The Deacon's Bench
From the Concord Pastor:
Dear God,
there’s an empty chair at our table,
an ache in our hearts
and tears upon our faces…We try to shield one another from our grief
but we cannot hide it from you…We pray for…
(name your loved one)
whose presence we miss in these homecoming days…Open our eyes and our hearts to the healing, the warmth
and the peace of your presence…Assure us that those we miss
have a home in your heart as well as in ours
and a place at your table forever…Open our hearts to joyful memories of the love we shared
with those who have gone before us…Help us tell the stories that bring us close to one another
and to the ones we miss so much…Teach us to lean on you and on each other
for the strength we need
to walk through difficult times…Give us quiet moments with you, with our thoughts,
with our memories and our prayers…And in the stillness of the quiet,
give us your consolation and your peace…Be with us and hold us in your arms
as you hold the ones we miss…This is the day you have made, O Lord:
help us rejoice and be glad in the peace you’ve promised
and share with those who’ve gone before us…Amen.
The good pastor has even more prayers for this day and this season. Check out his blog.
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