Judith’s funeral service is at 11am this morning (20th April 2020). Everyone is invited to join in solidarity and remembrance with Judith’s family at that time.

One of her friends said, ‘We’ll all go and sit in our gardens, with a cup of tea, and think about Judith’.  That’s what we’ll be doing.

 

THE COMMENDATION

Father,

we commend Judith to your care,

giving thanks for all that she brought us

and shared with us.

Though now taken from us,

let her not be parted from you.

May your servant, set free from the bondage of earth,

be changed into your likeness, from glory to glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

We have entrusted Judith,

to God’s merciful keeping;

we now commit her body

to this ground and woodland of her delight

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust;

in sure and certain hope of the

resurrection to eternal life

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died, was buried

and rose again for us.

To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

At a time when our nation and communities are in crisis, and loved ones have not been able to gather to grieve or to share precious memories. We nonetheless gather now, in this act of Christian worship that gives expression to our faith and affirms our hope of resurrection to life in God’s eternal presence.

Collect

God our maker,

your creative will gives life to all that is:

your quickening power brings us to birth

and raises us from death.

Take this your daughter Judith. into your keeping

and give her the new life

that is promised in Jesus Christ our Lord,

who once was dead and lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

now and for ever. Amen.

 

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills–from where will my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

 

James 1: 17-27

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore, rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act–they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

Intercession

Prayer for the Mourners

God of the living and the dead,

when you raised Jesus from the tomb

you gave new hope to his desolate disciples.

Cleanse, restore and heal us in our time of sorrow.

May we go forward in his strength upon our pilgrimage,

sharing the fellowship of the redeemed,

both living and departed.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Prayer of Faith

Father,

you are from everlasting,

your compassion knows no bounds:

Though we are dust and to dust shall return,

we trust in your power to fashion us anew

in the likeness of your Son, who endured the cross

to become the firstborn in your new creation.

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

now and for ever.  

Amen.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour has taught us,

so we pray:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will he done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Do not bring us

to the time of trial

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom,

the power and the glory are

yours, now and for ever.  

Amen.

Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints:

where sorrow and pain are no more;

neither sighing, but life everlasting. Amen.

Judith, our companion in faith and sister in Christ,

We entrust you to God who created you

That you may return to him who formed you.

May the angels and saints come to meet you.

Christ, who was crucified for you, draw you to His Kingdom.

The Good Shepherd hold you in your place in the flock, so that,

You see your Redeemer face to face

And delight in the vision of God for ever.

Go forth upon your journey from this world,

dear child of God,

Sustained by the heavenly host

and enfolded by the company of the redeemed

may peace be yours this day,

and the heavenly city your home. Amen.