In Loving Memory of
Miriam Nina Eileen Newman 18th May 1947 ~ 6th October 2009
St. Rita of Cascia
The Patroness Saint of Impossible Cases
The funeral service conducted by Rev Deacon Len Eaton M.B.E & Colin Dawson From St Nicholas Ecumenical Church, Camposol On Friday, 9th October 2009 at 11am
ORDER OF SERVICE ~ MUSIC IN MEMORY OF MIRIAM ~ WELCOME: By Rev Deacon Len Eaton M.B.E. ~ M: We meet in the name of Jesus Christ, who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father. Glory and mercy be with you. All: And also with you M. We look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen; For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Today we come together to remember before God our sister Miriam To give thanks for her life and to comfort one another in our grief. ~ OPENING PRAYER M Father in heaven, we thank you because you made us in your own image, and gave us gifts in body, mind and spirit. We thank you now for Miriam and for what she meant for each of us. And we honour her memory, make us more that you are; the one from whom comes every perfect gift, including the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. All: Amen PSALM 130 Vs 1-5 All: Out of the depths have I called you, O Lord. Lord hear my Voice O let your ears consider well: The voice of my supplication. If you Lord should note what we do wrong; who then O Lord could stand? But there is forgiveness with you: so that you shall be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits for him: and in his word is my hope.
PSALM 23 Vs 1-6 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall want nothing He makes me lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside the waters of peace; he renews life within me, and for his name’s sake guides me in the right path. Even though I walk through a valley dark as death I fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy staff and thy crook are my comfort. Thou spreadest a table for me in the sight of my enemies; thou hast richly bathed my head with oil, and my cups runs over. Goodness and love unfailing, these will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Glory to the Father and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now: And shall be forever. Amen THE READING ISAIAH 40, Vs.6b-8 M: All mankind is grass; they last no longer than a flower of the field. The grass withers. The flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon them, the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God endures for evermore. This is the word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God M:
GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 14 vs 1 to 6
All: Glory to you, O Lord M Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms: if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am . You know the way to the place where I am going. One of Jesus’s disciples, Thomas, said to Him: “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. This is the gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, O Christ
HYMN Morning Has Broken Morning has broken, Like the first morning, Blackbird has spoken Like the first bird; Praise for the singing, Praise for the morning, Praise for them springing. Fresh from the Word.
Sweet the rain's new fall, Sunlit from heaven, Like the first dewfall, On the first grass; Praise for the sweetness, Of the wet garden, Sprung in completeness, Where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight, Mine is the morning, Born of the one light Eden saw play; Praise with elation, Praise every morning, God's re-creation, Of the new day.
Morning has broken, Like the first morning, Blackbird has spoken, Like the first bird; Praise for the singing, Praise for the morning, Praise for them springing, Fresh from the Word.
POEM Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918, Canon of St Paul's Cathedral Death is nothing at all I have only slipped away into the next room I am I and you are you Whatever we were to each other That we are still Call me by my old familiar name Speak to me in the easy way you always used Put no difference into your tone Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow Laugh as we always laughed At the little jokes we always enjoyed together Play, smile, think of me, pray for me Let my name be ever the household word that it always was Let it be spoken without effort Without the ghost of a shadow in it Life means all that it ever meant It is the same as it ever was There is absolute unbroken continuity What is death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind Because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you for an interval Somewhere very near Just around the corner All is well. Nothing is past; nothing is lost One brief moment and all will be as it was before How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
MEMORIES OF MIRIAM Personal Tribute ~ POEM Do not be afraid Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glint on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you wake in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft starlight at night. When you see the sunset fair, I am the scented evening air. I am the joy of a task well done, I am the glow of the setting sun. Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there. I do not sleep. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die. ~ MUSIC IN MEMORY OF MIRIAM IL DIVO ~ AVE MARIA
M: Father in heaven, we give you thanks for your servant Miriam. We praise you as we recollect her life and cherish her memory. We bless you that in bearing your image she has brought light to our lives. For we have seen; In her friendship - reflections of your compassion, In her integrity - demonstrations of your goodness, In her faithfulness - glimpses of your eternal love, Grant to each of us, beloved and bereft, the grace to follow her good example. So that we with her may come to your everlasting kingdom; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who died and rose again and opened the gate of glory, to whom be praise for all eternity. All: Amen M:
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:
All; Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; He was buried; He was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles: This we have received, and this we believe. Amen M: Almighty God, in your great love you crafted us by your hand and breathed life into us by your Spirit. Although we became a rebellious people, you did not abandon us to our sin. In your tender mercy you sent your Son to restore in us your image. In obedience to your will he gave up his life for us, bearing in his body our sins on the cross. By your mighty power you raised him from the grave and exalted him to the throne of glory. Rejoicing in his victory and trusting in your promise to make alive all who turn to Christ, we recommend Miriam to your mercy and we join with all your faithful people and the whole company of heaven in one unending song of praise: Glory and wisdom and honour be to our God forever and ever. All: Amen
M.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has 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 to 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. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. M: We have entrusted our sister Miriam to God’s merciful keeping and now we commit her body for cremation. 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 forever and ever. Almighty God, grant that we, with all those who have believed in you, may be united in the full knowledge of your love and the unclouded vision of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen THE BLESSING M: The Lord bless you and watch over you, The Lord make his face shine upon you And be gracious to you. The lord look kindly upon you And give you peace; And the blessing of God almighty + The father, the son, and the holy sprit, Be among you and remain with you always All: Amen EXIT MUSIC Queen ~ Who Wants to Live Forever Donations in memory of Miriam are greatly received for MABS Service sheets printed by The English Funeral Director, Tony Smith.