A gift of
Remembrance
Jesus said...
I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even
though they die, will live, and
everyone who lives and believes
in me will never die. John 11:25-26 (NRSV)
In the presence of death,
Christ offers us sure ground
for hope and confidence
and even for joy,
because he shared our human
life and death,
was raised again triumphant
and lives for evermore.
In him his people find eternal life.
Methodist Worship Book
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall
not want.
He makes me lie down in green
pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through
the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff —
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the
house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Psalm 23 (NRSV)
To live in the hearts
of those we leave
behind is not to die.
Thomas Campbell
(1774-1844)
“Do not let your hearts be
troubled. Believe in God,
believe also in me. In my
Father’s house there are many
dwelling-places. If it were not
so, would I have told you that I
go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and will
take you to myself, so that where
I am, there you may be also. And
you know the way to the place
where I am going.’
Thomas said to him, ‘Lord,
we do not know where you
are going. How can we
know the way?’
Jesus said to him, ‘I am the
way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.”
John 14:1-6 (NRSV)
We do not live to ourselves,
and we do not die to
ourselves. If we live,
we live to the Lord,
and if we die, we die to the Lord;
so then, whether we live
or whether we die,
we are the Lord’s.
For to this end Christ died
and lived again,
so that he might be Lord of both the dead
and the living.
Romans 14:7-9 (NRSV)
Death, be not proud, though
some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful,
for thou are not so;
For those whom thou think’st
thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor death,
nor yet canst thou kill me...
One short sleep past,
we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more;
death, thou shalt die.
John Donne (1572-1631)
“Come to me, all you that are weary
and are carrying heavy burdens, and
I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden
is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NRSV)
Cast thy care on Jesus
Cast thy care on Jesus,
What is death to those
Who in deep submission
On his love repose?
Cast thy care on Jesus
But a short step further,
Nearer to his side
Where thine eye shall see him
And be satisfied?
Frederick G. Scott (1861-1944)
Cast thy care on Jesus
Support us, O Lord, all the day long,
until the shadows lengthen,
the evening comes, the busy world is hushed,
the fever of life is over and our work done.
Then in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging,
a holy rest, and peace at the last;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Methodist Worship Book
I fear no death
Take care of your of
your life and the Lord
will take of your death.
George Whitefield (1714-1770)
If I have to say goodbye to stream and wood,
To wide ocean and the green clad hill,
I know that he, who made this world so good
Has somewhere made a heaven better still.
This bears witness with my latest breath
Knowing the love of God,
I fear no death.
Major Malcolm Boyd, killed in action in France, June 1944
The house and gate of heaven
Bring us, Lord our God,
at our last awakening,
into the house and gate
of heaven,
The house and gate of heaven
to enter into that gate,
and dwell in that house,
where there shall be
no darkness nor dazzling,
but one equal light;
The house and gate of heaven
no noise nor silence,
but one equal music;
no fears nor hopes,
but one equal possession;
The house and gate of heaven
no ends nor beginnings,
but one equal eternity;
The house and gate of heaven
in the habitation of your
glory and dominion,
world without end.
Amen
Methodist Worship Book
We will remember them
They shall grow not old, as we
that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor
the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)
God give them peace
What shall we pray for those who died,
those on whose death our lives relied?
Silenced by war but not denied,
God give them peace.
God give them peace
What shall we pray for those who mourn
friendships and love, their fruit unborn?
Though years have passed, hearts still
are torn;
God give them peace.
God give them peace
What shall we pray for those who live
tied to the past they can't forgive,
haunted by terrors they relive?
God give them peace.
God give them peace
What shall we pray for those who know
nothing of war, and cannot show
grief or regret for friend or foe?
God give them peace.
God give them peace
What shall we pray for those who fear
war, in some guise, may reappear
looking attractive and sincere?
God give them peace.
God give them peace
God give us peace and, more than this
show us the path where justice is;
and let us never be remiss
working for peace that lasts.
John L Bell and Carnwardric Parish Church (Glasgow) Worship
Group
© WGRG, Iona Comunity
Blessed are they
that mourn, for
they shall be
comforted.
Matthew 5:4 (NRSV)
Cradle, O Lord, in your arms
everlasting,
all who seek here for your
comfort today:
make of our lives prayers of
joyful self-giving,
offered to Christ who is light
for the way.
Christopher T. Bradnock
(copyright applied for)
Almighty God,
Father of all mercies and giver of all
comfort,
deal graciously with those who
mourn,
that they may cast every care on
you
and know the consolation of your
love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Methodist Worship Book
Farewell to Thee! But not farewell
To all my fondest thoughts of
Thee;
Within my heart they still shall
dwell
And they shall cheer and comfort
me.
Anne Bronte (1820-1849)
God grant to the living, grace;
to the departed, rest;
to the world, peace;
and to us and all the faithful,
life everlasting;
and the blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be with us now and forever. Amen.
Methodist Worship Book
To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is
not to die
Go, silent friend,
your life has found its ending;
to dust returns
your weary mortal frame.
God, who before birth
called you into being,
now calls you hence,
his accent still the same.
To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is
not to die
Go, silent friend,
your life in Christ is buried;
for you he lived
and died and rose again.
Close by his side
your promised place is waiting,
where, fully known,
you shall with God remain.
To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is
not to die
Go, silent friend,
forgive us if we grieved you;
safe now in heaven,
kindly say our name.
Your life has touched us,
that is why we mourn you;
our lives without you
cannot be the same.
To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is
not to die
Go, silent friend,
we do not grudge you glory;
sing, sing with joy
deep praises to your Lord.
You, who believed
that Christ would come back for you,
now celebrate
that Jesus keeps his word.
John L Bell © WGRG, Iona Community
A gift of
Remembrance