SERVICE FOLDER VERSES or your convenience, we are pleased to F provide this selection of poems, scriptures and other writings that you may find suitable for inclusion in a service folder. Please advise your funeral director if you would like to use one of those found here or if you have another passage you prefer. Should you require assistance, your funeral director may be able to suggest certain verses that may be particularly suitable for your needs. SERVICE FOLDER VERSES 1) THE ROSE BEYOND THE WALL 3) Grant me the quietness to see (from the writings of A.L. Frank) in the things of the world, however small or large, Near shady wall a rose once grew, however violent or calm, Budded and blossomed in God’s free light, the grace and blessedness Watered and fed by morning dew, of Your design. Shedding its sweetness day and night. As it grew and blossomed fair and tall, 4) “They shall not grow old, Slowly rising to loftier height, as we that are left grow old. It came to a crevice in the wall Age shall not weary them, Through which there shone a beam of light. nor the years condemn, At the going down of the sun, Onward it crept with added strength and in the morning. With never a thought of fear of pride, We will remember them.” It followed the light through the crevice’s length And unfolded itself on the other side. Lord God of hosts, be with us yet, The light, the dew, the broadening view Lest we forget, lest we forget. Were found the same as they were before, And it lost itself in beauties new, 5) The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and Breathing its fragrance more and more. there shall no torment touch them. Shall claim of death cause us to grieve In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die; and their And make our courage faint and fall? departure is taken for misery. Nay! Let us faith and hope receive- And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they The rose still grows beyond the wall, are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is Scattering fragrance far and wide their hope full of immortality. Just as it did in days of yore, And having been a little chastened, they shall be greatly Just as it did on the other side, rewarded: for God proved them, and Just as it will for evermore. found them worthy for Himself. 2) ALL IS WELL 6) Christ’s presence is here among us. Death is nothing at all He reaches down His consoling hand I have only slipped away into the next room He is here beside us. But, most of all, I am I and you are you He wants us to know that He has not Whatever we are to each other taken our loved one. He has given back the That we still are fullness of life promised...and one day, Call me by my old familiar name He will give our loved one back to us. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used Dying, you destroyed our death, Put no difference into your tone Rising, you restored our life. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow 7) A LITTLE STEP AWAY Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes To close the eye, to fall asleep, we enjoyed together To draw a laboured breath, Play, smile, think of me, pray for me To find release from daily cares Let my name be ever the household word In what we know as death... that it always was Is this the crowning of a life, Let it be spoken without effect The aim or end thereof? Without the trace of a shadow on it The totaled sum of consciousness, Life means all that it ever meant The ripened fruit of love? It is the same as it ever was It cannot be, for works of God There is absolutely unbroken continuity Are wrought for nobler ends, Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? And those away continue on I am but waiting for you In hearts of kind and friends. For an interval It cannot be, for they live on Somewhere very near A little step away. Just around the corner The soul, the everlasting life, All is well Has found a better day... O.J. Hanson SERVICE FOLDER VERSES 8) CROSSING THE BAR 11) FOOTPRINTS Sunset and evening star, One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was And one clear call for me! walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the And may there be no moaning of the bar sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, When I put out to sea. he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one But such a tide as moving seems asleep, belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. Too full for sound or foam, When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he When that which drew from out looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed the boundless deep that many times along the path of his life there was only Turns again home. one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened Twilight and evening bell, at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. And after that the dark! This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord And may there be no sadness of farewell about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow When I embark. you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed For though from out our bourne that during the most troublesome times in my life, of time and place there is only one set of footprints, I don’t understand The flood may bear me far, why when I needed you most you would leave me.” I hope to see my pilot face to face The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I When I have crossed the bar... love you and I would never leave you. During your Alfred Tennyson times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” 9) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. 12) O gentlest Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and Sacrament, ever consumed with burning a time to pluck up that which is planted; love for the poor captive souls. Have mercy A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, on the soul of Thy departed servant. and a time to build up; Be not severe in Thy judgement but let some drops A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring and a time to dance; flames, and do Thou O merciful Saviour send A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones Thy angels to conduct Thy departed servant to a together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen. embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a May the souls of the faithful departed, through time to cast away; the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. A time to rend and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, 13) Lord, welcome into your presence those whom you and a time to speak; have called from this life. Release them from all their A time to love, and a time to hate; a sins, Bless them with eternal refreshment, light and time of war, and a time of peace. peace. Raise them up to live for ever with all your saints ECCLESIASTES 3: 1-8 in glory of the resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 10) THE 23RD PSALM HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. LORD, LET THEM REST FROM He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; THEIR LABOURS FOR THEIR GOOD he leadeth me beside still waters. DEEDS GO WITH THEM. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 14) O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of faithful, grant to the soul of Thy servant departed, death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod the remission of all sins, that, through pious and thy staff they comfort me. supplications the pardon may be obtained which Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of has been always desired. Who livest and reignest mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup with God the Father in the unity of Holy Ghost. runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow World without end. me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell Amen. in the house of the Lord for ever. SERVICE FOLDER VERSES 15) “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe 19) With the spirits of the righteous made perfect, also in me.