AT THE SERVICE FOR A CHILD

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Words of Grace and Sentences

Jesus said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones;
for, I tell you, in heaven
their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.
So it is not the will of your Father in heaven
that one of these little ones should be lost." (MATTHEW 18:3–4, 10, 14)

Jesus said: "Let the little children come to me,
and do not stop them;
for it is to such as these
that the kingdom of heaven belongs." (MATTHEW 19:14)

And he took them up in his arms,
laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (MARK 10:16)

The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (REVELATION 7:17)

Friends, we have gathered to worship God and to witness to our faith
even as we mourn the death of this infant, the child of Name and Name .
We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.
May God search our hearts, that in pain we may find comfort,
in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.

See also Psalm 103:8, 13–14, 17.

Prayers

O God, whose dear Son took little children into his arms and blessed them:
Give us grace, we pray,
to entrust this child to your never–failing love and care;
and bring us all to your eternal life;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God our Father, your love gave us life, and your care never fails.
Yours is the beauty of childhood,
and yours the light that shines in the face of age.

For all whom you have given to be dear to our hearts, we thank you,
and especially for this child you have taken to yourself.
Into the arms of your love we give his/her soul, remembering Jesus' words,
"Let the children come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

To your love also we commend the sorrowing parents and family.
Show compassion to them as a father to his children;
comfort them as a mother her little ones.

As their love follows their hearts' treasure,
help them to trust that love they once have known is never lost,
that the child taken from their sight lives for ever in your presence.

Into your hands we also give ourselves,
our regret for whatever more we might have been or done,
our need to trust you more and to pray, all our struggle for a better life.

Comfort us all. Keep tender and true the love in which we hold one another.
Let not our longing for you ever cease.
May things unseen and eternal grow more real for us, more full of meaning,
that in our living and dying you may be our peace. Amen.

O Lord, you keep little children in this present world,
and hold them close to yourself in the life to come.
Receive in peace the soul of your child Name,
for you have said, "Of such is my kingdom of heaven." Amen.

Scripture Readings

Suggested Hymns from UMH

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Copyright: “At the Service for a Child” Copyright © 1979 by Abingdon. Renewal Copyright © 1992 UMPH.