Holy God,

Your ways are not our own,

Your very being, the source of all being, is beyond our knowing,

And yet we know that you are with us

Pulsing through the cycles of life and death and life anew.

Stir us awake to your Holy Spirit, O God

Soaring like a cloud of witnesses above us

Illuminate us with wisdom

Embrace us with mercy

As we honor the loss of those who are beloved to us,  

our ancestors, of blood or of spirit.

If we are unsettled in our relationship with them, or unsettled with their loss,

Help us to receive healing and peace.

You know what is on our hearts, and within.

You know what needs to be forgiven,

What needs to be healed.  What needs to be celebrated.

Thank you for those before us who were faithful and courageous witnesses to your love, despite the fear for their times.

Help us to treasure and share the gifts we have from them.

Help us receive what wisdom and insight, courage and purpose this great cloud of witnesses wishes for us, for the precious lives we are given to live in our day and age.

So we may live with renewed spirits  For the fullness of life you grant us

In witness to your Love and Mercy

Now we may see through a veil darkly

But we know the time will come when, utterly transformed

we shall encounter you, our God, face to face,

With a glory and power and peace that is beyond our imagining.

Amen.

Rev. Nathaniel Mahlberg