PREPARATION:
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, event though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."

GREETING and CALL TO WORSHIP
One: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And also with you.
One: Come into this circle of loss. Come into this circle of compassion. Come into this circle of memory. Come into this circle of Love.
One: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
All: The eternal God is our dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
One: We believe that Jesus died and rose again; and so it will be for those who have died in Christ. God will raise them to springs of the new water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
All: Blessed be the name of God - the God of the living and the dead!

OPENING PRAYER (Unison)
God of grace, in the resurrection of your son you have given us new and living hope. Help us to know that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Saviour. We thank you that even in our worship today, we can be closer to our loved ones as we remember them in prayer. Bless us and our gathering that whatever we do here may bring praise to you , who is with us, in life and in death.In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

HYMN: "In the Sweet By and By"
There’s a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar
For the Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there.

Chorus: In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore,
In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore.

We shall sing on that beautiful shore, the melodious songs of the blest,
And our spirits shall sorrow no more, not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

To our bountiful Father above, we will offer our tribute of praise,
For the glorious gift of his love, and the blessings that hallow our rest.

SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 15:12-14; 20-21;51-55

HYMN "Amazing Grace"
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound - That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see!

"Tis grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Thru many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
"Twas grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home!
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than wen we first begun.

Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise God! Praise God, Praise God,
Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise , Praise God!

MEDITATION

STATEMENT OF FAITH (A New Creed)
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

PRAYER OF COMMEMORATION (Unison)
O Holy One, we remember before you those who have lived among us, who have directed our steps in the way, opened our eyes to the truth, inspired our hearts by their witness, strengthened our wills by their devotion. We rejoice in their lives dedicated to your service, we honour them in their death, and we pray that we may be united with them in the glory of Christ’s resurrection. We ask it Jesus’ name who taught us to pray... (Lord’s Prayer together)

REMEMBERING OUR DEPARTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS

BOUQUET OF MEMORIES
(Please come forward and place a flower on the cross in memory of your loved ones)

MUSIC "Near the Cross"

HYMN "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder"
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and day;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

CHORUS: When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder;
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning, when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of his resurrection share; When his chosen ones shall gather to their
home beyond the skies; And the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there. (Chorus)

Let us labor for the master from dawn till morning sun,
Let us talk of his wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

COMMISSIONING AND BLESSING
Let us go in peace and live together in love, taking from and giving to one another - - as we need and as we are able - - the gifts of courage, wisdom and thanksgiving. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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