The Reverend Dr. William A. Evertsberg

It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, O Lord our God, creator and ruler of the universe. We praise you for saints and martyrs, for the faithful in every age who have followed your son and witnessed to his resurrection. From every race and tongue, and from every people and nation, you have gathered them into your kingdom. You have shown them the path of life and filled them with the joy of your presence.

Gracious God, we ask that you will be close in an intimate and powerful way for all those among us who need an extraordinary measure of your grace just now.

We pray for those who have recently lost someone dearer than life itself, to virus, to cancer, to dementia, to great age.  Surround them with the palpable presence of your Holy Spirit, and also with companions to walk the way with them through the darkness of grief.

We pray for those who have lost the joy of living, through depression or disappointment or ill health.

We pray for those who are lonely or friendless. Open our eyes to their need for love and companionship or just a listening ear.

We pray for families riven by conflict or misunderstanding between husband and wife, parent and child, or brother and sister. Send your spirit of reconciliation to that place, that empathy and selflessness might come back into those homes.

Lord, on this sacred day in the life of our congregation, unite us at the table of our Lord with the saints of our own fellowship who have passed beyond to the Church triumphant. We remember their witness:

Virginia Anderson
Robert Balsley
Jackie Barnes
Joyce Bishop
Wiley Caldwell
Bill Folland
Suzanne Garvin
Charles A. Kelly
William J. Kirby
Jim Kleinops
Cliff Krueger
Coraine (Co) McArthur
Florence (Florri) McMillan
Connie Mehn
Barbara Mengel
Frances Pellouchoud
Pam Ross
Barbara Seibel
Ned Smith
Tiffany Wentz
Charles G. Whitchurch
Judy Wright

Blessed are the dead who die in the spirit, for they rest from their labors, and their works follow them.

Number us among your saints, O God, and join us with the faithful of every age, that strengthened by their witness and supported by their fellowship, we may run with perseverance the race that is set before us, and may with them receive the unfading crown of glory when we stand before your throne of grace.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, Almighty God, now and forevermore.