In Loving Memory of
Mike Joseph 5th August 1944 ~ 18th June 2013
The funeral service conducted by Pastor Andrew Fisher Tuesday 25th June 2013 at 11am
ORDER OF SERVICE ~ Music In Memory of Mike ~
Welcome ~
Opening Prayer
The death of someone we love and care about, is like the death of part of us. No one else will ever call out from within us quite the same responses, the same feelings or actions or ideas. Their death is an ending of one part of a story. Lord as we look back over Mikes life. We ask that what we have received, what we can appropriate, and continue on in our own lives, we will, and what must be laid to rest, we will lay those things down. Our love for Mike reminds us that our sharing in one another's lives brings both support and pain. Our being parted from him reminds us of our own mortality ......And that your love is enduring. We thank you that our love for Mike draws us together and gives us a new appreciation of one another, and of the beauty and fragility of relationships, which mirror your grace and goodness to us. Lord, time's tide may wash Mike’s footprints from the shore, but not our love for him nor the influence of his life upon our own. Nor the ways in which they will ever be a sign for us, of those things which really matter which are eternal. Hear this prayer for your love's sake. Amen.
Prayers All: Lord, we come into your presence to remember Mike and to seek your comfort, for we know that nothing can separate us from your love and that you support us in our sorrow. We are sure that the souls of the righteous are with you and that nothing can harm them. Although they have died they are in peace. Give us your strength to rejoice that you have received Mike to be with yourself where he shall no more be in need. May we find life and peace and perfect joy with him in your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ~
Reading From Scripture Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Reading From Scripture 1 Corinthians 13 Vs 1-13 LOVE If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
~ Music In Memory Of Mike
Poem I’m Free Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free I’m following the path God has laid you see. I took His hand when I heard him call I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day To laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone must stay that way I found that peace at the close of day. If my parting has left a void Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss Oh yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life’s been full, I savored much Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your hearts and peace to thee God wanted me now; He set me free.
A Personal Tribute & Music In Memory of Den ~
Hymn The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended, The darkness falls at Thy behest; To Thee our morning hymns ascended, Thy praise shall sanctify our rest. We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping, While earth rolls onward into light, Through all the world her watch is keeping, And rests not now by day or night. The sun that bids us rest is waking Our brethren ’neath the western sky, And hour by hour fresh lips are making Thy wondrous doings heard on high. So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never, Like earth’s proud empires, pass away: Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever, Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.
The Lords Prayer
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
COMMENDATION
Let us commend Mike the mercy of God, Our maker and redeemer. God our creator and redeemer, by your power Christ conquered death and entered into glory. Confident of his victory and claiming his promises, we entrust Mike to your mercy in the name of Jesus our Lord, who died and is alive and reigns with you, now and forever. Amen.
Committal The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great goodness. As a father is tender towards his children, so is the Lord tender to those that love him. For he knows of what we are made; he remembers that we are but dust. Our days are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field; when the wind goes over it, it is gone and its place will know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endures for ever and ever towards those that love him. and his righteousness upon their children's children.
We have entrusted our brother Mike to God’s mercy, and we now, commit his body to be cremated: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust: in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our frail bodies that they may be conformed to his glorious body, who died, was buried, and rose again for us. To him be glory for ever.
Amen.
Hymn Abide With Me Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, Lord abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
The Blessing
May God give you his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy, in this world and the next; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Donations In Mike’s Memory will be given to MABS ~
The family would like to invite you to The Golf Club, Camposol following the service
Exit Music In Memory of Mike
Service Sheets Designed & Printed by The English Funeral Director,Tony Smith.Tel: 650 631 719