Prayers and Sacred Readings:

"Prayers in Celebration of the Sharing of Life"

Let us pray:

Dear Great Spirit, we gather here today to celebrate.  We celebrate loss recovered in gain; we celebrate memories as we also seek hope of new life.  We celebrate death redressed through change; we celebrate the donors as well as those that receive.  We celebrate the memory of those who have passed and we celebrate the hopes and struggles for those that remain.  We celebrate those that receive while never forgetting those that gave.

Dear Lord, it seems that there are really only two prayers—Help and Thanks.  Help us all.  Help us, oh Lord, to feel Your presence—Your Peace—Your Joy—Your Love—Your Light—In all our thoughts, words, deeds.  Today especially in honoring the deeds of donors, recipients, their families, and all of the staff that enables the gifts of life to go on.

Help to the Families of the donors.  Help us retain the memories; help us feel the joy of love for all of humankind; help us to accept that what we did was courageous beyond all thought.  Help us to see the wonder of life through this sharing; help us know that all is well.  Help us experience peace.

Help for the Recipients.   Help us receive freely, support us with love and care, help us be grateful without burden, help us experience the wonder of life through this sharing—Help us experience peace.

Help for the Staff and Volunteers dedicated to Organ Donation Programs.  Help us serve with love, gentleness, and kindness.  Help us honor life and respect all of humanity.  Guide our hearts and minds to provide excellent service to all, everywhere, always.  Help us spread love, even in times of sadness, help us experience peace.

Thanks, Lord, from all of us.  May we ever feel Your Presence.  May we ever serve You in our thought, word, and deed.  May we experience eternal peace, joy, love, and light.  Yes, thank You, Lord.

Lord, hear our Prayers.  “The sun also rises.  The sun also sets.  Before the sun of a righteous person sets God causes the sun of another righteous person to rise.”

Lord, hear our Prayers.  Lord, bless the people here today, and those here in thought and memory.  Let us remember the past with joy, not sorrow; let us embrace the present with the fullness of love; let us await the future in peace.

Lord, enable us to continue to feel Your Presence.   Enable us to remember You in our thoughts, words, and deeds.  Now, Forever, Always.  

We have celebrated life today, Lord.  Let us now go out and live it, with joy, promise, and fullness.  In Your name, Great Spirit.

Yes, Lord, hear our prayers.

--prayers written by a Chaplain Resident, 1999