PRAYER SERVICE - 8

INTRODUCTION:  Life is a gift of God out of His abundant love. This gift is to be celebrated. Life is to be celebrated. To celebrate life is to appreciate God who gave this precious gift. To appreciate God is to be with Him with songs of love and thanksgiving. To praise Him in gratitude is true prayer. This prayer springs up from the depth of one’s heart and leads to total surrender. Today we join with Sr…..in her prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of her life.

Lord, giver of life, in to the immensity of your love and mercy, we let ourselves disappear as we praise you for the life you have gifted to our dear Sr….You created her in your beauty and filled her with your tenderness and love. You constantly renewed her as you guided her through the journey of her life. You touched her with your wisdom and enlightened her as you set her apart only for you. We thank you for all that you do in her life as we sing this hymn of praise.

Sr. offers the vase:

                   My Lord, this vase symbolizes my life. You created me in love. You know me through and through. You have a plan for me. You let people come into my life to nourish me with your love and experience. You let events happen in my life to teach me and to enlighten me. You surround me with your care, shielding me from all the dangers. O Lord, keep me within your heart and take possession of my life for your glory. (Places the vase on the stand)

SPONGE: (FAMILY)

                   This sponge symbolizes the family of Sr. The sponge absorbs the water and helps the flowers and leaves to remain fresh and united. Lord, we thank you for the family of Sr. She would not have been what she is today except for her dear ones and for their love and care. Lord, bless each one of them abundantly as we offer you this sponge.

LEAVES: (CHURCH)

                   Heavenly Father, we offer to you the entire church along with all its members. Along with this branch, we offer you Sr. with gratitude and love. Shower your blessings upon her and make her a sign of your steadfast love to all those who come in contact with her. May she be able to bring people closer to you and thus help the church in the mission of proclaiming the good news. Lord, bless Sr. and the entire church.

LEAVES AND FLOWERS:(CONGREGATION)

                   We offer you Lord, our congregation and all the members. We remember all our sisters and pray that you bless and keep us always in your protecting wings. Accept and bless us as we place these flowers and leaves. May we cherish your love and flourish in the service of your kingdom.

LEAVES: (INSTITUTIONS)

                   Leaves add beauty to the plants and they have a lot to contribute to the growth of the plants. The plants in the nature help us to live in good health as they provide the fresh air. Today we offer through this symbol all the institutions where Sr…. has rendered her loving services. Lord, we ask your blessings upon Sr…. and all the institutions. Help her to be ever joyful in her service to you everywhere.

FLOWERS:(TEACHERS AND FRIENDS)

                   Lord, as we offer these flowers, we offer you all the teachers and friends of Sr…. We implore your blessings upon each one of them who have fostered her goodness and nurtured her in the soil of love and fraternity. Bless them with your heavenly richness. Bless all their endeavors and their undertakings that they may reap a harvest of joy and peace in their lives.

FLOWERS:(All those who have helped her)

                   Lord, giver of all good gifts, we thank you for the precious gift of Sr. Today as we celebrate her life, we offer you this beautiful flowers as a symbol of all those who have helped her to grow in her life, specially her formators. Jesus, we ask you to bless them and give them your peace and joy.