St Andrews Church, Church Aston recently held a dementia-friendly Songs of Praise service.What a great way to make connections with people affected by dementia locally.If youd like to see the PowerPoint from their service, just ask Sarah Thorpe.
Here are the prayers from that service, which you may wish to share.
We pray, Lord God,
for people whose day
begins with confusion and fear
and who struggle to understand
the world around them.
Grant us comfort and peace, loving Lord,
and especially to those who struggle
to see and understand things as clearly as they once did.
May your calming Spirit and the love of friends and family
bring light into all our lives.
We ask this in Jesus name,
Amen
Gracious and loving God,
we give thanks for those who love and care
for someone who is living with dementia,
or who is losing memory , judgment
and the ability to manage their lives without support.
You are the God who promises to remember us
even if those we love forget us.
This we believe
As we move through the duties and difficulties of this day,
enlighten our minds, and lighten our hearts by your grace.
Awaken within us your wisdom,
your courage, your strength, your patience and forgiveness.
Make us worthy of the task to which you have called us.
Amen
Prayer of Blessing
In moments of confusion, God keep us safe.
In moments of clarity,God grant us joy.
In moments of frustration, God give us peace.
In moments of sorrow,God bring us comfort.
May he who sees into the secret places of our mind,
beyond anything which limits us,
to the person that is us, has always been and will always be,
encircle us in his arms,
until that day when all is made new in his eternal home.
Amen
Thanks to Rev Zoe Heming and Hilary Griffin for sharing these prayers and the Songs of Praise format theyve used.If youve got material to share, do let us know!