A Celebration of the Life of
Fala Jane Freeman
February 7, 1947 – June 8, 2024
Fala Jane Freeman
February 7, 1947 – June 8, 2024
Prelude
All stand while the following anthem is said.
I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord.
Whoever has faith in me shall have life,
even though she die.
And everyone who has life,
and has committed herself 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 herself,
and none becomes her own master when she 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.
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Fala. 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.
The people sit.
The Liturgy of the Word
The First Readings
With a flower
Emily Dickinson
I hide myself within my flower,
That wearing on your breast,
You, unsuspecting, wear me too --
And angels know the rest.
I hide myself within my flower,
That, fading from your vase,
You, unsuspecting, feel for me
Almost a loneliness.
All stand while the following anthem is said.
I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord.
Whoever has faith in me shall have life,
even though she die.
And everyone who has life,
and has committed herself 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 herself,
and none becomes her own master when she 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.
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Fala. 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.
The people sit.
The Liturgy of the Word
The First Readings
With a flower
Emily Dickinson
I hide myself within my flower,
That wearing on your breast,
You, unsuspecting, wear me too --
And angels know the rest.
I hide myself within my flower,
That, fading from your vase,
You, unsuspecting, feel for me
Almost a loneliness.
It will be Summer – eventually
Emily Dickinson
It will be Summer — eventually.
Ladies — with parasols --
Sauntering Gentlemen — with Canes --
And little Girls — with Dolls --
Will tint the pallid landscape --
As ’twere a bright Boquet --
Tho’ drifted deep, in Parian --
The Village lies — today --
The Lilacs — bending many a year --
Will sway with purple load --
The Bees — will not despise the tune --
Their Forefathers — have hummed --
The Wild Rose — redden in the Bog --
The Aster — on the Hill
Her everlasting fashion — set --
And Covenant Gentians — frill --
Till Summer folds her miracle --
As Women — do — their Gown --
Or Priests — adjust the Symbols --
When Sacrament — is done --
The Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Emily Dickinson
It will be Summer — eventually.
Ladies — with parasols --
Sauntering Gentlemen — with Canes --
And little Girls — with Dolls --
Will tint the pallid landscape --
As ’twere a bright Boquet --
Tho’ drifted deep, in Parian --
The Village lies — today --
The Lilacs — bending many a year --
Will sway with purple load --
The Bees — will not despise the tune --
Their Forefathers — have hummed --
The Wild Rose — redden in the Bog --
The Aster — on the Hill
Her everlasting fashion — set --
And Covenant Gentians — frill --
Till Summer folds her miracle --
As Women — do — their Gown --
Or Priests — adjust the Symbols --
When Sacrament — is done --
The Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Hymn 608 Eternal Father, strong to save
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (4:1-15)
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, ‘Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John’— although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized— he left Judea and started back to Galilee. But he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’
Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, ‘Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John’— although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized— he left Judea and started back to Galilee. But he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’
Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Reflections Tristan Grew
The Rev’d Stephen Harding
Musical Reflection Men of the West, played by Violet Southwick
Celebrant In the assurance of eternal life given at Baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say,
Celebrant 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.
Prayers
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For our sister Fala, 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 Fala, 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 Fala; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.
Silence may be kept.
Celebrant Father of all, we pray to you for Fala, 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.
Confession of Sin
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Minister and People
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Celebrant Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
All stand
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Ministers and People greet one another in the name of the Lord.
Welcome and Announcements
The Rev’d Stephen Harding
Musical Reflection Men of the West, played by Violet Southwick
Celebrant In the assurance of eternal life given at Baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say,
Celebrant 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.
Prayers
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For our sister Fala, 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 Fala, 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 Fala; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.
Silence may be kept.
Celebrant Father of all, we pray to you for Fala, 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.
Confession of Sin
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Minister and People
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Celebrant Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
All stand
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Ministers and People greet one another in the name of the Lord.
Welcome and Announcements
Hymn 405 All things bright and beautiful
The Great Thanksgiving
The people remain standing
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 unto our Lord God.
People It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
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:
Celebrant and People
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.
The people stand or kneel.
Then the Celebrant continues
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus
Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, 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 we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Celebrant continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.
Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. 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,
People and Celebrant
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 the Bread
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.
A period of silence is kept.
Then may be sung or said
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
All say together
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
All are invited to come forward to receive the Sacrament or a Blessing.
