Four deaths in a parish of our size in less than a month is a staggering burden for clergy, staff, and parishioners, especially when some of the deceased have been as important to the life and ministry of St. James as some of those to whom we have said good-bye recently.

As a priest, I’ve found that there is no more important aspect of ministry than to be with people as they die and as they grieve. It’s not that what we say or do can ease the suffering or loss. There’s nothing I detest more than mouthing platitudes, so don’t expect them from me. Rather, it’s what sometimes is called by pastoral care givers “a ministry of presence.” I’m not even sure what that means most of the time. What I do know is that for me, being with dying and grieving people is one of the places where I encounter God’s presence. It’s a holy time, a reminder of what we are about as Christians. It is a time to honor the dignity of human persons and to reach out, in faith, to God.

It’s also a time when I give thanks for the Book of Common Prayer. The language and poetry of the burial services, the beauty of the prayers, the brave acclamation of faith in God that resonates throughout the services, are always deeply moving. As a priest, when my own words might fail me, there’s always the BCP that will say what needs to be said. The language of the BCP never fails to move me, even, or especially, when I am officiating.