05 August 2011

All Saints is a long way away...

...but we celebrated an anticipated All Saints at Higher Things at our closing liturgy (what better to close with?), so it's on my mind.  I suggested for that liturgy that the perfect Prayer of the Church for this feast is to use the Prayer of the Church given in the funeral liturgy.  It takes the most minor adaptations (readily apparent), and you have a prayer that literally falls right out of the readings for that joyous day - and leads us into God's presence to ask great and very good things and to offer our thanks and praise.  Pr. Hall used it that way in Bloomington.  Check it out and see if you agree that it is very fitting upon that day.  Some highlights:

Almighty God, You have knit Your chosen people together into one communion in the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ, give to Your whole Church in heaven and on earth Your light and Your peace... Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life and so pass with Him from the gate of death and the grave to our joyful resurrection... Grant that all who have been been nourished by the holy body and blood of Your Son may be raised to immortality and incorruption to be seated with Him at Your heavenly banquet... Give to all who mourn comfort in their grief and a sure confidence in Your loving care, that casting all their sorrow on You, they may know the consolation of Your love...

And so much more!

P.S.  Remember that the Lutheran Service Book Agenda (p. 152) provides you a prayer to use in commemoration of the faithful departed, as many of our parishes observe All Saints.

No comments: