Father,
Please have mercy on those souls you called home this past year,
bless their families and friends who were left behind.
Please bless all the babies that will be born this year;
let them be beacons of your light in the world and
draw their family and friends closer to you.
Please grant your grace of a good death
to all those you will call home this year,
so that they may freely choose you one last time on earth.
Please bless all of those between birth and death,
illuminate our choices with your grace
so that we too may draw closer to you.
Please fortify your gift of faith,
energize your gift of hope,
expand our capacity to love like you.
Through Jesus your Son, we pray. Amen.