Remember With Love Prayer Service

Grief is a doorway to greater love if we go through it and allow it
to change us.  —Yogacharya O’Brian, Daily Inspiration

Each Fall, our Remember with Love prayer service offers a sacred time to honor our ancestors and remember those who have recently made their transition. Through inspiration, meditation, and prayer, we gather as a spiritual community to hold our loved ones in the light of Divine Love. During the service, there is an opportunity for the names of those who have recently passed to be shared aloud and lovingly remembered.

Drawing inspiration from the Nirvana Shatakam, we are reminded that our essential nature is eternal—beyond the body, beyond the changing conditions of this world, ever whole and one with the Divine. In the midst of loss, this timeless wisdom invites us to rest in the deeper truth of the soul and the enduring presence of love.

As we join our hearts in prayer, we find comfort in the eternal nature of the soul and offer a light of love, support, and hope for one another and for all who are experiencing loss. Together, we remember with love and affirm the sacred continuity of life in God.

Preparations for Remember With Love Service

Suggested Activities and Questions for Reflection

Sometime before the Remember with Love service, you may wish to create a small altar or sacred space with a photo or remembrance of a loved one who has recently passed. Light a candle in their memory and allow this simple ritual to become a time of prayer, gratitude, and loving remembrance.

As you light the candle, recite the Nirvana Shatakam, or another prayer or sacred reading meaningful to you. As the candle burns, gently recall your loved one—the experiences you shared, the gifts they brought to your life, and the ways their presence continues to live in your heart.

This ritual can also be a meaningful way to include children, family members, and friends, share stories, honor your ancestors, and reflect on the legacy you wish to carry forward.

Offer prayers for your loved one and consider one or more of these questions:
     •  What did this person teach me about living my life?
     •  What qualities or gifts from them will I carry forward?
     •  Is there anything unfinished or unspoken in my heart?
     •  What am I most grateful for as I remember this person?

Conclude with a moment of silence or prayer, entrusting your loved one to the Divine with gratitude and love.