What is it about those words?
Standing in the darkened Church and singing together words hallowed by long centuries of use, joining Christians from long ago and still today, all praying:
I confess to almighty God before the whole company of heaven...
...pardon, forgiveness, and remission of all your sins...
...in peace I will both lay down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety...
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High...
May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth. Glory...
Before the ending of the day, Creator of the world we pray...
...and be our Guard and Keeper now...
You, O Lord, are in the midst of us and we are called by Your name...
Into your hands...
You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth...
Visit our dwellings, O Lord, and drive far away all the snares of the enemy...
...Your holy angels dwell with us...
Our Father...
And then the crowning words of the Office:
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ and alseep we may rest in peace.
Bedtime or funeral? Yes. Either. Lord, now You let Your servant depart in peace.
In peace. That's the whole office in a nutshell. Peace. Peace because no matter what comes tonight, tomorrow, or the next day and on forever:
"The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" DOES "bless us and keep us."
Peace. Amen. A good night indeed.
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