Focus scripture: Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
Awesome God, you are great and greatly to be praised! When we think about your goodness and all the ways you have a blessed us, we fall humbly before you.
Today Lord, we lift up our sadness because we have lost our loved one. He was sick for a long time and under the care of many doctors. He was hooked up to machines and in a lot of pain. But you took him home to be with you. In your way and in your time, you relieved him of his suffering. Because of our faith, we know that, although he is absent from the body, he is present with you, Lord. We commend his spirit to you, and we know that he will be safe now in your arms.
Now, Lord, we pray for those of us who are left behind. We ask that you comfort and strengthen us. Be with us through our remorse. Comfort us during our sadness and calm us when we are angry and depressed. Be present with us in our sorrow. Guide us gently to a place of healing and eventually to peace. We trust that you will bring us through this grief and attend to us with your love. We ask it all in the name of Jesus. Amen.