Order of Service for Felix' funeral at Buckfast Abbey
Created by Sophie 7 years ago
Hymn
1. And
did those feet in ancient time, Walk upon England’s mountains green: And was the holy Lamb of God, On Englands pleasant pastures seen!
2. And
did the Countenance Divine, Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here, Among these dark Satanic Mills?
3 Bring
me my Bow of burning gold; Bring me my Arrows of desire: Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my Chariot of fire!
4 I
will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand: Till we have built Jerusalem, In Englands green & pleasant Land.
William Blake 1757 - 1827
Priest The grace and peace of God our
Father, who raised Jesus from the dead, be always with you. All And with your spirit.
Priest My dear people, the Lord is a
faithful God who created us all after his own image. All things are of his making, all creation
awaits the day of salvation. We now
entrust Felix’s soul to the abundant mercy of God, that he may find a home in
his kingdom.
The priest sprinkles the coffin with holy water to
symbolize purification and blessing.
Opening Prayer
Priest Let us pray, God of all consolation, searcher of mind and
heart, the faith of those gathered here is known to you. Comfort us with the knowledge that Felix,
for whom we grieve, is entrusted now to your loving care.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your
Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. All Amen.
The
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Read by Camilla
McHugh A reading from the first letter of
Saint Paul to the Corinthians (13: 8-13) Love does not come to an end. But if there are gifts of prophecy, the time
will come when they must fail; or the gift of languages, it will not continue
for ever; and knowledge – for this, too, the time will come when it must
fail. For our knowledge is imperfect and
our prophesying is imperfect; but once perfection comes, all imperfect things
will disappear. When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and think like a child, and argue like a
child, but now I am a man, all childish ways are put behind me. Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a
mirror; but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge that I have now is imperfect;
but then I shall know as fully as I am known. In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and
the greatest of these is love. The
word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God
Psalm Read by Louisa Handscombe Response
(said by all at the end of each verse): The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I
shall want
1 The Lord
is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and
green are the pastures where he gives me repose. Near
restful waters he leads me, To revive
my drooping spirit. Response
2 He guides
me along the right path; he is true to his name. If I
should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are
there with your crook and your staff; with
these you give me comfort. Response
3 You have
prepared a banquet for me in the
sight of my foes. My head
you have anointed with oil; my cup is
overflowing. Response
4 Surely
goodness and kindness shall follow me all the
days of my life. In the
Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever
and ever. Response
Second Reading A reading from the holy Gospel
according to John In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things
were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. In him was life; and the life was the light of
men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it
not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all
men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to
bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth
every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world
was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and
his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave
the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Gospel of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God
The Lord’s Prayer
Priest Now
let us pray as Christ the Lord taught us
All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Final Prayer Priest Let us pray. God of mercy, in the
mystery of your wisdom you have drawn Felix to yourself. In the midst of our pain and sorrow, we
acknowledge you as Lord of the living and the dead and we search for our
peace in your will. In these final
moments we stand together in prayer, believing in your compassion and
generous love. Deliver Felix out of
death and grant him a place in your kingdom of peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All Amen Please be seated
The Hill
Fort, by Owen
Sheers
Read by James Gregory
An extract
from The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein One of
Felix’s favourite books, read by Lucian Murdin
Eulogy Alex Murdin
Hymn:
1 Thine
be the glory, risen, conquering Son; endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won; angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain: Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son, Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.
2. Lo!
Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom; let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing; for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. Refrain
3. No
more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life; life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife; make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love: bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Refrain
Edmond Budry 1854-1932
Final
Commendation Priest Let us commend Felix to the Lord’s merciful keeping as we pray for those who were
closest to him. Even as they grieve at
the loss of their loved one, they entrust him to the loving embrace of God
Holy Water,
a sign of Baptism - our re-birth in Christ - is now used to bless Felix’s body; incense is burnt, by which we
symbolise our prayers for him rising to God and our preparation to hand his
body back to God.
I Know That my Redeemer Liveth G.
F. Handel Sung by Denise Kehoe
Prayer
of Commendation Priest You are the author and sustainer of our lives, O
God, you are our final home. We
commend Felix to you. Trusting in your mercy and in your
all-embracing love, we pray that you give him happiness for ever. Turn also to those who have suffered this
loss. Strengthen the bonds of this
family and our community. 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 saving
help. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus
Christ, our Lord. All Amen
Procession
from the Church
May
angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.