PASTORAL PRAYERS
....Faith in a Time of Fragility, Grief and Loss
Even as we pray daily for health and healing during this pandemic, we know that death is a part of life, even beyond the new realities of this moment. As a church community, and as ministers with you, we have a unique role to help comfort one another in loss through rituals of prayers, funerals, memorial services, and burials.
For the moment, while the church is closed, we are not able to hold any in-person services, including funerals and memorial services at the church. But, of course, we want to continue to provide pastoral support and care to you individually and as a community as best we can. We trust that we will feel our way together through these circumstances as they arise.
In the current context it bears repeating, that we are available to talk with you pastorally, including on concerns, fears or questions about death and dying. In addition, you may be led during this time to talk together with loved ones in your families about their feelings, concerns, hopes or desires. While these can be challenging conversations, they can also be grace-filled opportunities.
Because each of us grieves in different ways, there is no one way to approach loss including death and dying. But, please know you are not alone. Let us encourage one another in faith and hope knowing “the love of God is broad like beach and meadow, wide as the wind and our eternal home.”
Grace and peace,
Pastors Jennifer Knutsen & Scott Winnette
. . . Prayer for Worship
You promise to be with us in all things.
Even in our darkest valleys,
in sickness, grief, uncertainty.
We need not fear.
And yet, O God, sometimes we do fear.
Bring us back into your fold
where we can feel your presence.
You prepare a table before us
in the presence of our enemies.
A table of reconciliation, of forgiveness, of justice
where all can partake.
But sometimes we refuse to share the gifts of your table.
Give us humility enough to be one of your fold.
You anoint us with oil; you gift us with grace,
You give us new strength when we falter,
tender compassion when we are spent.
Your goodness and mercy follow us
all the days of our lives.
You embrace us forever as part of your fold.
We praise you loving God, Amen.