The Order of Service words.

Sunday       30th June 2013   

Downham Market 

Methodist Church, England 

Conducted by: 

Revd. Marie Whitcombe

Candle holder in memory of Douglas

GATHERING

 The people gather at the place of burial.

The minister says:

We meet together to bury the ashes of our brother Douglas.

As we gather in faith we remember that, although our bodies return to dust, we shall be raised with Christ in glory. Let us rejoice in this promise as we hear some words from the Scriptures.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

 If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again.

Romans 6.8-9a

 We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5.1

 The Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Revelation  7.17

Pause

Let us pray.

God of all consolation,

in your unending love and mercy you turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life.

Show us your compassion

and be our refuge and our strength. Lift us from the darkness of grief into the light of your presence.

This we ask in the name of the risen Christ.  Amen.

We have commended our brother Douglas

to God's everlasting love and care.

We now return to the earth

the ashes of his mortal body.

May he  rest in peace and rise in glory.  Amen.

 POEM-

It was beautiful as long as it lasted 

The journey of my life.

I have no regrets whatsoever, save the pain I'll leave behind.

Those dear hearts who love and care...

And the strings pulling at the heart and soul...

The strong arms that held me up, When my own strength let me down.

At every turning of my life I came across good friends,

Friends who stood by me,

Even when the time raced me by. 

Farewell , farewell my friends

I smile and bid you goodbye .

No, shed no tears for I need them not 

All I need is your smile.

  If you feel sad do think of me for that's what I'll like,

when you live in the hearts of those you love, 

remember then ....you never die.

Let us Pray: Almighty God grant that we, with all who have trusted in you, may be united in the full knowledge of your love

God of all consolation,

our refuge and strength in sorrow; we rejoice that by dying,

our Lord Jesus Christ conquered death; and that by rising from the grave,

he restored us to life.

When our life on earth is ended,

unite us in your heavenly kingdom with all who love him. We ask this in his name and for his sake.  Amen.

We say together the prayer that Jesus gave us: 

THE LORD'S PRAYER

After Glow

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.

I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times and laughing times

and bright and sunny days.

I'd like the tears of those who grieve,

to dry before the sun of happy memories

Sing:  This, This is the God we adore (Douglas' favourite song)

   

 DISMISSAL AND BLESSING

We go in the name of Christ.

Let us turn from this place as we journey on, to seek new life on earth

as we rejoice over new life in heaven.

May the Spirit of the living Christ be with you.

The blessing of God,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you evermore.  Amen.

"Hand in Hand" rose in memory of Douglas (where his ashes are)

Tree in memory

Rose garden

Douglas worshiping in Qatar. His face reveals all. "I see Jesus"