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    Ministry at the Time of Death
     
   
Structure
 
     
    The minister and the dying person are alone for
     
  Preparation
     
  Reconciliation
     
    Others may join the minister and the dying person for
     
 
  Opening Prayer
     
  The Word of God
     
  Prayers
     
 
  Laying on of Hands and Anointing
     
 
  Holy Communion
     
  Commendation
     
 
  Prayer when someone has just died
     
    For Notes, see below and here.
     
     
    Ministry at the Time of Death
     
   
Note
 
     
    Where possible the minister prepares the dying person in private, using the Preparation and Reconciliation sections. The person should be helped to be aware that the time of death is approaching. Family and friends should join the minister and the dying person at the Opening Prayer if they can be present, and it is appropriate that they should receive Holy Communion with the dying person. The different sections of the service may happen at different times, and the last communion may be received on another occasion, and more than once, as pastoral necessity dictates.
     
    See further Notes here.
     
     
  Preparation
     
    One or more of the following short texts may be said with the dying person. They may be softly repeated two or three times.
     
    Who will separate us from the love of Christ?      
   
Romans 8.35
    Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.      
   
Romans 14.8
    Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.      
   
Romans 14.9
    We know that we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.    
   
2 Corinthians 5.1
    We will be with the Lord for ever. 
   
1 Thessalonians 4.17
    We will see God as he is.      
   
1 John 3.2
    To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.      
   
Psalm 25.1
    The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?          
   
Psalm 27.1
    I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and he shall comfort your heart;
wait patiently for the Lord.      
   
Psalm 27.13,14
    Into your hands I commend my spirit;
for you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.      
   
Psalm 31.5
    My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God.      
   
Psalm 42.2
    Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.      
   
Matthew 25.34
    The Lord Jesus says, 'Today you will be with me in Paradise.'      
   
Luke 23.43
    This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.      
   
John 6.40
    In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.      
   
John 14.2
    I go and prepare a place for you. And I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.      
   
John 14.3
    'I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory,' says the Lord Jesus.      
   
John 17.24
    Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.      
   
Acts 7.59
    The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.      
   
Lamentations 3.22,23
     
   
The Lord's Prayer
 
     
    As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
     
    Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. 
Amen. 
     
    (or)
     
    Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
    Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. 
Amen.
     
     
  Reconciliation
     
    The minister may encourage some expression of penitence, such as
     
    Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
have mercy on me,
a sinner.
     
    (or)
     
    Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you,
through our own fault,
in thought and word and deed,
and in what we have left undone.
We are heartily sorry,
and repent of all our sins.
For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. 
    Amen.
     
    (or)
     
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
    Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
     
    The minister may lay hands on the dying person. If the minister is a priest, either of these absolutions may be used
     
    God, the Father of mercies,
has reconciled the world to himself
      through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ,
not counting our trespasses against us,
but sending his Holy Spirit to shed abroad his love among us.
By the ministry of reconciliation
entrusted by Christ to his Church,
receive his pardon and peace
to stand before him in his strength alone,
this day and evermore. 
    Amen.
     
    If the minister is a deacon or lay person, these words are used
     
    May almighty God have mercy on you,
forgive you your sins,
and bring you to everlasting life. 
    Amen.
     
     
    At this point others may join the minister and the dying person.
     
  Opening Prayer
     
    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
[All
  Blessed be God for ever.]
     
    Let us pray for …
     
    (Silence)
     
    This prayer may be used
     
    Eternal God,
grant to your servant
[and to us who surround him/her with our prayers]
your peace beyond understanding.
Give us faith, the comfort of your presence,
and the words to say to one another and to you,
as we gather in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
  Amen.
     
    The following may be used
     
    Out of the depths I cry to you:
Lord, hear my voice.
Lord, have mercy.
[All
  Lord, have mercy.]
     
    If you should mark what is done amiss:
who may abide it?
Christ, have mercy.
[All 
  Christ, have mercy.]
     
    Trust in the Lord, for with him there is mercy:
for with him is ample redemption.
Lord, have mercy.
[All
  Lord, have mercy.]
                             
  The Word of God
     
    These or other suitable readings may be used (see here)
     
    Romans 8.35,37-39
    Psalms 23; 139
    John 6.35-40[53-58]
     
    The minister may encourage an act of faith or commitment, such as
     
    Holy God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I trust you,
I believe in you,
I love you.
     
    (or)
     
    Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
     
    (or)
     
    Lord, I believe: help my unbelief.
     
