There will be a small memorial service and scattering of ashes that will be streamed online. The service will be Saturday May 15 at 2pm. Use the following zoom link to join us. Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4213392411 to start or join a scheduled Zoom meeting Here is a copy of the order of service to follow along with us: A Celebration of Life for Beth Jordan Martin 1946-2021 Burial of the Dead and Holy Eucharist, Rite II May 15, 2021 2:00 p.m. — 2 — The liturgy for 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 service, 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. The Book of Common Prayer, page 507 The Order of Worship Opening Anthem BCP 491 The Salutation and Opening Collects Officiant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Officiant Let us pray. O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant Beth, being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. — 3 — The Liturgy Of The Word Please be seated The First Reading: A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (3:1-5, 9) But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect. Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. A Reading from the Book of Psalms (121) 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; * from where is my help to come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, * the maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved * and he who watches over you will not fall asleep. 4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel * shall neither slumber nor sleep; 5 The LORD himself watches over you; * the LORD is your shade at your right hand, 6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, * nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; * it is he who shall keep you safe. 8 The LORD shall watch over your going out and your coming in, * from this time forth for evermore. — 5 — The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (14:1-6) People Glory to you, Lord Christ. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ. The Homily The Rev. John Burruss Remarks on Life Scott Dunbar The Apostles’ Creed 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 BCP 497 For our sister, Beth, 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 Beth 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 Beth eternal life. Hear us, Lord. You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our sister Beth 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. Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our sister; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope. Silence Father of all, we pray to you for Beth, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. The Peace Officiant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you. — 8 — The Holy Communion Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. People We lift them to the Lord. Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give our thanks and praise. God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise. Glory to you for ever and ever. At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home. By your will they were created and have their being. From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another. Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight. Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, born of a woman, to fulfill your Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace. By his blood, he reconciled us. By his wounds, we are healed. — 9 — And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn: Sanctus Spoken Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Standing And so, Father, we who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. On the night he was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, 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, gave thanks, 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.” Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving, We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming. Lord God of our Fathers: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name. Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread. Accept these prayers and praises, Father, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. AMEN. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, 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 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The Breaking of Bread The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread while silence is kept. Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia. The Invitation Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God. This is the table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is made ready for those who love him and for those who want to love him more. So, come, you who have much faith and you who have little, you who have been here often and you who have not been here long, you who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come, because it is the Lord who invites you. It is his will that those who want him should meet him here. Distribution of Communion Post Communion Prayer Standing Celebrant Let us pray. 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. Amen. The Commendation Officiant Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, People where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. Officiant You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. People Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. Officiant Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Beth. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen. Officiant Let us go forth in the name of Christ. People: Thanks be to God. The Committal Hymn: “Shall We Gather at the River” Robert Lowery 1 Shall we gather at the river, Where bright angel feet have trod; With its crystal tide forever Flowing by the throne of God? Refrain: Yes, we’ll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river; Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God. 2 On the margin of the river, Washing up its silver spray, We will walk and worship ever, All the happy golden day. [Refrain] 3 Ere we reach the shining river, Lay we ev’ry burden down; Grace our spirits will deliver, And provide a robe and crown. [Refrain] 4 Soon we’ll reach the shining river, Soon our pilgrimage will cease; Soon our happy hearts will quiver With the melody of peace. [Refrain] Then, while earth is cast upon the body, the Officiant says these words Officiant In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our sister Beth, and we commit her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless her and keep her, the Lord make his face to shine upon her and be gracious to her, the Lord lift up his countenance upon her and give her peace. Amen. Officiant Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord; People And let light perpetual shine upon her. Officiant May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. The Officiant dismisses the people with these words Alleluia. Christ is risen. People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. Officiant Let us go forth in the name of Christ. People Thanks be to God. —