Extracts from A Prayer Book for Australia
Ministry with the Dying
1The priest may greet those present.
Grace and peace from the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
2The following or other suitable sentences of Scripture may be read.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3.22–23
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalms 46.1
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but may have eternal life
John 3.16
3The minister may continue
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
The Lord’s Prayer may be said.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
4Trust in God may be expressed in these or similar words.
Holy God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I trust you,
I believe in you,
I love you.
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Lord, I believe: help my unbelief.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
5Those present may join with the minister in saying
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.
6The following or other suitable readings may be read.
Psalm 23
The response (R) may be used where marked.
R I will fear no evil, for you are with me
The Lord is my shepherd:
therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall make me lie down in green pastures:
and lead me beside still waters. R
He shall refresh my soul:
and guide me in right pathways for his name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil:
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me. R
You spread a table before me
in the presence of those who trouble me:
you have anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full.
Surely your goodness and loving-kindness will follow me
all the days of my life:
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. R
Or Psalm 71.1–6 may be used.
Romans 8.38–39
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 14.1–3
Jesus said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.’
7If the dying person is moved to make a special confession of sins, the Reconciliation of a Penitent (page 773) or the following form may be used.
The priest invites the dying person to have trust in God.
The Lord Jesus welcomes you.
He came to call sinners.
Have confidence in him.
and/or
The Lord be in your heart and on your lips,
and help you make a true confession of your sins,
in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The penitent may make confession of sins in his or her own words, and/or use the following form.
Loving and merciful God,
I confess to you and your Church
that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed
through my own fault;
and especially have I sinned in this way…
For these sins I am truly sorry,
and by your grace firmly intend to amend my life.
I ask for your forgiveness,
for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
After this confession the priest absolves the penitent.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church
to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him,
of his great mercy forgive you all your offences:
and by his authority committed to me
I absolve you from all your sins,
in the name of God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
8If desired, the priest may anoint the dying person, using this form
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.
9The following forms may be used.
In you, O Lord, have I put my trust:
deliver me in your righteousness.
Shine on your servant with the light of your love.
Incline your ear to me:
make haste to deliver me.
Shine on your servant with the light of your love.
Be my strong rock, and house of defence:
be my guide and lead me for your name’s sake.
Shine on your servant with the light of your love.
I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy:
for you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
Shine on your servant with the light of your love.
10Prayers such as follow may be said.
Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection and life
of all who trust themselves to your keeping;
you have taught us not to grieve, as people without hope,
for those who sleep in you.
Raise us from the death of sin to the life of righteousness.
Grant that when we depart this life we may rest in you,
and that at the resurrection on the last day
we may receive the kingdom you have made ready
for all who love and fear you. Amen.
Support us, O Lord, all the day long of this troublous life,
until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,
the busy world is hushed,
the fever of life is over,
and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in your mercy grant us a safe lodging,
a holy rest, and peace at the last;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
11A Litany for use near the time of death.
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,
have mercy on your servant.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on your servant.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on your servant.
12One of these or other commendations may be said.
Go forth, good Christian, on your journey from this world,
in the name of God the Father who created you;
in the name of Jesus Christ who suffered 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 heavenly host.
May your portion this day be in peace,
and your dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.
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:
we are mortal, formed from the dust of the earth.
We all go down to the dust;
and weeping 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.
or
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/her the gate to life
and to eternal fellowship with you;
through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
13The priest may say one of these blessings.
God give you grace 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.
or
May God the Father, who created you,
have mercy on you and bless you.
May God the Son, Jesus Christ, who conquered death for you,
have mercy on you and bless you.
May God the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies you,
have mercy on you and bless you.
May God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
grant you eternal rest and peace. Amen.
or
The peace of God, which passes all understanding,
keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always. Amen.
or
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you,
and give you peace, now and for evermore. Amen.
A period of silence should follow.
14The act of worship may be concluded as follows.
Praise the Lord, O my soul:
and all that is within me praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul:
and forget not all his benefits.
The Lord forgives all your sin:
and heals all your infirmities.
He saves your life from destruction:
and crowns you with mercy and compassion.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Notes
1 The dying person should be encouraged to set their earthly affairs in order with generosity, to forgive any whom they have offended, to confess their sins, and so receive assurance of God’s forgiveness, love and care.
2 The forms at ¶ 9 may be accompanied by the making of the sign of the cross by those present on the forehead of the dying person, recalling our baptism into Christ.