Celebration of the Life of Lois Sibley

Celebration of the Life of Lois Sibley 1.4.1932 – 4.1.2020 St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Glenside, Pennsylvania May 7, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.

Even at the grave we make our song: alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Burial of the Dead: Rite Two Prelude: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Bach Erstanden ist der heil’ge Christ J. S. Bach Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit Bach Processional Hymn 287: For all the saints (all verses ) Presider: I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord.

Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though he die.

And everyone who has life, and has committed himself to me in faith, shall not die for ever.

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.

After my awaking, he will raise me up; and in my body I shall see God. I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger.

For none of us has life in himself, and none becomes his own master when he dies.

For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord, and if we die, we die in the Lord.

So, then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s possession.

Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord!

So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.

Opening Prayers Presider: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Presider: Let us pray.

Silence may be kept; after which the presider says

J. S.

J. S.

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Lois. We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with Lois’s family and friends in their grief. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word From the Old Testament Isaiah 40:10–12 See, the Sovereignpower, he rulesa mighty arm.

See, his rewardwith him, his recompense accompanies him.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; gently leadsthat have young.

Who has measured the watersthe hollow of his hand, with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?

The word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God Psalm 23 BCP 612 Dominus regit me

1 The LORDmy shepherd; I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

3 He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

From the New Testament Revelation 7:9-17 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

The word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God. Piano Meditation: My Lord, what a mourning African-American Spiritual William Edgar, Pianist My Lord, what a mourning, My Lord, what a mourning, Oh, my Lord, what a mourning When the stars begin to fall, When the stars begin to fall.

Reflections by the family

Hymn: Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!

The Gospel—John 10:11-16 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Homily Palmer

The Rev. Laura

The Apostles' Creed In the assurance of eternal life given at Baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say, Presider and People I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers of the People For our sister, Lois, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am Resurrection and I am Life.”

Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Lois, and dry the tears of those who weep.

Hear us, Lord.

You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow.

Hear us, Lord.

You raised the dead to life; give to our sister eternal life.

Hear us, Lord.

You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our sister to the joys of heaven.

Hear us, Lord.

Our sister was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit; give her fellowship with all your saints.

Hear us, Lord.

She was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant her a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom.

Hear us, Lord.

Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our sister; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.

The Presider ends with this prayer Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to you our sister Lois, who was reborn by water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. Grant that her death may recall to us your victory over death, and be an occasion for us to renew our trust in your Father’s love. Give us, we pray, the faith to follow where you have led the way; and where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.

Celebrating Holy Communion Presentation Hymn: 522, Glorious things of thee are spoken The Great Thanksgiving, Eucharistic Prayer B BCP 367 Presider: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Presider: Lift up your hearts.

People We lift them to the Lord.

Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Presider: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who rose victorious from the dead, and comforts us with the blessed hope of everlasting life. For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name: The Sanctus: S130, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord The Presider continues We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me." After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore, according to his command, O Father, Presider and People We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory; And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with St. Peter, St. Philip and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

The Lord's Prayer (Traditional) BCP 364 Our Father, who art in heaven, be thy Name, kingdom come, will be done, earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, we forgive those trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread BCP 364 Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The Fraction Anthem: WLP 875, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus Presider: The Gifts of God for the People of God. The Communion of the People Communion Music: Sheep may safely graze J. S. Bach

The Post-Communion Prayer BCP 498 Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have fed us with the spiritual food and drink of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this Sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all your saints; through Jesus Christ our Savior..

Sending Out The Blessing Closing Hymn: 518, Christ is made the sure foundation The Dismissal Presider: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

People: Thanks be to God. Postlude: When the Saints Go Marching In

James M.(Milton) Black and Katherine E. Purvis William Edgar, Pianist

The clergy, people, and Vestry of St. Peter’s Church extend our prayers and heartfelt sympathy to the Sibley family.

Those who wish to remember Lois with a memorial are encouraged to make a contribution in her memory to St. Peter’s Church.

Worship Ministers Presider: The Rev. Barbara Ballenger Gospeler & Homilist: The Rev. Laura Palmer Organist: Kathy Flaherty Pianist: Willian Edgar Lectors: Anne Kastelic, Rick Pearce Intercessor: Mary Sibley Acolyte: Dani Hill, Alex Stevers-Radtke Eucharistic Minister: Audrey Kipphut, Melissa Olson Gift Bearers: Fawn Connolly, Martha Schmidt Ushers: Bob & Wendy Hartung, Audrey & Dave Kipphut Altar Guild: Karen Sayer Tech: PJ Linke, Mike Levin Caretaker: Tim Valera

About the Service (BCP 507) The liturgy of the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised. The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.

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