CEREMONY OF CHRISTIAN FAREWELL AND THANKSGIVING
GATHERING:
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, not the human heart conceived,
God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor 2:9
Celebrant: Friends,
we gather here today because we loved N.,
as a mother/father, grandmother/father, sister/brother, relative, friend …
Here we come to day good-bye, to honour her/his life and death,
reverently farewell her/his body and comfort each other.
We come believing that all human life is priceless,
that truth, integrity and hope which is within each human life,
lives on – there is life-after-life.
We come believing that N.,’s life and witness is joined in the endless unfolding of humanity crossing over time stretching into the past and directing us to the future.
N.,’s life was lived in its amazing uniqueness with us.
The gifts and graces which s/he offered are never lost to us.
The creativity which she brought to us in her/his life and relationships
lies now within our own lives and travels into the future with us.
· PLACING of CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS these may be prayed …
· Sprinkling with Water from the rivers of Baptism
Celebrant: In the waters of Baptism N., died with Christ and began to walk in newness of life.
As we gather today to celebrate the mystery and rhythm of dying and rising,
we honour the body of our sister/brother.
ALL: May N., share eternal life with Jesus of Nazareth.
· The New Life – Easter Candle
Celebrant: Light immortal, in Baptism N., received the light of Christ through the Gospel.
This light has guided her/his through life.
ALL: May it lead N., into eternal life.
· The Scriptures
Celebrant: In life the Word of God and prayer nourished N.,
ALL: May N., hear Jesus greet her/him: Come blessed of my Father!
PRAYER
Celebrant: So we pray…
Gracious God, we bless your name for all that you
have given us in and through the life of N.,
We give thanks:
for her/his love of family and her/his gift of friendship;
for her/his grace, dignity and courtesy;
for her/his humour, generosity and sheer love of life.
And we give praise for:
the courage that s/he showed in times of hardship;
the depth and reality of her/his Christian faith;
the good example that s/he set for us to follow.
We offer thee our heartfelt thanks for the deep affection s/he drew out of
everyone s/he met, and we pray that you will grant her/him peace and let light
unending shine upon her/him…
We who gather here thank and praise the Author of all Life and ask this and so much more in the name of Jesus of Nazareth who faced his own death and the death of a friend.
ALL: Amen.
TIME FOR TREASURED MEMORIES
N.,’s family – who love her so much - share some of their memories…
READINGS
· From the Christian Scriptures
In this reading Paul says that we need not be afraid of death. Why? For Paul this is because in Jesus of Nazareth we discover a God who is acts with love over laws, grace and understanding over judgment, a God who longs to welcome us home. He goes on to say that while the Christian life may be difficult to follow, the end is ultimately worth the struggle…
A reading from St Paul’s First letter to the community at Corinth.
1 Cor. 15:51-55, 56-57
….The Word of the Lord
ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD
HOMILY:
…Let us pray or reflect in silence on this life and what it has meant to us:
Thanks be to God for the gifts we have received from N.,.
Thanks be to God for a life lived with courage, fun and a laugh, a sharp sense of humour, honesty, grace, hard work, determination and love…
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: (STAND)
Celebrant: Let us pray with confidence to God our Creator who raised Jesus Christ through death
for the salvation of all
After the reader reads each petition, they will say:
For your love and goodness
All: we give you thanks, O God
concluding with…
Celebrant: Now to God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, by
the power which is at work among us, be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
through out all ages.
ALL: Amen
THE SHARING OF PEACE:
a Prayer for Peace may be said, concluding with
Celebrant: We are the body of Christ
All: His spirit is with us
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord is always with you
All: And also with you
… A sign of peace, goodwill and support
may be shared...
FAREWELL
Celebrant: As we come to the moment of farewell, part of our grief may be regret
for things done or left undone, words said, or never said,
or moments or a visit that never happened.
This is the time to lay aside all those regrets and to honour the spirit of N., who would never want them carried into our future.
Let us receive that gift of generosity from her/him and the understanding of God.
Silent reflection
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Celebrant: Giving a sure foundation to our prayer and reflections in the knowledge that all will be well, we confidently pray …
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 forever. Amen.
PRAYER of COMMENDATION
Celebrant: You are the author and sustainer of our lives, 0 God.
You are our final home. We commend to you N.,…
In her/his baptism in .... so many decades ago
s/he began her/his journey toward you.
Please give her/him the life promised to those born again of water and the Spirit.
Turn also to us who have suffered this loss.
Strengthen the bonds of this family and this company of friends.
Confirm us in faith, in hope, and in love,
so that we may bear your peace to one another
and one day' stand together with all the saints
who praise you for your abiding faithfulness.
We ask this in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom you raised from among the dead.
ALL: Amen.
COMMITTAL FOR CREMATION:
Celebrant: And now let us commit her/his body to the fair winds of nature
which are gentle to us at the time of our death -
Earth to earth, Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust.
In the cycle of life and death the earth is replenished and life is eternally renewed.
N.,…Go forth upon your journey from this world,
in the name of God who created you,
in the name of Jesus of Nazareth who died as one with you;
in the name of the Sprit who shines through you;
in friendship with God’s chosen witnesses and aided by the angels.
May you rest this day in the peace and love of God’s eternal dwelling place.
N.,, all these things and more you have given to us.
We respect your journey through life, with all of its realities.
We pray that you will travel safely in this next part of your journey.
Our love goes with you.
…Into the freedom of the wind and sunshine … WE LET YOU GO
…Into the dance of the stars and the planets … WE LET YOU GO
…Into the wind’s breath and the hands of the One who made the stars… WE LET YOU GO
N.,, Go now in peace, Travel safely with our love … Shalom… Shalom …
BLESSING AND DISMISSAL
Celebrant: The Lord is here
All: His spirit is with us
Celebrant: Dear friends,
even as we grieve, let us commit ourselves to the comfort of those who miss her /him most especially her/his family.
Let us surround them with our love and pray for the comfort of God.
And now let us go into the world,
glad that we have loved,
free to weep for the one we have lost,
free to hold each other in our human frailty,
empowered to live life to the full as did N.,
and to affirm the deep hope at the heart of all human existence.
And now, as we let her/him go out of our keeping…
+ may God be our companion,
+Jesus walk before us, and,
+ the Great Spirit surrounds us with a cloud of grace.
All: Amen