Draw near unto God and he will draw near unto you. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.

Our Father, and our God, we affirm that you are our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble. You are the eternal God and You are our dwelling place. You have promised to be near us when we call upon you in truth and you offer to us the assurance that beneath us are your everlasting arms.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Our help is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

We come to You, our Father, as a people who are hurting, feeling keenly the sting of death and the loss of a loved one. We ask, that you be present with us and grant to us the comfort, the consolation, the grace, the love and the peace which You alone can give and which alone is sufficient for us in this time of our need

Eternal Father, whose love is infinite and whose peace passes all of our understanding, today we remember the words of Jesus, “My peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You, O Lord, ARE our refuge and strength, and you are a very present help in times of trouble.

Lord, help us today to turn the shadow of death into a morning. Speak to us of eternal things. Lift us above this time of distress into the light and peace of your presence through Jesus Christ our Lord.  You have been the dwelling place and home of your people in all generations. We recognize Lord, that in you is our ultimate confidence and hope.

Enable us to find in you our refuge and strength. Speak to our hearts in these moments that we share together and give us peace.

Lord, I ask a special blessing today upon the family and friends of Chris. Comfort each of them with the knowledge of your concern and nearness. Encourage each one. Give them power through your divine spirit to bear this moment of grief.

Help us to hear the words of your servant, “in every situation give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Lord, we would not forget to say thanks for the cherished memories that will forever enrich our lives because of this man, a man of faith, strong yet humble, a man who loved others as himself. As we reflect upon our association with and our memories of Chris, help us to make our lives more dedicated, more devoted, more unselfish, that we may, through committed lives, justify in fruitful and creative work, the longer years you are giving us.

O Lord, you alone know our hearts and thoughts today. May your Holy Spirit dwell with our spirits to comfort us. Through your grace and mercy may we all find peace that only you can give.

In the words of an old Christian Hymn

“For me He waits in glory,
Seated upon His throne;
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone. . . ”

Though we cry now in bereavement, Lord, let Your spirit so be with us as to continue to comfort us, and may we be as children who know that you are our father, that you are very near and may we cling unafraid to your trusted hand. Once again Lord, and each day, and the days after, grant us comfort and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, Amen.