My humble Swede died early this morning. His wife and one of his sons were with him. I came over and we did the service for "Comforting the Bereaved" from the Occasional Services Handbook. His wife especially liked the scripture from John 10. But I also thought of these verses, and I'd like to share them with everyone today:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation:
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles:
and the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be 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
(from the red SBH, the Nunc Dimittus)
This is the closing prayer I wrote for our advent services:
O God, who called forth light out of darkness, who made the sun and moon and stars, come to us in the darkness of night and in the midst of our grieving, and give us hope for your new day. Come to us in the darkness of night and in the midst of our loneliness, and give us the joy of new life. Come to us in the darkness of night and in the midst of our fears, and show us the face of your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God forever. Amen
10 comments:
May he rest in peace.
What a lovely post and a testament to not only his passing but to your own beautiful work for the Kingdom.
Amen.
Peace.
Thank you for the lovely Advent prayer.
I like the juxtaposition of letting your servant depart in peace and the entreaty to come to us... Very nice.
My condolence to the family of your humble Swede.
Sometimes it takes those with the knowledge of families lost to bring the correct words and I think you present them. Thanks for sharing!
of course, the words the Nunc Dimittus are the words of Simeon to the baby Jesus, when Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple.
Oh. May he rest in the comfort of God's loving arms this night...and may his family find solace in the risen Christ.
Lovely prayers....
Thanks, Diane, for sharing this...I am glad you were part of his life.
Diane, your prayer is lovely. And somehow,the Nunc Dimittus seems so appropriate for a Swede in winter. Peace.
May your humble Swede rest in peace and rise in glory. May God grant comfort, consolation, and peace to his friends and family.
The Nunc Dimittus is included in the short form of Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer. I love saying it before going to sleep.
I can only repeat what RevRosa said, "Diane, your Advent prayer is lovely."
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