BY: LYNETTE BALLARD, MA, MAHCM
CALL TO PRAYER
Leader: Loving God, we come together to pray today for those who are confronted by the sadness, ambiguity and confusion of dementia, and for those upon whom they depend for attention and compassionate care. We pray also for those who are engaged in research to prevent or treat this condition. May all be nourished and enlightened by the presence and power of your Holy Spirit and the consoling words of Scripture.
READINGS
Reader: (Romans 8:35, 37-39, New American Bible)
What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? … No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Silent Reflection
All: Look with mercy on all whose afflictions bring them weakness, distress, confusion or isolation. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give to them understanding helpers and the willingness to accept help. As their strengths diminish, increase their belief in your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reader: (From a prayer by Malcolm Goldsmith)
Lord, the truth is that our faith depends not upon us remembering you, but upon you remembering us. For those who wander from the pathway, we rely upon the belief that there is nowhere we can travel to which is beyond your presence. For all who rant and rave, for all who lash out at others, for all who step beyond our sense of what is acceptable, we ask your blessing. For all who sink into depression, or who are overwhelmed by a sense of grief, we ask your peace. Amen.
Silent Reflection
Reader: Psalm 17: 6-8
I call upon you; answer me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my prayer.
Show your wonderful love,
you who deliver with your right arm
those who seek refuge from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Silent Reflection
Leader: Holding in your mind's eye the images of persons in your life and in your work who suffer from the debilitating effects of dementia, let us pray together in the firm belief that God who is ever loving and ever present will help them in their trouble and give strength to their caregivers.
All:
Watch, loving God,
With those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
And give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones.
Rest your weary ones.
Bless your dying ones.
Soothe your suffering ones.
Pity your afflicted ones.
Shield your joyous ones.
And all, for your love's sake,
Amen.
"Prayer Service," a regular department in Health Progress, may be copied without prior permission.