Prayer After the Death of a Colleague
Two years ago, one of my work colleagues died unexpectedly. The suddenness of it was shocking and, of course, it was extremely saddening. Our department hosted a memorial service which was attended by folks from all over campus.
The grief of losing a coworker was not a solitary grief. With it surfaced my deep grief at losing a child. “Grief touches other grief,” our counselor reminded my wife and me during the first few years after our son died. When my colleague died, I had some minor visceral reactions: upset stomach, lethargy. But mostly, I was overwhelmed by shock, by numbness. I remembered this from the early days of child loss. A disbelief in reality, a distrust of one’s memory, a denial the death had occurred.
This past week, I learned that someone else I know through work has died. I had only met them twice, but I wish I could have chatted with them more. Their presence and work has been powerful and profound in the lives of students and staff at our campus. My heart has been heavy this week.
Below is a prayer I wrote for my coworker’s memorial service two summers ago. It is a responsive prayer. The plain text is read by the leader, and the bold text is read by the rest of the group.
Note: If you want to use this prayer in your context, feel free to adapt it so it best honors the deceased.
Prayer After the Death of a Colleague
O God in whom we live and move and breathe,
in whom is our hope for resurrection and eternal life,
receive now into your loving, eternal care,
our colleague, our friend, [Name].
Welcome [her/him/them] richly into your presence, O Christ.
O Lord, we are wounded by this loss;
we will carry this wound with us into our future.
Lord, have mercy.
Grief is heavy upon us; our hearts are sick.
Heal the brokenhearted, bind up our wounds.
So much of our work was supported—known and unknown,
recognized and unseen, celebrated and thankless—
by [Name’s] dedication and effort,
by their grace and loyalty,
by their humor and their care.
Let [her/his/their] works praise [her/him/them] in the city gates.
May we give honor where honor is due.
Let us remember and carry with us
these memories of [Name’s] character:
[words or phrases that remind us of [Name] may be said here]
May you imprint on our hearts all gratitude for the gift and gifts of [Name],
and may you comfort us in this season of mourning.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
May your love and your grace touch all who were close to [Name]:
family, friends, colleagues, neighbors,
those of us here, and those of us absent.
May we trust that, even in tragedy, you are present to us
in our pain and confusion.
For we are convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Receive now your child [Name] into everlasting rest,
and may we, who hope in your resurrection,
look forward to the day when all shall be renewed and redeemed,
when you will wipe every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more;
when mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
because you have made all things new.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Amen.