A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Nora Collette Richards 20th June 1956-13th August 2013
THE GATHERING As Collette s body is brought into the Church, some suitable music is played I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. John 11.25,26 I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8.38,39) INTRODUCTION We meet in the name of Jesus Christ, who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father. Grace and mercy be with you. and also with you We have come here today to remember before God our sister Collette; to give thanks for her life; to commend her to God our merciful redeemer and judge; to commit her body to be cremated, and to comfort one another in our grief. The priest says this prayer God of all consolation, your Son Jesus Christ was moved to tears at the grave of Lazarus his friend. Look with compassion on your children in their loss; give to troubled hearts the light of hope and strengthen in us the gift of faith, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE As children of a loving heavenly Father, let us ask his forgiveness, for he is gentle and full of compassion. A period of Silence is kept. : God of mercy, we acknowledge that we are all sinners. We turn from the wrong that we have thought and said and done, and are mindful of all that we have failed to do. For the sake of Jesus, who died for us, forgive us for all that is past, and help us to live each day in the light of Christ our Lord. Almighty God, who has promised forgiveness to all who turn to Him in faith + pardon you and set you free from all your sins and bring you to the eternal joy of his kingdom, where dust and ashes have no dominion. The Collect : Let us pray Merciful Father, hear our prayers and comfort us; renew our trust in your Son, whom you raised from the dead; strengthen our faith that all who have died in the love of Christ will share in his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
READINGS AND SERMON A reading from the Gospel of John, Chapter 6 beginning at verse 35. (John 6:35-40) Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day. Reader: For the word of the lord Thanks be to God. This psalm is said by all together (Psalm 23) The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. He shall refresh my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full. Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23) A reading from the Gospel of John Chapter 14 beginning at verse 1. (Jn 14:1-6) Jesus says Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Reader: For the word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
The priest says Heavenly Father, in your Son Jesus Christ you have given us a true faith and a sure hope. Strengthen this faith and hope in us all our days, that we may live as those who believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. : God give you his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy, in this world and the next; and the + blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Collette s family would like to remember her sister Shirine and those other family members and friends who are not able to be present with us today. A sermon is preached (Including a Eulogy read by a member of the family) Priest.(Fr. Paul) Following the sermon, there will be a brief period of reflection accompanied by some suitable music : THE PRAYERS God of mercy, Lord of life, you have made us in your image to reflect your truth and light: we give you thanks for Collette, for the grace and mercy she received from you, for all that was good in her life, for the memories we treasure today. [Especially we thank you ] Silence hear our prayer. You promised eternal life to those who believe. Remember for good this your servant Collette as we also remember her. Bring all who rest in Christ into the fullness of your kingdom where sins have been forgiven and death is no more. Silence hear our prayer. Silence Your mighty power brings joy out of grief and life out of death. Look in mercy on all who mourn. Give them patient faith in times of darkness. Strengthen them with the knowledge of your love. hear our prayer.
Silence You are tender towards your children and your mercy is over all your works. Heal the memories of hurt and failure. Give us the wisdom and grace to use aright the time that is left to us here on earth, to turn to Christ and follow in his steps in the way that leads to everlasting life. hear our prayer. God of mercy, entrusting into your hands all that you have made and rejoicing in our communion with all your faithful people, we make our prayers through Jesus Christ our Saviour. The Lord s Prayer is said. As our Saviour taught us, so we pray Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. COMMENDATION AND FAREWELL The priest stands by the coffin and may invite others to gather around it. The priest says Let us commend our sister Collette to the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer. Silence is kept. The priest sprinkles the coffin with holy water saying In the waters of baptism we died with Christ, and began to walk in newness of life. May we with Collette and all the baptized be brought to the fulfillment of your eternal kingdom. The priest says this prayer of entrusting and commending God our creator and redeemer, by your power Christ conquered death and entered into glory. Confident of his victory and claiming his promises, we entrust Collette to your mercy in the name of Jesus our Lord, who died and is alive and reigns with you, now and for ever. THE DISMISSAL say together the Nunc Dimittis (The Song of Simeon) Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people; A light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2.29-32) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.