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Readings and hymns for the Queen MotherLONDON, England -- The funeral service for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at Westminster Abbey in London included readings from "Pilgrim's Progress" and a poem by an unknown author, in addition to traditional hymns and readings. (Full story) "I see myself now at the end of my journey, my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and that face that was spit upon for me," the Rev. Anthony Burnham, Moderator of The Free Churches Group, read from John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." (Amanpour, Quest: Britain's lament) Here are some of the elements of the service, in addition to the sermon: Poem by Anonymous
You can shed tears that she is gone
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
You can remember her and only that she's gone Sentences
I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. -- John 11: 25-26 I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. -- Job 19: 25-27 We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we shall carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. -- I Timothy 6: 7; Job 1: 21 Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears unto our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal. Suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee. Amen. -- Book of Common Prayer I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, "Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours." -- Revelation 14: 13 The BiddingIn gratitude we bid farewell to a greatly loved Queen. For her grace, humanity and sympathy, for her courage in adversity, for the happiness she brought to so many, for her steadfast pilgrimage of faith, for her example of service, and for the duty which she rendered unflinchingly to her country, we thank and praise Almighty God. As we commend Elizabeth, his servant, to God's mercy, let us especially pray for her family in their loss. We give them back to Thee, dear Lord, who gavest them to us; yet as Thou dost not lose them in giving, so we have not lost them by their return. Not as the world giveth, givest Thou, O Lover of Souls. What Thou gavest, Thou takest not away, for what is Thine is ours always if we are Thine. And Life is eternal and Love is immortal, and death is only an horizon, and an horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. -- read by the Very Rev. Wesley Carr, Dean of Westminster The First LessonRemember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low. Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. -- Ecclesiastes 12: 1-7; read by the Most Rev. David Hope, Lord Archbishop of York Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills:
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
The Lord himself is thy keeper:
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: -- sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey The Second LessonAfter this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; either shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. -- Revelation 7: 9-17; read by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster Hymn: Immortal Invisible God Only Wise
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
To all life thou givest - to both great and small;
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, -- words by W. Chalmers Smith (1824-1908) The AnthemHow lovely are thy dwellings fair: O Lord of Hosts. My soul ever longeth and fainteth sore for the blest courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh do cry to the living God. O blest are they that in thy house are dwelling: they ever praise thee, O Lord, for evermore. -- Psalm 84: 1-2, 4 PrayerO Eternal God, our Heavenly Father, we bless thy holy name for all that thou hast given us in and through the life of thy daughter Elizabeth. We give thee thanks: for her love of family and her gift of friendship; for her grace, dignity and courtesy; for her humour, generosity and sheer love of life. And we praise thee for: the courage that she showed in times of hardship; the depth and reality of her Christian faith; the good example that she set for us to follow. We offer thee our heartfelt thanks for the deep affection she drew out of everyone she met, and we pray that thou wilt grant her peace; let light perpetual shine upon her; and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power work in her the good purpose of thy perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -- read by the Very Rev. Wesley Carr, Dean of Westminster Hymn: Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Open now the crystal fountain
When I tread the verge of Jordan, -- words by Peter Willkims (1726-94) Pilgrim's ProgressI see myself now at the end of my journey, my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and that face that was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him in whose company I delight myself. I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I have seen the print of his shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot to. His name to me has been as a civet-box; yea, sweeter than all perfume. His voice to me has been most sweet; and his countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the light of the sun. His word I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my faintings. 'He has held me, and hath kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my steps hath he strengthened in his way.' Glorious it was to see how the open region was filled with horses and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with singers and players on stringed instruments, to welcome the Pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the city. -- John Bunyan (1628-88); read by the Rev. Anthony Burnham, Moderator, The Free Churches Group The CommendationLet us commend our sister, Elizabeth, to the mercy of God, our Maker and Redeemer. O Heavenly Father, who by thy mighty power hast given us life, and in thy love hast given us new life in thy beloved Son: we entrust our sister, Elizabeth, to thy merciful keeping, in the faith of the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who died and rose again to save us and now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever One God, world without end. Amen. -- said by The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey The BlessingMay God in his infinite love and mercy bring the whole Church, living and departed in the Lord Jesus, to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. -- said by The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey |
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