Hymn is – The Day Thou Gravest Lord is Ended
- The day you gave us, Lord, is ended,
the darkness falls at your behest;
to you our morning hymns ascended,
your praise shall sanctify our rest. - We thank you that your church, unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping,
and rests not now by day or night. - As o’er each continent and island
the dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,
nor dies the strain of praise away. - The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
our brethren beneath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are making
your wondrous doings heard on high. - So be it, Lord; your throne shall never,
like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
but stand and rule and grow forever,
’til all your creatures own your sway.
(by John Ellerton, 1870)
Let us pray
We meet this day to remember our loved ones, to renew our trust and confidence in Christ, and to pray that together we may be one in Him, through whom we offer our praises to the Father.
I have set the Lord always before me:
All: He is at my right hand, and I shall not fall.
Show us your mercy, O Lord:
All: And grant us your salvation.
For with you is the well of life:
All: And in your light shall we see light.
Let us pray.
We begin by confessing our sins to God, for sin brought death into the world.
O Lord Jesus Christ, risen master and triumphant Lord, we bow before you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.
We have lived by our own strength, not by the power of your resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us:
All: Lord, hear us and help us.
We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing. In your mercy, forgive us:
All: Lord, hear us and help us.
We have lived for this world alone, and doubted our home in heaven. In your mercy, forgive us:
All: Lord, hear us and help us, Lift our minds above earthly things, Set them on things in heaven; Show us your glory and your power, That we may serve you gladly all our days.
Amen.
God’s forgiveness is spoken.
Hymn is – The Lord’s My Shepherd; I’ll Not Want
1 The Lord’s my shepherd; I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie
in pastures green; he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.
2 My soul he doth restore again
and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
e’en for his own name’s sake;
within the paths of righteousness,
e’en for his own name’s sake.
3 Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
yet will I fear no ill;
for thou art with me, and thy rod
and staff me comfort still;
for thou art with me, and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.
4 My table thou hast furnished
in presence of my foes;
my head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.
5 Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me,
and in God’s house forevermore
my dwelling place shall be;
and in God’s house forevermore
my dwelling place shall be. (by Francis Rous – 1579 to 1659)
We remember our loved ones with thanksgiving.
After all the names have been read out you are invited to come forward and light a candle in their memory.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, our risen Saviour,
We rejoice in your mighty victory over sin and death;
You are the Prince of Life;
You are alive for evermore.
Help us to know your presence in our worship,
And to receive your power in our lives,
Until we rise to live with you for ever.
All: Amen.
Our reading is taken from – 1 Thessalonians Chap: 4
13 Our friends, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.
15 What we are teaching you now is the Lord’s teaching: we who are alive on the day the Lord comes will not go ahead of those who have died.
16 There will be the shout of command, the archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first;
17 then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
18 So then, encourage one another with these words.
This is the Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Hymn is – Guide me, O my great Jehovah
- Guide me, O my great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.
- Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield,
ever be my strength and shield.
- When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you,
I will ever sing to you. (by William Williams – 1717 to 1791)
Reflection for Our Memorial Service
The Lord’s Coming
Our friends, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.
What we are teaching you now is the Lord’s teaching: we who are alive on the
day the Lord comes will not go ahead of those who have died. There will be
the shout of command, the archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s trumpet, and
the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing
in Christ will rise to life first; then we who are living at that time will
be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And so we will always be with the Lord. So then, encourage one another with
these words.
Amen
Let us pray
Lord, help us to receive and understand your
Gospel, so that we may find light in this darkness,
Faith in our doubts,
And comfort for one another in your saving
presence.
We pray for those who mourn: Comfort us all in our sorrow.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Fill the emptiness in our hearts with the presence of your love.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Increase our faith and strengthen our hope: Give us trust in You for tomorrow.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Strengthen us in our pilgrimage through life; Keep us faithful in your service.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Fill our hearts with the hope of heaven.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
O God our Father, we know that you share in our suffering. In our sorrow we come to you today for the comfort you alone can give.
Make us sure that in perfect wisdom, perfect love, and perfect power you are always working for the best.
Make us sure that a Father’s hand will never cause His child a needless tear, and that our grief is precious to you.
Make us so sure of your love that we will be able to accept even those things we cannot understand.
Help us still to face life with grace and fortitude, and to find courage to go on, realising that the greatest way we can honour our loved ones is not only through tears, but also through tribute of our gratitude.
Comfort us and hold us, strengthen and support
us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
We say together the prayer Jesus himself taught us:
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, In earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever.
Amen.
Hymn is – The King of Love My Shepherd is
- The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine for ever.
- Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.
- Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love He sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
- In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.
- Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!
- And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever. (by W. Baker – 1821 to 1877)
Let us pray
Watch now, dear Lord, with those who wake or watch or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ, rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, pity your afflicted ones, shield your joyous ones, and all for your love’s sake.
All: Amen.
Support us, O Lord, all the day-long of this troublesome life, until the shades lengthen and the evening comes, the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in thy mercy grant us safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make His face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you,
The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you
And give you peace.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Be upon you and remain with you always.
All: Amen.
Hymn is – Thine be the Glory, Risen, Conquering Son
- Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict’ry, thou o’er death hast won.
- Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict’ry, thou o’er death hast won
- No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict’ry, thou o’er death hast won.(by Edmond Budry – 1854 to 1932)
Closing Blessings
Father, may your name be praised greatly for giving us good health to gather here. May your praise be continually in our mouths.
Bless everyone that is here for they have left their busy schedules to gather here for this meeting.
Bless their families and their jobs.
Lord, let your face shine upon them.
Lift your countenance upon them, be gracious to them and give them peace throughout the day and week.
In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray,
All: Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
All: In the name of Christ
Amen.
© 702211