Ecumenical
GREETING
Priest:
My dear brothers and sisters
in the Lord,
we are gathered here today
in faith and hope
in our loving God,
the Father of our
Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.
Although our hearts are filled
with sorrow at the loss of
our brother/sister (N...),
we look to our loving God,
who promises eternal life
to all His children.
As we begin
our service of interment,
let us invite our God
to be with us here
as we pray together
in confidence.
OPENING VERSES
All :
I look to Thee
in every need,
and never look in vain;
I feel Thy strong
and tender love,
and all is well again.
The thought of Thee
is mightier far,
than sin and pain
and sorrow are.
Priest:
Discouraged
in the work of life,
disheartened by its load,
Shamed by its failures
or its fears,
I sink beside the road.
But let me only
think of Thee,
and then new heart
springs up in me.
Thy calmness
bends serene above,
my restlessness to still;
Around me flows
Thy quickening life,
to nerve my faltering will.
Thy presence
fills my solitude,
Thy providence
turns all to good.
Enfolded deep
in Thy dear love,
held in Thy law, I stand;
Thy hand in
all things I behold,
and all things
in Thy hand.
Thou leadest me
by unsought ways,
and turn my mourning
into praise.
Source: Samuel Longfellow
(Hymns of the Spirit-1864)
GOSPEL READING
A reading from the Holy Gospel
according to John
(Jn 6:37-40)
Jesus said to them,
'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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
All :
Praise to you
Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER OF INTERMENT
Priest:
Lord, God
You are attentive
to the voice of our pleading.
Let us find in Your Son
comfort in our sadness,
certainty in our doubt,
and courage to live
through this time.
Make our faith strong
in the name of Jesus our Lord.
Lord, (N...) is gone now
from this earthly dwelling,
and has left behind those
who mourn his/her absence.
Grant that we may hold
his/her memory dear,
never bitter for what we have
lost nor in regret for the past,
but always in hope
of the eternal kingdom
where You will bring us
together again.
We ask this in Jesus' name.
All : Amen.
Priest:
With confidence,
let us pray the words
Jesus taught us
THE LORD'S PRAYER &
THE ANGELIC SALUTATION
Priest:
With confidence,
let us pray the words
Jesus taught us...
All:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you amongst women
and blessed is the
fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
CONCLUSION
Priest:
Eternal rest grant unto (N...)
O Lord.
All :
And let perpetual light
shine upon him/her.
Priest:
May he/ she rest in peace.
All : Amen.
Priest:
May the souls of all
the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
All : Amen.
BLESSING
Priest:
My dear brothers and sisters,
our service is coming
to its close.
Before we depart
from this place,
we ask for
God's blessings on us.
May He show his face to you
and have mercy on you.
All : Amen.
Priest:
May He turn His countenance
to you and give you peace.
All : Amen.
Priest:
May Almighty God bless you,
the Father (+) and the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
All : Amen.
CLOSING VERSES
All :
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away
into the next room.
I am I,
and you are you.
Whatever we were
to each other,
that we still are.
Priest:
Call me by my
old familiar name,
speak to me
in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference
in your tone,
wear no forced air
of solemnity
or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes
we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me
and if you want to,
pray for me.
Let my name
be ever the household word
that it always was,
let it be spoken
without effect,
without the trace
of a shadow on it.
Life means all that
it ever meant.
It is the same
as it ever was;
there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be
out of mind because
I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you,
for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just around the corner.
All is well.
Source: Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)