An Evening Service before the day of the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh
The Gathering
We meet in the name of Jesus Christ,
who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father.
We gather this evening to hold in our hearts our beloved Queen and all who will be attending the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor tomorrow.
We remember before God Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh,
to give thanks for his long life, his service to our nation and to the Royal Navy, his steadfast love and support of our Queen;
to commend him to God our merciful redeemer and judge;
and to comfort one another in our grief.
We now listen to the Hymn; ‘O God, our help in ages past’
Let us pray;
God of all consolation, Your Son, Jesus Christ was moved to tears
at the grave of Lazarus his friend.
Look with compassion on the Royal family,
our nation and the Commonwealth, in their loss;
give to troubled hearts the light of hope, and strengthen in us the gift of faith, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Merciful Father, Hear our prayers and comfort us,
renew our trust in your Son, Whom you raised from the dead.
Strengthen our faith, that all who have died in the love of Christ
Will share his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Readings
Our first Reading is taken from Revelation (21.1-7)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’ And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See I am making all things new.’
Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’
Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.’ Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Our second reading is taken from John (14.1-6)
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.
Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
This reading offers us the comfort that the fear of death has been removed from us. Jesus tells the disciples that he is going ahead to prepare a place for them, and not to be at all troubled or afraid. By faith in these words, we too, need not be afraid, either for ourselves or for those gone before us. The reading offers the view of that final journey of going home to our Father’s house, a place of peace and reunion, all fear and pain removed, where we shall live together, restored for all eternity.
We now listen the Navy Hymn; ‘Eternal Father’
Prayers
Let us pray;
Heavenly Father, you promised eternal life to those who believe.
Remember for good this your servant Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh,
as we also remember him. Bring all who rest in Christ into the fullness of your kingdom where sins have been forgiven and death is no more.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer
Your mighty power brings joy out of grief and life out of death.
Look in mercy on our Queen, upon all the Royal family, and all those who mourn. Be with them Lord tomorrow as they say farewell to Philip, a much loved member of their family. Give them faith and hope in these times of darkness. Strengthen them with the knowledge of your love.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Lord Jesus, remember us in your kingdom as we pray.
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, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Commendation
Into your hands Lord, Our faithful creator and loving redeemer, we commend your servant Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for he is yours in death as in life. In your great mercy fulfil in him the purpose of your love; Gather him to yourself in gentleness and peace, that, rejoicing in the light and refreshment of your presence, he may enjoy that rest which you have prepared for your faithful servants, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We now listen to Martin playing Elgar’s Nimrod.
May God give us his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy, in this world and the next; and may the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, those whom we love, and remain with us always, Amen.
To close this service please stand as Martin plays the National Anthem.