The people remain standing
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 unto our Lord God.
People It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
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:
Celebrant and People
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.
The people stand or kneel.
Then the Celebrant continues
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus
Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, 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 we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Celebrant continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.
Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. 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,
People and Celebrant
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 the Bread
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.
A period of silence is kept.
Then may be sung or said
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
All say together
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
All are invited to come forward to receive the Sacrament or a Blessing.
Hymn 554 'Tis the Gift to Be Simple
The Post Communion Prayer
Celebrant Let us pray.
All say together
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.
Celebrant Let us pray.
All say together
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.
Hymn 562 vv 1, 4-5 Onward Christian Soldiers
The Commendation
The Celebrant and other ministers take their places at the body.
Celebrant Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Fala with your saints,
People where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of humanity; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to the earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and unto dust shall you return.” All we go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Fala with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
The Celebrant, facing the body, says
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Fala. 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.
Blessing
Celebrant Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God.
The Celebrant and other ministers take their places at the body.
Celebrant Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Fala with your saints,
People where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of humanity; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to the earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and unto dust shall you return.” All we go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Fala with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
The Celebrant, facing the body, says
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Fala. 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.
Blessing
Celebrant Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God.
Hymn 287 For all the saints, who from their labors rest
The Congregation is invited to join in the procession to the Harriet Sayre Memorial Garden for the Committal
The Committal
[Jesus said] Everyone the Father gives to me will come to me;
I will never turn away anyone who believes in me.
He who raised Jesus Christ from the dead
will also give new life to our mortal bodies
through his indwelling Spirit.
My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;
my body also shall rest in hope.
You will show me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Then, while earth is cast upon the coffin, the Celebrant says these words
In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our sister Fala, 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.
The Celebrant says
The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Celebrant and People
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.
Celebrant Rest eternal grant to Fala, O Lord;
People And let light perpetual shine upon her.
Celebrant May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The Celebrant dismisses the people with these words
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Celebrant Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God.
Everyone is invited to a reception in the Parish Hall immediately following the service.
The Committal
[Jesus said] Everyone the Father gives to me will come to me;
I will never turn away anyone who believes in me.
He who raised Jesus Christ from the dead
will also give new life to our mortal bodies
through his indwelling Spirit.
My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;
my body also shall rest in hope.
You will show me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Then, while earth is cast upon the coffin, the Celebrant says these words
In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our sister Fala, 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.
The Celebrant says
The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Celebrant and People
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.
Celebrant Rest eternal grant to Fala, O Lord;
People And let light perpetual shine upon her.
Celebrant May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The Celebrant dismisses the people with these words
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Celebrant Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God.
Everyone is invited to a reception in the Parish Hall immediately following the service.
Rector: The Reverend Stephen Harding
Priest Associates: The Rev’d Sharon Eckhardt
The Rev’d Dr. Storm Swain
Parish Administrator: Heather Raveling
Director of Music: Wes Nagy
Cellist: Jan Hyer
Bookkeeper: David Smith
Sr. Warden: Jennifer Haynes
Jr. Warden: Bryan Garrison
Clerk: Betsy Holcomb
Vestry: Teri Culletto, Karen Huff, Lew Laskaris,
Ginger Martin Duarte, Maranda Post
Assisting In Our Worship
Hospitality: Lorraine Clark, Joan Merry & members of the parish
Violet Southwick, Violin
Molly Sturges, Piano
PO Box 1197 • 34 Woodlawn Avenue • Vineyard Haven MA 02568
www.graceepiscopalmv.org • 508 693-0332
Priest Associates: The Rev’d Sharon Eckhardt
The Rev’d Dr. Storm Swain
Parish Administrator: Heather Raveling
Director of Music: Wes Nagy
Cellist: Jan Hyer
Bookkeeper: David Smith
Sr. Warden: Jennifer Haynes
Jr. Warden: Bryan Garrison
Clerk: Betsy Holcomb
Vestry: Teri Culletto, Karen Huff, Lew Laskaris,
Ginger Martin Duarte, Maranda Post
Assisting In Our Worship
Hospitality: Lorraine Clark, Joan Merry & members of the parish
Violet Southwick, Violin
Molly Sturges, Piano
PO Box 1197 • 34 Woodlawn Avenue • Vineyard Haven MA 02568
www.graceepiscopalmv.org • 508 693-0332