfort those who comfort you
Recall the years, but only for a while
Nurse not your loneliness; but live again
Forget not. Remember with a smile.

We trust

We trust that beyond absence there is a presence.
That beyond the pain there can be healing.
That beyond the brokenness there can be wholeness.
That beyond the anger there may be peace.
That beyond the hurting there may be forgiveness.
That beyond the silence there may be the word.
That beyond the word there may be understanding.
That through understanding there is love.

An old Gaelic blessing

May the road rise to meet you:
May the sun shine always on your face:
May the wind be always at your back:
May the rains fall gently on your fields:
And, until we meet again, may God keep you
In the hollow of his hand.