Some prayers from the Church of England and the Methodist Church.
Loving God,
We give you thanks and praise for the life of your departed servant, Philip; we gratefully remember before you all that he contributed to our national life and to the life of the Commonwealth; we pray for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, and for all who will mourn and miss him; and we commend him to your wisdom and mercy, in the hope of everlasting life.
As we give thanks for his faithful service in support of our earthly sovereign, we pray that he might now come to share in the glory of your eternal reign, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our risen Saviour. Amen
Lord God
We give thanks for the long life of Prince Philip, for all that he has contributed to our nation and beyond, and for his support of our Queen. We pray that he will be at rest trusting in the grace of God.
O eternal God, before whose face the generations rise and pass away, thyself unchanged, abiding, we bless thy holy name for all who have completed their earthly course in thy faith and following, and are now at rest; we remember before thee this day Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, rendering thanks unto thee – for his resolute faith and loyalty, for his high sense of duty and integrity, for his life of service to the Nation and Commonwealth, and for the courage and inspiration of his leadership. To him, with all the faithful departed, grant thy peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O eternal God, before whose face the generations rise and pass away, thyself unchanged, abiding, we bless thy holy name for all who have completed their earthly course in thy faith and following, and are now at rest; we remember before thee this day Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, rendering thanks unto thee – for his resolute faith and loyalty, for his high sense of duty and integrity, for his life of service to the Nation and Commonwealth, and for the courage and inspiration of his leadership. To him, with all the faithful departed, grant thy peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord God, when thou givest to thy servants to endeavour any great matter, grant us also to know that it is not the beginning, but the continuing of the same unto the end, until it be thoroughly finished, which yieldeth the true glory; through him, who for the finishing of thy work laid down his life, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
God of majesty, give rest to your servant Philip who, having served his Queen and Country, has passed from this life, full of years yet strong in spirit. As we give thanks for his life, as Prince and husband, as Consort and family man, we pray that all that he has done may continue to bear fruit in the lives of individuals and the life of this nation, to your honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for the life of The Duke of Edinburgh
God of eternal life and love
We give thanks today for the life and witness of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,
For his service in pursuit of peace as a naval officer,
For his service to the Queen as a wise counsellor and companion,
For his commitment in marriage for over seventy years
in witness to mutual respect and love,
For his commitment to nurturing family
and guiding with wisdom their growth and development,
For his encouragement of young people around the world to skill development, physical health, adventure, and service through the Duke of Edinburgh Award,
For his care and advocacy for all of creation
For a life lived selflessly in service to others.
We remember with thanksgiving and commit him into Your keeping this day
in the sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.
