Prelude – Ashokan Farewell
Entrance Rite
Officiant: I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord. Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though they die. And everyone who has life, and has committed to me in faith, shall not die for ever.
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. After my awaking, he will raise me up; and in my body I shall see God. I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger.
For none of us has life alone, and none becomes their own master when they die. For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord, and if we die, we die in the Lord. So, then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s possession.
Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord! So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.
Welcome
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother John. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Hymn – God is my Shepherd
God is my shepherd, I’ll not want,
I feed in pastures green.
God grants me rest and bids me drink
from waters calm and clean.
Through daily tasks, I’m blessed and led
by one I have not seen.
When I must pass through shadowed vale,
where loss and death await,
I will not fear for God is there,
my shepherd strong and great,
whose rod and staff will comfort me
and all my fears abate.
The Liturgy of the Word
A reading from Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
After the reading
Officiant: Hear what the Spirit is saying.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Interlude – Precious Lord
“The Window,” by Rumi
Your body is away from me
but there is a window open
from my heart to yours.
From this window, like the moon
I keep sending news secretly.
Homily – by The Rev. Kevin Pearson
Officiant: In the assurance of eternal life given at Baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say,
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, And is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayers of the People
Officiant: For our brother John let us pray to God our Creator saying: Hear our prayer.
Officiant: God, your will for us is abundant life; receive John now into the fullness of life in your presence.
People: Hear our prayer.
Officiant: You know the thoughts of our hearts and our search for faith; shed the brightness of your light on John, who also sought understanding.
People: Hear our prayer.
Officiant: You are greater than all our ideas and images of you; draw John into the mystery of your being.
People: Hear our prayer.
Officiant: We know you as perfect Mercy and Love; welcome John in the grace of that love and mercy.
People: Hear our prayer.
Officiant: We praise you as the giver of life;
gather all who mourn into the hope of renewed life.
People: Hear our prayer.
Officiant: The Church commends all who die to the care of Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit; and so we commend John to you, giving thanks for the gift of his life.
People: Hear our prayer.
Officiant: May the Holy One, to whom all the desires of our hearts are known before we ask, hear our prayers for John, and for all who mourn, and grant us newness of life, and peace.
All: Amen.
The Commendation
Officiant: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints,
All: where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Officiant: You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
All: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Officiant: Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant John. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.
All: Amen.
Dismissal
Officiant: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.
Postlude – Londonderry Air
Reception
There will be a Zoom reception after the liturgy. You may join by by following the instructions provided in the “Reception” tab.
