In Loving Memoryof

Eric Miller6th July 1923 ~ 27th September 2009

The funeral service conducted by

Rev Deacon Len Eaton M.B.E. & Rev David Holleyon

Thursday 1st October 2009 at 12noon

ORDER OF SERVICE

MUSIC IN MEMORY OF ERIC

Tina Turner ~ Simply The Best~

WELCOME:

By Rev’d Deacon Len Eaton M.B.E.

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M: We meet in the name of Jesus Christ, who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father.Glory and mercy be with you.All: And also with you

M. We look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen; For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Today we come together to remember before God our brother EricTo give thanks for his life and to comfort one another in our grief.

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OPENING PRAYER

M Father in heaven, we thank you because you made us in your own image, and gave us gifts in body, mind and spirit. We thank you now for Eric and for what he meant for each of us. And we honour his memory, make us more that you are; the one from whom comes every perfect gift, including the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.All: Amen

PSALM 130 Vs 1-5

All: Out of the depths have I called you, O Lord. Lord hear my

Voice - O let your ears consider well: The voice of my supplication. If you Lord should note what we do wrong; who then O Lord could

stand? But there is forgiveness with you: so that you shall be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits for him: and in his word is my hope.

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PSALM 23 Vs 1-6

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall want nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside the waters of peace; he

renews life within me, and for his name’s sake guides me in the

right path. Even though I walk through a valley dark as death I fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy staff and thy crook are my

comfort.

Thou spreadest a table for me in the sight of my enemies; thou hast richly bathed my head with oil, and my cups runs over.

Goodness and love unfailing, these will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Glory to the Father and to the Son: And to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning is now: And shall be forever. Amen

THE READING

ISAIAH 40, Vs.6b-8M: All mankind is grass; they last no longer than a flower of the field. The grass withers. The flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon them, the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God endures for evermore.This is the word of the LordAll: Thanks be to God

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GOSPEL READING

M: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John 5, Vs. 24-27

All: Glory to you, O Lord

M In very truth, anyone who gives heed to what I say and put his trust in him who sent me, has hold of eternal life, and does not come up for judgement, but has already passed from death to life. In truth, in very truth I tell you, a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and all who hear shall come to life. For as the Father has life-giving power in himself, so has the Son by the Father’s gift. As Son of Man, he has also been giving the right to pass judgement.

This is the gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, O Christ

A CELTIC BLESSING

May the road rise up to meet you.May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

HYMN Will Your Anchor Hold

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soulSteadfast and sure while the billows roll,Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,For ’tis well secured by the Saviour’s hand;

And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,Can defy that blast, thro’ strength divine.

RefrainIt will firmly hold in the Straits of Fear—

When the breakers have told that the reef is near;Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,

Not an angry wave shall our bark o’er flow. Refrain

It will surely hold in the Floods of Death—When the waters cold chill our latest breath,

On the rising tide it can never fail,While our hopes abide within the Veil.

RefrainWhen our eyes behold through the gath’ring night

The city of gold, our harbour bright,We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,

With the storms all past forevermore. Refrain

A PERSONAL TRIBUTE & MUSIC IN MEMORY OF ERICChris de Burgh ~ Sailing Away

A PERSONAL TRIBUTE & MUSIC IN MEMORY OF ERICChris de Burgh ~ Sailing Away

POEM

Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918, Canon of St Paul's Cathedral

Death is nothing at allI have only slipped away into the next room

I am I and you are youWhatever we were to each other

That we are stillCall me by my old familiar name

Speak to me in the easy way you always usedPut no difference into your tone

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrowLaugh as we always laughed

At the little jokes we always enjoyed togetherPlay, smile, think of me, pray for me

Let my name be ever the household word that it always wasLet it be spoken without effort

Without the ghost of a shadow in itLife means all that it ever meant

It is the same as it ever wasThere is absolute unbroken continuity

What is death but a negligible accident?Why should I be out of mindBecause I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you for an intervalSomewhere very near

Just around the cornerAll is well.

Nothing is past; nothing is lostOne brief moment and all will be as it was before

How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

M: Father in heaven, we give you thanks for your servant Eric.We praise you as we recollect his life and cherish his memory. We bless you that in bearing your image he has brought light to our lives.

For we have seen;In his friendship - reflections of your compassion,In his integrity - demonstrations of your goodness,In his faithfulness - glimpses of your eternal love,

Grant to each of us, beloved and bereft, the grace to follow his good example. So that we with him may come to your everlasting kingdom;Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who died and rose again and opened the gate of glory, to whom be praise for all eternity.

All: Amen

M: Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:

All; Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; He was buried; He was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles: This we have received, and this we believe.Amen

M: Almighty God, in your great love you crafted us by your hand and breathed life into us by your Spirit. Although we became a rebellious people, you did not abandon us to our sin. In your tender mercy you sent your Son to restore in us your image. In obedience to your will he gave up his life for us, bearing in his body our sins on the cross.

By your mighty power you raised him from the grave and exalted him to the throne of glory. Rejoicing in his victory and trusting in your promise to make alive all who turn to Christ, we recommend Eric to your mercy and we join with all your faithful people and the whole company of heaven in one unending song of praise: Glory and wisdom and honour be to our God forever and ever.All: Amen

M. Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us.

All: 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 to 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, the power and the glory, forever and ever.Amen.

M: We have entrusted our brother Eric to God’s merciful keeping and now we commit his body for cremation. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dustIn sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died, was buried, and rose again for us, to him be glory forever and ever. Almighty God, grant that we, with all those who have believed in you, may be united in the full knowledge of your love and the unclouded vision of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: AmenTHE BLESSING

M: The Lord bless you and watch over you,The Lord make his face shine upon youAnd be gracious to you.The lord look kindly upon youAnd give you peace;And the blessing of God almighty +The father, the son, and the holy sprit,Be among you and remain with you alwaysAll: Amen

EXIT MUSICTime To Say Goodbye

Donations in memory of Eric are greatly received forCasa de la Salud

Service Sheets Designed & Printedby

The English Funeral Director, Tony Smith. Tel: 650 631 719