Grace to you and peace
from him who is, who was, and who is coming,
and from the seven spirits that are before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ
the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead,
and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Source: Revelation 1:4-5 (Evangelical Heritage Version)
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us
from God the Father
and from Jesus + Christ, the Father’s Son,
in truth and love.
Source: 2 John 3 (Evangelical Heritage Version)
The God of all grace,
who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you.
To + him be the glory and power forever and ever.
Amen.
Source: 1 Peter 5:10-11 (Evangelical Heritage Version)
May the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with you all.
Source: 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (Evangelical Heritage Version)
May our Lord Jesus + Christ himself
and God our Father,
who loved us and in his grace
gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts
and establish you in every good work and word.
Source: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (Evangelical Heritage Version)
May the God of peace himself
sanctify you completely,
and may your whole spirit, soul, and body
be kept blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus + Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will do it.
Source: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (Evangelical Heritage Version)
Lord Jesus,
you were alone
in your suffering on the cross.
Be near those who are alone
in their pain and sorrow today.
Let your gracious presence
transform their loneliness into comfort,
since you are the sure refuge
of the weary and heavy laden.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from The Old World and the New, ed. L. H. M. Soulsby, p. 12
“weary and heavy laden” is a reference to Matthew 11:28
God of all comfort,
we commend to your mercy
all those who bear any cross or trouble:
the nations who are afflicted with famine, pestilence, or war,
our fellow Christians who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel,
all who travel and are in danger by sea or land or air,
and all who are oppressed with poverty, sickness,
or any infirmity of body or sorrow of mind.
We pray particularly for the sick and afflicted members of this church,
and for those who desire to be remembered in our prayers,
and for those we name in our hearts before you.
May it please you to show them your fatherly kindness,
disciplining them for their good
that their hearts may turn to you
and receive complete comfort and deliverance
from all their troubles;
for Christ’s sake.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from Book of Common Worship (Presbyterian), 1906
As a paragraph:
God of all comfort, we commend to your mercy all those who bear any cross or trouble: the nations who are afflicted with famine, pestilence, or war, our fellow Christians who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel, all who travel and are in danger by sea or land or air, and all who are oppressed with poverty, sickness, or any infirmity of body or sorrow of mind. We pray particularly for the sick and afflicted members of this church, and for those who desire to be remembered in our prayers, and for those we name in our hearts before you. May it please you to show them your fatherly kindness, disciplining them for their good that their hearts may turn to you and receive complete comfort and deliverance from all their troubles; for Christ’s sake. Amen.
Almighty God,
the spirits of those who die in the Lord live with you,
and the souls of the faithful,
after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh,
are in joy and bliss in your presence.
We give you humble thanks
that it has pleased you to deliver this our brother
out of the miseries of this sinful world.
We pray, in your goodness
fill up the number of your chosen ones and hasten your kingdom,
that with all those who have departed in the true faith of your holy name
we also may have our perfect fulfillment and bliss,
both in body and soul,
in your eternal glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Freely modified from The Book of Common Prayer (1662), Burial of the Dead
prayer for the dead in middle ages
prayers for the dead
O heavenly Father,
your blessed Son Jesus Christ
wept at the grave of Lazarus his friend.
Look with compassion on those
who are now in sorrow and affliction.
Comfort them, O Lord, with the message of your grace.
Show them that all things
work together for good to those who love you;
and grant them always a sure trust and confidence
in your fatherly care;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Modified from The Scottish Book of Common Prayer (1912), Burial of the Dead.
“all things work together for good to those who love you” is a reference to Romans 8:28
Original in traditional English:
O HEAVENLY Father, whose Blessed Son Jesus Christ did weep at the grave of Lazarus his friend: Look, we beseech thee, with compassion upon those who are now in sorrow and affliction; comfort them, O Lord, with thy gracious consolations; make them to know that all things work together for good to them that love thee; and grant them evermore sure trust and confidence in thy fatherly care; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
prayer for the dead in middle ages
prayers for the dead
A Collection of Prayers 