Ministry At The Time Of Death

Notes

  1. Where possible the minister prepares the dying person in private, using The Preparation and Reconciliation. The person should be helped to be aware that the time of death is approaching. Family and friends should join in 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.
  2. Where the minister is not a bishop or priest
    1. the laying on of hands may be substituted for the Anointing, and may be done by more than one person, using these or similar words:
      1. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
        We/I lay our/my 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. Amen.
    2. the Holy Communion may be given but not celebrated, and the usual alterations are made at the Blessing
  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:
      1. 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.

 

The 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. (Rom. 8.35; 14.8; 2Cor 5.1; 1 Thess 4.17; 1 John 32.; Ps. 24.1; Ps. 26.1; Ps. 26.13; Ps 30.5; Ps. 41.3; Mt 25.34; Lk23.43; John 6.40; 14.2-3; 17.24; Acts 7.59, Lam. 3. 22,23)

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Reconciliation

The minister may encourage some expression of penitence, such as:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

or

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness;
in your great compassion blot out all my offences.
Wash me through and through from my wickedness
and cleanse me from my sin.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for me,
forgive me all that is past and lead me to walk in the light of eternity.

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, these words are used.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who, in the power of the resurrection,
entrusts the Spirit of reconciliation to his church, forgives you and frees you from the bonds of sin; as a sign and witness of his redeeming love,
I absolve you from all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 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.

The 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.
(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 our 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. Amen.

This psalm may be used

Out of the depths I cry to you;
Lord, hear my voice.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

If you should mark what is done amiss:
who may abide it?
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Trust in the Lord, for with him there is mercy;
for with him is ample redemption.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.

The Word Of God

These or other suitable readings may be used

Rom.8.35, 37-39

Ps 23; 139

Canticle: A Song of Christ's Goodness (see end)

John 6.35-40 (53-58)

The minister may encourage an Act of faith or Commitment, such as:

  1. Holy God,
    Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
    I trust you,
    I believe in you,
    I love you.
  2. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
  3. Lord, I believe: help my unbelief.
  4. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

The Prayers

This litany may be used, or the minister may pray using his or her own words.

God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
have mercy on your servant.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on your servant.
God the Holy Spirit, the Strengthener,
have mercy on your servant.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God,
have mercy on your servant.
By your holy incarnation, by your cross and passion,
by your precious death and burial,
have mercy on your servant.
By your glorious resurrection and ascension,
and by the coming of the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on your servant.

Graciously hear us, Lord Jesus Christ,
that it may please you to deliver your servant N from all evil,
and from eternal death.
Hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you mercifully to pardon all N's sins
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,
Hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to bring us, with N and all your saints
to a joyful resurrection,
Hear us, good Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Hear us, good Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Hear us, good Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Hear us, good Lord.
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.

The 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 We/I lay our/my 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 tight and peace, and bring you to everlasting life. Amen.

The minister may anoint the dying person, making the Sign of the Cross in oil on his or her forehead (and hands).

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. 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. Amen.

The Holy Communion

If it is possible for the dying person to receive Holy Communion, an authorised Eucharistic Prayer may be used, unless the bread and wine have already been consecrated

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins 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: give us your peace.

The Commendation

A The minister speaks first to the dying person, using these or other suitable words.

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. Amen.

and/or

May the angels lead you into paradise;
may the martyrs come to welcome you
and take you into the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.

May choirs of angels welcome you
and lead you to the bosom of Abraham;
and where Lazarus is poor no longer may you find eternal rest.

May saints and angels lead you on,
Escorting you where Christ has gone.
Now he has called you, come to him who sits above the seraphim.

Come to the peace of Abraham
And to the supper of the Lamb:
Come to the glory of the blessed, And to perpetual light and rest.

and/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. Amen.

B 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 the gate to life
and to eternal fellowship with you;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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. Amen.

C One or more of the following may a/so be used

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace:
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles:
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
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. Amen.

and/or

Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your 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, 'You are dust, and to dust you shall return.' We shall all go down to the dust;
yet even at the grave we make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

and/or

A Song of Christ's Goodness [At or just after death]

  1. Jesus, as 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.

[Anseim of Canterbury/Trans: 31]

The 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 ever reign,
one God for ever and ever. 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. Amen.