In Memoriam

We give you thanks

For life.

Yes - 

We give you thanks

for this unlikely,

miraculous,

fragile,

persistent,

re-generating,

finite,

wondrous, holy mix

of cells and breath and soul.

Yes,

For life

We give you thanks.

And we remember: [Read names]

We give you thanks

For these lives.

Yes - 

for these lives:

unique,

and common,

and individual,

and connected,

and ordinary

and rich,

and beautiful,

and flawed,

and graced,

and hard,

and blessed,

and holy,

and lived. 

Yes,

For these lives

We give you thanks. 

And we remember: [Read names]

We give you thanks

For these lives' legacies.

Yes - 

For these lives' legacies:

for tender moments shared,

and lifelong habits modelled;

for memories that raise a smile,

and conflicts that helped us grow;

for kindnesses that were offered,

and those that were received;

for the service that stands recognised,

and that which went unseen;

for Kingdom-values lived,

and for all the sins forgiven;

for scattered, holy seeds 

of faith and hope and love.

Yes,

For the legacy of these lives

We give you thanks.

And we remember: [Read names]

We give you thanks 

For love.

Yes -

We give you thanks

for the love that now seems ended,

and for the love that carries on;

for love that faltered and falters,

that tries and fails,

and fails and tries;

and for the love which is

patient and kind,

and self-effacing and generous,

and truthful and ever-hopeful,

and holy,

and eternal.

Yes,

For their love,

For our love,

For your love,

We give you thanks.

And we remember: [Read names]

And we give you thanks

that all these are held in your hands -

life, and these lives, and their legacies -

held in love,

held by you:

Alpha and Omega, beginning and end,

Our source and our completion,

The author and perfecter of our faith,

God who lived, and died, and rose again,

The Holy One. 

Yes,

We give you thanks

that we are all, 

all we are,

held in your hands,

held in love.

And we remember: [Read names]

Amen