Prayers for those with terminal illness

Overview

Below are some examples of prayers that could be adapted for use on the occasion when a school community needs to pray for someone with a terminal illness.

Prayer example 1

Loving God, you companion us in all of our life journeys. We ask for the powerful strength of your Spirit with us at this time as we accompany ………………….in his/her their last stage of this life.

Give us, we pray, the courage to face our own fears so we may be your voice and hands to comfort to him/her them in their pain and uncertainty.

Give us the certainty of faith so we can support each other and reach out in love and hope and peace to ………………… and truly believe that whatever the future, Jesus, your Son and our brother, who broke through the barriers of death, will accompany us to your presence and life eternal. Amen.

Prayer example 2

Loving God, you gave strength and courage to your Son Jesus on his journey to the cross. We put before you today ………………………………… who is/are bearing their own cross of suffering as they face their final stages of life.

May they, like Jesus, feel the closeness of your presence with them in their transition from this life into eternal life with You.

We ask that the Spirit of Jesus be a source of courage and strength to their families and all who walk this journey with them.

May we be your voice, your touch, your consoling presence. And may our faith in your promises sustain us and bring us all one day into your kingdom of justice and peace where you reign with Jesus and the Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer example 3

Loving God, source and destiny of all life, we ask for your gentle and comforting presence with…………………………. as he/she/they struggle with illness and impending death.

We pray that you will give them courage and hope of faith in your promises. Be near to their families in their fear and confusion and sorrow.

May we, who walk this journey with them, be a source of strength and endurance as they wait, in hope, for the Spirit of Jesus, your son, to accompany them to your presence, to live with you and all who believe, for eternity. Amen.

Prayer example 4

Leader: Let us put before God, source and destiny of all life, our prayers and concerns for ……………….. in their time of illness and pain; and ourselves, who walk this final journey with them:

Reader: We pray for courage in the face of death….. Lord hear us.

All: Hear us, our living God

Reader: We pray for healing of spirit and the consolation of faith in God’s promises. Lord Hear us.

All: Hear us, our living God

Reader: We pray for the hope that faith in Jesus brings. Lord hear us.

All: Hear us, our living God

Reader: We pray for the Spirit of Consolation for their families in their fear and confusion and grief. Lord hear us.

All: Hear us, our living God

Reader: We pray for perseverance, patience and the healing power of love. Lord Hear us.

All: Hear us, our living God

Reader: We pray for the faith to believe Jesus goes before us always, even when death is at our side. Lord Hear us.

All: Hear us, our living God

Leader: Eternal, living God, we ask that you hear our prayers in this time of illness, struggle, waiting and death.

Be our source of courage and hope and may our faith in Jesus bring us all, at our time, to life with you forever. This we ask in his name. Amen.