For those who grieve and whose hearts are heavy today

A Litany of Farewell (Episcopal Church)

Good Christian people, I bid you now pray for the saving presence of our living Lord

In this world:
He is risen.

In this Church:
He is risen.

In the hearts of all faithful people:
He is risen.

But especially I bid you pray and give thanks for
those I love who are now leaving [me and whom I must leave] our community.

For expectations not met:
Lord, have mercy.

For grievances not resolved:
Lord, have mercy.

For wounds not healed:
Lord, have mercy.

For anger not dissolved:
Lord, have mercy.

For gifts not given:
Lord, have mercy.

For promises not kept:
Lord, have mercy.

And now for this portion of your lifelong pilgrimage which you have made with these people in this place:
Thanks be to God.

For friendships made, celebrations enjoyed, and for moments of nurture:
Thanks be to God.

For wounds healed, expectations met, gifts given, promises kept:
Thanks be to God.

For bread and wine, body and blood:
Thanks be to God.

For all the thoughtful, little unheralded things done to make the day better for someone:
Thanks be to God.

And so, to establish a home in another place with other members of the family of Christ:
Go in peace.

To continue the journey with new friends and new adventures, new gifts to give and to receive:
Go in peace.

To offer wisdom and experience, competence and compassion, in the ministry to which you are called:
Go in peace.

With whatever fears, whatever sadness, whatever excitement, whatever dreams may be yours:
Go in peace.

With our faith in you, our hope for you, and our love of you:
Go in peace.

Your petitions and thanksgivings are invited at this time.

The Lord watch between us while we are absent one from the other—

in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Go in peace.

Amen.

Care thou for mine whom I must leave behind;

Care that they know who 'tis for them takes care;

Thy present patience help them still to bear;

Lord, keep them clearing, growing, heart and mind;

In one thy oneness us together bind;

Last earthly prayer with which to thee I cling--

Grant that, save love, we owe not anything.

From Diary of an Old Soul, George MacDonald, Entry for January 18


I am standing upon the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, ‘There! She's gone!' ‘Gone where?' ‘Gone from my sight, that's all'. She is just as large in mast and spar and hull as ever she was when she left my side; just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of her destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at that moment when someone at my side says, ‘There! She's gone!' there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, ‘Here she comes!' …..

Attributed to Victor Hugo
Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there; I did not die.

Attributed to Mary Fry