God of sickbeds and hospital rooms,
God of positive tests and ventilators,
Be with the loved ones
Of those we have lost in the pandemic
Whether they were vaccinated or not
Elderly or not
Experiencing other illnesses and conditions or not
It does not matter now.
They were loved.
We loved them.
Their lives were taken by a tidal wave of disease
They could not escape.
And now the pandemic limits our ability to
Gather and grieve
Mourn and hold.
There is little solace in this isolated grief.

God,
Join us in our private singing of funeral hymns,
The favorite songs of our loved ones now gone,
And squeeze our hands when the tears come.
Amen.