A Grief Interrupted — an Easter Pondering, Plea, and Prayer Loving God, is it true That grief must always win Bearing down heavy In weight of what was Sucking out life’s breath At every turn of memory? Must the upper hand always Be given to grief’s will and way Bringing tender tears In relentless […]
Read full textGrief
The Restlessness of Grief — Cara Heafey
Reflection for Easter Eve, ‘Holy’ Saturday The worst has happened. The disciples have fled. The cross stands bare. The tomb is sealed. Mary, dazed and exhausted by sorrow, fuggy with tears, makes her way to the grave. She doesn’t know what else to do with herself. Such is the restlessness of grief; when the wound […]
Read full textDo you bring peace?, hymn — Sam Goodman, UK
Tune: Williams, ‘Yes God is good’ Do you bring peace, will your peace last? Do you bring justice to this place? Do you bring hope when all is lost? Do we respond and share your grace? Do you plant seeds on barren land? Do you bring wine to quench our thirst? Do you speak words […]
Read full textHealing prayer after trauma — Elizabeth Gray-King, UK
A prayer for healing after trauma Easily adapted for a group, e.g. using ‘our’ and ‘us’ God of all time, this time is difficult. My memories rush at me. My memories have disappeared as my mind manages each day. I am aware that others have had times like mine or worse. But God it feels […]
Read full textThe nights are long — source unknown
The days are short. The nights are long. Your universe mirrors the reality of our hearts, Revealing your gracious spirit that Mourns with us in grief, Cries with us in sorrow, Sits with us in despair. You are not a distant God, removed from human pain, But a faithful companion Closer to us than our […]
Read full textNow, for this space — Jeanne Lohman, USA
Words to still the soul… Now, for this space, I put them all aside, the awesome things for which no words will come. Such grief must go where only God is guide. Our lovely plane darkens. Nightmares ride. The sunlit waters thicken into scum. Now, for this space, I put them all aside. I read […]
Read full textDeath’s welcome — Ana Gobledale, UK
Written in Salisbury Cathedral while listening toSt Matthew’s Passion by JS Bach and preparing a funeral service. Death Ceasing to be Becoming what? Breathless Containing all life Life-less Moving from Moving toward Leaving Arriving Shutting down It is finished Dust on the mantle Ash on the hearth Carried on zephyr puffs Lifted Unknowing Fear not […]
Read full textWords to still the soul — Jeanne Lohman, USA
Words to still the soul . . . used perhaps as one enters a worship space, or prepares to. Now, for this space, I put them all aside, the awesome things for which no words will come. Such grief must go where only God is guide. Our lovely plane darkens. Nightmares ride. The sunlit waters […]
Read full text