Last week, I talked about a prayer writing assignment I’ll be giving in a pastoral care course.

My friend Andy takes suggestions like that seriously, and wrote a series of prayers for particular situations. He sent them to me in Messenger. I asked if I could share them. He said I could.

And so I am.

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Prayer before sending members to help with disaster

Lord, we ask Your blessing on those we are sending
to help the people of Iowa who have suffered from a plague of storms.
Help them help the people of Iowa with the gifts they will bring,
and the labor they will undertake.
Let no harm come to those we send nor to those we help.
Let us work with others in a spirit of cooperation and love for our neighbors.
Let our people bring Your blessings to others
and come home encouraged to keep helping.
In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Last prayer with someone dying

Dear Lord, M__ will be leaving this world.
We ask that it not be a painful departure,
and that his heart will be confident of a heavenly destination.
Though his family and friends will miss him,
comfort them with knowing he is with You.
Though he stumbled sometimes as he followed You,
we know that You took his sins to the cross and died so that he might live.
May he dwell with You forever and all his tears be wiped away.
Amen

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I appreciate Andy’s heart to be honest about risks and realities and to be aware of what God offers us to ask.