Mid Week Reflection – the Faithful Departed

Autumn a Season of Colours and Memories – the Faithful Departed

I remember at one of our All-Soul’s commemorations one of the congregation coming up to me, she thanked me for the service and then said ’I hope you don’t mind me saying but one of the most meaningful parts of the service was lighting a candle and returning to my place sitting silently with my thoughts.’ She paused and said ‘you know sometimes there are too many words.’ She was, of course, right.

 

 

So, if you wish, light a candle and thinking of those you love but see no longer.

Take you time, as short or as long as you require.

May light perpetual shine upon them. Amen

 

 

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile

Christina Rossetti – 1830-1894

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

O Lord
Grant to the faithful departed
the unsearchable benefits of the passion of your Son;
that on the day of his appearing
they may be manifested as your children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

Psalm 131
O Lord, my heart is not proud; • my eyes are not raised in haughty looks.
I do not occupy myself with great matters, • with things that are too high for me.
But I have quieted and stilled my soul, like a weaned child on its mother’s breast; •
so my soul is quieted within me.
O Israel, trust in the Lord, • from this time forth for evermore.

Pause

John 6. (37-40)
37Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’

Pause

Love Lives On
Those we love are never really lost to us –
we feel them in so many special ways-
through friends they always cared about and dreams they left behind,
in beauty that they added to our days…
in words of wisdom we still carry with us and memories that never will be gone…
Those we love are never really lost to us –
For everywhere their special love lives on. (A. Bradley)

Pause

Prayers

United in the company of all the faithful and looking for the coming of the kingdom,
let us offer our prayers to God, the source of all life and holiness.

Empower us by the gift of your holy and life-giving Spirit,
that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ
from glory to glory.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Give to the world and its peoples
the peace that comes from above,
that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the
service of the poor and needy;
all who minister to the sick and dying;
and all who bring light to those in darkness.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin
or disfigured by pain, that, raised from death to life in Christ,
their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

We give you thanks for the whole company of your saints in glory,
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;
by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.
Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour and power,
be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Father of all,
we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer.
Grant them your peace,
let light perpetual shine upon them,
and in your loving wisdom and almighty power,
work in them the good purpose of your perfect will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Book of Alternative Services (Anglican Church of Canada) p.42

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

May God give us
his comfort and his peace,
his light and his joy,
in this world and the next;
and the blessing of God Father,
Son and Holy Spirit
be with us all now and forever Amen …

You may wish the finish this time of reflective prayer sitting silently and enjoying a peaceful moment or two. You may also think about listening to some music that has touched you or a favourite hymn or song. Enjoy these moments! God bless!

Derek Akker