Services held in SA and in UK. Part 2 "In the SA"

The service in South Africa was arranged for the Friday following Vera's return and before her final exams on the Monday.

Douglas's sister, Susan  and  his nephew, Brett flew in from Cape Town to to join his sister Jeanette and his brother in law, Garth as well as his nieces  Claire and hubby Morne' and Fiona to support them and Vera, Bradley, Rachel and Evelyn, Henrik and Evangeline in the service to be held at Umbilo Methodist Church.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE FOR  THE LIFE OF  

REV. DOUGLAS MORRIS

16th October 1944 — 4th March 2013

at Umbilo Methodist Church

Friday 22th March 2013

at 2.30 pm

led by

Rev. Mike Vorster

Bishop of the Natal Coastal District

Rev. Dr. Mvume Dandala

Principal of Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary

Rev. Willie Liebenberg

Superintendent Minister South Durban Circuit

Welcome - Rev. Willie Liebenberg

Rev. Douglas Morris  ~  Life & Ministry –Read by Vera Yon (Daughter)

Hymn -  1.  O for a thousand tongues

                                                             Charles Wesley (1707-88)

Prayer – Rev. Willie Liebenberg

Reading - 1 Corinthians 4 : 16 - 5:5 – Susan Kuyper  (Sister)

Hymn - 615. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah

                                       William Williams (1717-91) trans. Peter Williams (1722-96)

Tribute - Douglas’ first born daughter, Evelyn

Message from the Bishop on behalf of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Hymn - 69 This, this is the God we adore

Joseph Hart (1712-68)

Gospel Reading: John 5:24 - 30 – Jeanette Brink(Sister)

 Reading - Romans 8:18 - 39 (Rev. Mvume Dandala)
Address - Rev. Mvume Dandala

    Prayer – Rev. Mvume Dandala

Hymn - 313. To God be the Glory Jane van Alstyne (1820-1915)

The Blessing – Rev. Mike Vorster

Refreshments will be served after the service

 Once again friends from different communities and several of his colleagues attended the service.

Rev. Douglas Morris  ~  Life & Ministry

•  Born 16 October 1944 in Pretoria to Bert and Joy Morris

•  Childhood spent in Pretoria North

•  Primary and Secondary Schooling in Pretoria

•  1963 - 1966 Worked as a computer operator in the Department of Social Welfare and Pensions, Pretoria

•  1966 -1968    Began as a Lay Pastoral Assistant before candidating for the Ministry at Beaconsfield Methodist Church, Kimberley

•  1969 - 1970 Rhodes University

•  1970 Married to Lynese Elizabeth

•  1971 - 1973  Circuit Minister (Probationer) Hilton, Whittlesea and Roslyn Circuit

•  1973 Daughter, Evelyn Ruth born

•  1974 - 1980 Circuit Minister in Amalinda, Greenfields and                                       

                           Cambridge West in EastLondon

•  1974 Daughter, Vera Ann born

•  1977 Son, Brendon David born

•  1981- 1987 Circuit Minister at Empangeni

•  1988 - 1996 Superintendent Minister in Estcourt Circuit

(Umtshezi)

•  1997- 1998 Superintendent Minister in Majuba Circuit

(Volksrust)

•  1999 - 2007 Circuit minister and Superintendent Minister

Empangeni Circuit

•  2008 - 2013 Minister in Downham Market, West Norfolk

Circuit, Methodist Church UK

Rev. Douglas Morris’ life was celebrated at a Memorial service held at Downham Market Methodist Church

on Monday, March 11th, 2013, at 2.30 pm

His body was cremated privately in accordance with his family’s wishes and his ashes remain in the UK

Douglas Morris: A tribute by Evelyn Morris

My father was a very loving man. 

Throughout my life he has remained the constant and unfaltering person who has loved me and his family through all amounts of difficulties and times of trial. 

Dad taught me that God will never give you more than He knows you can cope with.  I have wondered at that lesson through the years as I've dealt with love and loss growing up.   There have been times when I have raged against God's faith in my abilities to cope. 

Dad always had faith in my ability to deal with whatever life might throw at me. He has defended my right to make my own choices to others be they members of his congregations or members of my family. 

I remember him telling me about how shortly after we moved to Estcpurt and I as a wilful teenager decided to start dating a boy who had been recently expelled from our local school, that there was a "line of mostly little old ladies wanting to speak with him about the choices I was making in deciding to see Alan."

He has been a perfect living example in my life of how ourHeavenly father loves us, not because of anything we do to earn that love and despite anything we do that causes him pain. 

I am sure there have been many times when my Dad really was a  hurt by the choices and things I have done. I have been far from the perfect daughter. But in spite of all those things I never felt any sense that his love for me diminished in any way. 

This is how I understand God's Love. I'm sure he weeps at times watching us make bad choices and do things that are not what He would choose for us, but His love for us never changes and he is always there with unconditional forgiveness and love. 

Basically nothing we can do will make God love us less.

This is the love that my father taught me to have.  It's the only way I know how to love and while at times loving this way is painful, especially when dealing with loss, I am so very grateful to my dad for teaching me this lesson. 

Love is hope, love gives hope that there is a reason for all the suffering in this world. I can't imagine I'd be alive today without that deep knowledge. I say knowledge not belief because I know Love is ultimately what matters, it's not like a belief which can be based on experiences or shaken by events or people's actions.

My father was all about Love. He taught me that to love another is to see the the face of God.S