The Celebration of the Life of
Mary Hill Tucker
March 18, 1918 - March 14, 2021
Family Remembrances
Opening Hymn: Come, ye disconsolate, sung by Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack
Opening Sentences & Prayer
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.
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 Mary. 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
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Mary. 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
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, read by Brandon Mercer
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
John 14:2, read by Brandon Mercer
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?
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?
Reflections: Jason Mercer
Mary Tucker’s Words, read by Gretchen Mary Mercer
Peter Wharton
Gretchen Tucker Underwood
The Rev’d Stephen Harding
Mary Tucker’s Words, read by Gretchen Mary Mercer
Peter Wharton
Gretchen Tucker Underwood
The Rev’d Stephen Harding
Hymn: The Lord's Prayer, sung by Cissy Houston
The Apostles’ Creed (said together by everyone):
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
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 for Mary: (The response is “Hear us, Lord.”)
For our sister Mary, 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 Mary, 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.
Silence may be kept.
Father of all, we pray to you for Mary, 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 faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The Commendation:
Officiant: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant, Mary, 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.
Officiant: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant, Mary, with your saints,
People: where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Officiant: Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Mary. 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.
For our sister Mary, 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 Mary, 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.
Silence may be kept.
Father of all, we pray to you for Mary, 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 faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The Commendation:
Officiant: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant, Mary, 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.
Officiant: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant, Mary, with your saints,
People: where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Officiant: Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Mary. 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
Dismissal
Officiant: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.
Officiant: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.
Hymn: I’ll take you there, sung by Mavis Staples
*
In lieu of flowers, Mary and her family have asked that donations be made to Grace Church in her memory.
Donations may be sent to Grace Church, PO Box 1197
Vineyard Haven, MA. 02568
In lieu of flowers, Mary and her family have asked that donations be made to Grace Church in her memory.
Donations may be sent to Grace Church, PO Box 1197
Vineyard Haven, MA. 02568