Ministry At The Time Of Death

Ministry at the time of death may be offered to a number of people: first, to the dying person,especially if still conscious: second, to family andfriends who may have been gathered by this event.Different words are required for different people onsuch an occasion, and at different moments.

The prayers which follow have been divided intoseveral groups; prayers for and with the dyingperson, prayers with family and friends, prayers when the person has died.

It is appropriate that these prayers be led by someone who has already ministered to those involved, whether as minister of the congregation, lay visitor, hospital chaplain. or the person exercising the ministry Of the Church. However, a family member. or friend, or anyone else, may lead in the offering of these prayers.

Prayers With A Person Who Is Dying

One or more of these prayers may be said slowly, phrase by phrase, with a dying person, or in his/her name.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Our Father in heaven
 hallowed be your Name;
 your kingdom come;
 on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins
 as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial
 and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
 now and for ever. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son:*
 and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now:*
 and shall be forever. Amen.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help me.

Father, I place myself in your hands.

Holy God, I believe in you.
I trust you.
I love you.

A Prayer For A Person Near Death

One of the following prayers may be offered in the presence of a person who is dying.

Almighty God, look on your servant, lying in great weakness, and comfort him/her with the promise of life everlasting, given in the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Or

God of mercy, look with love on N-, and receive him/her into your heavenly kingdom. Bless him/ her and let him/her live with you forever, we ask this grace through Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.

Prayers With Family And Friends

One or more of the following may be read:

Psalm 23  Psalm 121  John 14:1-6, 23, 27
Psalm 91  John 6:37-40

Psalm 23 - (KJV)
  1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
  2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
  3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
  4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
  5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
  6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
    7. Glory to the Father, and to the Son:
     and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning is now
     and ever shall be world without end.
    Amen.

Psalm 121 - NRSV

  Assurance of God’s Protection

  1. I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
  2. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
  3. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
  4. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore.
    5. Glory to the Father, and to the Son:
     and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning is now
     and ever shall be world without end.
    Amen.

John 14:1-6, 23, 27

  Jesus the Way to the Father

'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.'

Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'

Jesus answered him, 'Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.


A Litany

God the Father;
  Have mercy on your servant.

God the Son,
  Have mercy on your servant.

God the Spirit,
  Have mercy on your servant.

Holy Trinity, one God,
  Have mercy on your servant.

From all evil, from all sin, from all tribulation,
  Deliver your servant.

By your holy Incarnation, by your cross and passion, by your precious death and burial,
  Have mercy on your servant.

By your glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming Of the Holy Spirit,
  Have mercy on your servant.

We sinners beseech you to hear us, Lord Christ, that it may please you to deliver the soul of your servant from the power of evil, and from eternal death.
  We beseech you to hear us, Lord.

That it may please you mercifully to pardon all his/ her sins,
  We beseech you to hear us, Lord.

That it may please you to give him/her joy and gladness in your kingdom, with your saints in light,
  We beseech you to hear us, Lord.

Lamb Of God, you take away the sin Of the world,
  Have mercy on your servant.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
  Have mercy on your servant.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
  Have mercy on your servant.

 
Let us pray:
God of mercy, into whose hands your Son Jesus Christ commended His Spirit at His last hour, into those same hands we now commend your servant N, that death may be for him/her the gate to life and eternal fellowship with you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
 
Prayers At Death
One of the following commendations may be said:
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your 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 of the earth, and to earth shall we return, for so did you ordain when you created me, saying "You are dust, and to dust you shall return". All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia. alleluia!
 
Response:
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Or

Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world. In the name of God the Father Almighty who created you; In the Name Of Jesus Christ who redeemed you; in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you, may your rest be this day in peace, and your dwelling place in the paradise Of God.

Or

Loving and merciful God, we entrust our brother/ sister to your mercy. You loved him/her greatly in this life; now that he/she is freed from all its cares, welcome him/her now into paradise where there will be no more sorrow, no more weeping or pain, but only peace and joy with Jesus, your Son, and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
The minister may conclude these prayers with a simple blessing, in these or similar words:
 
God grant us to share in the inheritance of His saints in glory; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with us, now and always. Amen.