The Parish of Saint Mary the Virgin, Waterloo Park

PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE DEPARTED

Order of Service: Sunday 7th November 2004 at 6pm


Stand as the Choir and Clergy enter

Priest: In the name of Christ who died and was raised by the glory of the Father, we welcome you.
Grace, mercy and peace be with you all.
All: And also with you.

Hymn
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same for ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise him! Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness.

Father-like, he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him! Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon, bow down before him;
dwellers all in time and space.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace.

Opening Prayer (remain standing)

Blessed are you, Lord our God, lover of souls; you uphold us in life and sustain us in death; to you be glory and praise for ever! For the darkness of this world is passing away as Christ the bright and morning star brings to his saints the light of life. As you give light to those in darkness who walk in the shadow of death, so remember in your kingdom your faithful servants, that death may be for them the gate to life And to unending fellowship with you; where with your saints you live and reign one in the perfect union of love now and for ever. Amen.

All sit for the readings

First reading:  Isaiah  25:6-9
On this mountain, the lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food. On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples,
and the shroud enwrapping all nations, he will destroy Death for ever. The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his peoples shame everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so. That day, it will be said: See, this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation; the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.
We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn (remain seated)

I watch the sunrise lighting the sky,
Casting its shadow near.
And in the morning bright though it be,
I feel those shadows near me.
But you are always close to me
Following all my ways.
May I be always close to you
Following all your ways, Lord.

I watch the sunlight shine through the clouds,
Warming the earth below.
And at the mid-day, life seems to say:
I feel your brightness near me.
For you are always …

I watch the sunset fading away
Lighting the clouds with sleep.
And as the evening closes its eyes,
I feel your presence near me.
For you are always …

I watch the moonlight guarding the night
Waiting till morning comes.
The air is silent, earth is at rest –
Only your peace is near me.

Second reading:   Romans 5:5-11

Hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die for a good man - though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die - but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died us while we were still sinners. Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God's anger? When we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we were still enemies; now that we have been reconciled, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son? Not merely because we have been reconciles but because we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Sermon – Father Neil Kelley, Vicar of S. Mary’s

THE COMMEMORATION
(please remain seated)

LIGHTING OF CANDLES
Families and friends are invited to come forward and light a candle and to offer a short, silent prayer for the departed.

PRAYERS BY CANDLELIGHT

Hymn

Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
pure unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temple leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy host above;
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation:
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
 

THE BLESSING

May God give to you, and to all those whom you love, his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy, in this world and the next; and may almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 



 

The people of S. Mary’s have been pleased to welcome you this evening.  Please be assured that there is always a welcome for you at our regular Sunday worship.

9.30am  Parish Eucharist

A cup of tea is served after the 9.30am Service which provides an opportunity for people to meet each other.

S. MARY’S MEMORIAL BOOK

If you wish the name of your departed loved one to be added to the Book of Remembrance please ask the Vicar for the relevant form.

THE CLERGY and READERS are available at any time. If you would like to be visited at home, please speak to one of them as you leave. If you would like the Parish Magazine delivered, or would like to receive Holy Communion at home, or if you just want more information about S. Mary’s, please contact the Vicar:

The Reverend Neil Kelley,
The Vicarage, Milton Rd, Waterloo, L22 4RE.
0151 928 3342 07980 872203
frneilkelley@tiscali.co.uk
 



 
 
 

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