    (or)
     
    Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
     
   ¶   Prayers
     
    This litany or some of the prayers with dying people may be used, or the minister may pray using his or her own words
     
    God the Father,
All
  have mercy upon us.
     
    God the Son,
All
  have mercy upon us.
     
    God the Holy Spirit,
All
  have mercy upon us.
     
    Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,
All
  have mercy upon us.
     
    By your holy incarnation, by your cross and passion,
by your precious death and burial,
All
  have mercy upon us.
     
    By your glorious resurrection and ascension,
and by the coming of the Holy Spirit,
All
  have mercy upon us.
     
    Graciously hear us, Lord Jesus Christ,
that it may please you to deliver your servant N from all evil
      and from eternal death,
All
  hear us, good Lord.
     
    That it may please you mercifully to pardon all N 's sins,
All
  hear us, good Lord.
     
    That it may please you to give N peace, rest and gladness,
raising him/her to new life in your kingdom,
All
  hear us, good Lord.
     
    That it may please you to bring us, with N and all your saints,
to a joyful resurrection,
All
  hear us, good Lord.
     
    Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
All
  hear us, good Lord.
     
    Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
All
  hear us, good Lord.
     
    Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
All
  hear us, good Lord.
     
All
  In darkness and in light,
 in trouble and in joy,
help us, O God, to trust your love,
to seek your purpose
and to praise your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen.
     
  ¶    Laying on of Hands and Anointing
     
    The minister, together with others if that is appropriate, may lay hands on the dying person. This prayer may be used
     
    In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
I/we lay my/our hands on you, N.
May the Lord in his mercy and love uphold you
by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.
May he deliver you from all evil,
give you light and peace,
and bring you to everlasting life. 
All
  Amen.
     
    The minister may anoint the dying person, making the sign of the cross in oil on his or her forehead [and hands] (see Note 1 here)
     
    N, I anoint you with oil in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the Lord in his love and mercy uphold you
by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. 
All
  Amen.
     
    When the anointing is completed, the minister may add
     
    As you are outwardly anointed with this holy oil,
so may our heavenly Father grant you the inward anointing
      of the Holy Spirit.
Of his great mercy
may he forgive you your sins
and release you from suffering.
May he deliver you from all evil,
preserve you in all goodness
and bring you to everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
  Amen.
     
  ¶
  Holy Communion
     
    If it is possible, the dying person may receive communion. Unless the bread and wine have already been consecrated, an authorized Eucharistic Prayer is used (see Note 1 here).
     
    The Agnus Dei may be used before the giving of communion
     
    Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
     
    Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
     
    Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.
     
    (or)
     
    Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
     
    Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
     
    Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.
     
    After the words of distribution the following may be added
     
    May the Lord Jesus protect you
and lead you to eternal life.
     
  Commendation
     
   
The Lord's Prayer
 
     
    As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
     
All
  Our Father in heaven,
 hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. 
Amen.
     
    (or)
     
    Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  Our Father, who art in heaven,
 hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. 
Amen.
     
    The minister speaks first to the dying person, using these or other suitable words
     
    N, go forth from this world:
in the love of God the Father who created you,
in the mercy of Jesus Christ who redeemed you,
in the power of the Holy Spirit who strengthens you.
May the heavenly host sustain you
and the company of heaven enfold you.
In communion with all the faithful,
may you dwell this day in peace.
All
  Amen.
     
    (or)
     
    N, go forth upon your journey from this world,
in the name of God the Father almighty who created you;
in the name of Jesus Christ who suffered death for you;
in the name of the Holy Spirit who strengthens you;
in communion with the blessed saints,
and aided by angels and archangels,
and all the armies of the heavenly host.
May your portion this day be in peace,
and your dwelling the heavenly Jerusalem. 
All
  Amen.
     
    (and/or)
     
    Holy Lord, almighty and eternal God,
hear our prayers as we entrust to you N ,
as you summon him/her out of this world.
Forgive his/her sins and failings
and grant him/her a haven of light, and peace.
Let him/her pass unharmed through the gates of death
to dwell with the blessed in light,
as you promised to Abraham and his children for ever.
Accept N into your safe keeping
and on the great day of judgement
raise him/her up with all the saints
to inherit your eternal kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. 
All
  Amen.
     
