Remembering our departed loved ones

Welcome to our service today as we join together for a time to remember. This evening we give thanks for those we have loved and lost and pray that God will strengthen and comfort us.

Hymn

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless,
ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me

The Gathering

In the name of Christ, who died and
was raised by the glory of the Father,
we welcome you:
grace, mercy and peace be with you all.
and also with you.

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.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world:
A light no darkness can quench.
Stay with us Lord, for the night is at hand:
And the day is almost over.
Even darkness is not dark for you:
And the light shines as the day.

Prayers of Penitence

We are invited to confess our sins

When the Lord comes,
he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness,
and will disclose the purposes of the heart.
Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

Lord our God, in our sin we have avoided your call.
Our love for you is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes away early.
Have mercy on us; deliver us from judgement;
bind up our wounds and revive us;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A priest pronounces God’s forgiveness and prays:

Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer.
Grant them your peace, let light perpetual shine upon them,
and in your loving wisdom and almighty power,
work in them the good purpose of your perfect will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Hymn

Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the holy One, is here;
come bow before him now
with reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found
we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the holy One, is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire,
with splendour he is crowned:
how awesome is the sight
our radiant king of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.

Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place:
he comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his grace –
no work too hard for him.
In faith receive from him.
Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 15:50-55

What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Look, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

For the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The Sermon

We sit for the sermon.

Hymn

Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me bring your love,
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord,
And where there is doubt true faith in You.
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is despair in life let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness only light,
And where there’s sadness ever joy.
[Refrain]
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in giving to all men that we receive,
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.
[Refrain]
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness only light,
And where there’s sadness ever joy.

Act of Commemoration

Everyone is invited to come and light a candle to remember their loved ones.

Once candles are lit, the names of the departed are read aloud.

Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord
And let light perpetual shine upon them.

Hear us, gracious God,
as we remember in love
all those whom we have placed in your hands.
Enfold them in the arms of your mercy,
in the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and in the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen.

The choir sing Psalm 23. Music by Howard Goodall.

The Prayers of Intercession

Intercessions are offered and conclude with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
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.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen

A collection is taken during the final hymn. Contactless donations may be made near the door.

Hymn

God, who made the earth and heaven,
darkness and light:
you the day for work have given,
for rest the night.
May your angel guards defend us,
slumber sweet your mercy send us,
holy dreams and hopes attend us
all through the night.

And when morn again shall call us
to run life’s way,
may we still, whate’er befall us,
your will obey.
From the pow’r of evil hide us,
in the narrow pathway guide us,
never be your smile denied us
all through the day.

Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
and, when we die,
may we in your mighty keeping
all peaceful lie.
When the last dread call shall wake us,
then, O Lord, do not forsake us,
but to reign in glory take us
with you on high.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world:
A light no darkness can quench.
Stay with us Lord, for the night is at hand:
And the day is almost over.
Even darkness is not dark for you:
And the light shines as the day.

We pray for God’s blessing as we prepare to leave

May God give you
his comfort and his peace,
his light and his joy,
in this world and the next;
and the blessing…
Amen

You are most welcome to stay for refreshments after the service. If you want someone to say a prayer with you there will be a minister near the central altar.

Hymns reproduced under CCLI licence no. 33564. ‘Abide with me’, words by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847). ‘Be still for the presence of the Lord’ by David Evans (b.1957). ‘Make me a channel of your peace’ by Sebastian Temple (1928-1997) from a prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226).  Other materials  ©The Archbishops Council 2000.