Devotional from Pastor Dave March 13, 2024

Today marks the first anniversary since my mom died. The first anniversary of a loved one’s death is a significant date. It means we have grieved through the first birthday, wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and other special days without them physically present in our lives.

This is one of those many days for which I am grateful for the liturgy of the church, for words that are available for us to borrow, words that help give voice to what is on our hearts and minds. This prayer, “On the Anniversary of a Death,” is from our United Methodist Book of Worship, #548. These are words that I have borrowed many times over the years; Tracy and I incorporated them into our wedding ceremony in memory of her mom. These are also words that I have shared with many others as they have marked the anniversaries of the deaths of their loved ones. I share them with you here today, trusting that these words might bless you in your own remembrances of loved ones.

Everliving God,

this day revives in us memories of loved ones who are no more.

What happiness we shared when they walked among us.

What joy, when, loving and being loved, we lived our lives together.

Their memory is a blessing for ever.

Months or years may have passed, and still we feel near to them.

Our hearts yearn for them.

Though the bitter grief has softened, a duller pain abides;

for the place where once they stood is empty now.

The links of life are broken, but the links of love and longing cannot break.

Their souls are bound up in ours for ever.

We see them now with the eye of memory,

their faults forgiven, their virtues grown larger.

So does goodness live, and weakness fade from sight.

We remember them with gratitude and bless their names.

Their memory is a blessing for ever.

And we remember as well the members

who but yesterday were part of our congregation and community.

To all who cared for us and labored for all people, we pay tribute.

May we prove worthy of carrying on the tradition of our faith,

for now the task is ours.

Their souls are bound up in ours for ever.

We give you thanks that they now live and reign with you.

As a great cloud of witnesses, they surround us with their blessings,

and offer you hymns of praise and thanksgiving.

They are alive for ever more. Amen.