    The minister says the prayer of commendation
     
    Gracious God,
nothing in death or life,
nothing in the world as it is,
nothing in the world as it shall be,
nothing in all creation
can separate us from your love.
Jesus commended his spirit into your hands at his last hour.
Into those same hands we now commend your servant N ,
that dying to the world and cleansed from sin,
death may be for him/her the gate to life
and to eternal fellowship with you;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  
All
  Amen.
     
    (and/or)
     
    Into your hands, O merciful Saviour,
we commend your servant N.
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock,
a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold him/her in the arms of your mercy,
in the blessed rest of everlasting peace
and in the glorious company of the saints in light. 
All
  Amen.
     
    One or more of the following may also be used
     
1
  Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:  •
your word has been fulfilled.
     
2
  My own eyes have seen the salvation  •
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
     
3
  A light to reveal you to the nations  •
and the glory of your people Israel.                               
   
Luke 2.29-32
    Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. 
All
  Amen.
     
    (or)
     
1
  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
    according to thy word.
     
2
  For mine eyes have seen :
    thy salvation;
     
3
  Which thou hast prepared :
    before the face of all people;
     
  4
  To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
    and to be the glory of thy people Israel.     
   
Luke 2.29-32
    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. 
All
  Amen.
     
    (and/or)
     
All
  Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with the saints:
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
    You only are immortal, the creator and maker of all:
and we are mortal, formed from the dust of the earth,
and unto earth shall we return.
For so you ordained when you created me, saying:
'Dust you are and to dust you shall return.'
All of us go down to the dust,
yet weeping at the grave we make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
All
  Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with the saints:
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
     
    (and/or)
     
    At or just after death
     
1
  Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you;  •
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
     
2
  Often you weep over our sins and our pride, •
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
     
3 
  You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds,  •
in sickness you nurse us, and with pure milk you feed us.
     
4
  Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life;  •
by your anguish and labour we come forth in joy.
     
   5
  Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;  •
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
     
6
  Your warmth gives life to the dead,  •
your touch makes sinners righteous.
     
  7
  Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us; •
in your love and tenderness remake us.
     
   8
  In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness,  •
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.
   
A Song of St Anselm
     
   
Blessing
 
     
    The minister uses one of these blessings
     
    May the eternal God
bless and keep us,
guard our bodies,
save our souls
and bring us safe to the heavenly country,
our eternal home,
where Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reign,
one God for ever and ever. 
All
  Amen. 
     
    (or)
     
    God grant you to share in the inheritance of his saints in glory;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you, and remain with you always. 
All
  Amen.
     
  Prayer when someone has just died
     
    The minister, a family member or a friend may use some or all of these words
     
    In this moment of sorrow the Lord is in our midst
and consoles us with his word:

No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him.

Blessed are the sorrowful; they shall be comforted.

Into your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our brother/sister N .
In this life you embraced him/her with your tender love,
and opened to him/her the gate of heaven.
The old order has passed away,
as you welcome him/her into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain,
but the fullness of peace and joy
with your Son and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. 
All
  Amen.
     
    Heavenly Father,
into whose hands Jesus Christ
commended his spirit at the last hour:
into those same hands we now commend your servant N ,
 that death may be for him/her
the gate to life and to eternal fellowship with you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All
  Amen.
     
    Remember, O Lord,
this your servant,
who has gone before us with the sign of faith
and now rests in the sleep of peace.
According to your promises,
grant to him/her and to all who rest in Christ,
refreshment, light and peace;
through the same Christ our Lord.
All
  Amen.
     
    Most merciful God,
whose wisdom is beyond our understanding,
surround the family of N with your love,
that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss,
but have confidence in your goodness,
and strength to meet the days to come.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. 
All
  Amen.
     
     
    Notes to
Ministry at the Time of Death
     
1
  Where the minister is not a bishop or priest
     
        anointing is omitted;
     
        Holy Communion may be given but not celebrated;
     
        the usual alterations are made at the blessing.
     
2
  The laying on of hands may be done by more than one person.
     
3
  Canon B 37 provides that the priest should use 'pure olive oil consecrated by the bishop of the diocese or otherwise by the priest'. If consecrated oil is not available, the priest may use this form:
          Lord, holy Father, giver of health and salvation,
      as your apostles anointed those who were sick and healed them,
      so continue the ministry of healing in your Church.
      Sanctify this oil, that those who are anointed with it
      may be freed from suffering and distress,
      find inward peace, and know the joy of your salvation,
      through your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
          Amen.
     
4
  Wherever possible, care should be taken to use versions of texts familiar to the dying person.
     
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