Parishes of Elstead, Thursley, Shackleford and Peper Harow

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; Parishes of Elstead, one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, Thursley, Shackleford and Peper Harow he looked back at the footprints in the sand. he noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest Let Light Perpetual and saddest times in his life. Shine Upon Them This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that at the worst times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. How could you leave me when I needed you the most?"

The Lord replied " My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

A service of Remembrance and Hope

Material for this service has been taken from: Kathy Galloway (ed), 4pm Sunday 1st November 2020 The Pattern of Our Days, and The House of Bishops, The Promise of his Glory

12 Introduction

We hold this special service at this time of each year to enable those Sunday 1st November All Saint’s Day who have been bereaved to come and share a time of remembrance and 8 am BCP Communion - St Nicholas, Peper Harow thanksgiving. This very special service provides an occasion to 10 am Communion and Zoom from St James’, Elstead commemorate those who have died, and give thanks for all that they 4.00 pm Service of Remembering and Hope at St James have meant to us over the years. 4.00 pm Service of Remembering and Hope at St Mary’s

During the service we will have the opportunity to light a candle, in Sunday 8th Remembrance Sunday memory of a loved one. 8 am BCP Communion - St James’, Elstead 10.15 am Remembrance Service - St James’ Elstead This service is designed to be quiet and reflective as we remember those 10.15 am Remembrance Service - St Mary’s Shackleford of our families and friends who have died, whilst at the same time 10.15 am Remembrance Service - St Michael’s, Thursley affirming that they and all the departed are not forgotten but are still known to, loved by and cared for by God, and that one day we shall be Sunday 15th Second before Advent reunited with them. From this we are encouraged and live in Hope. 8 am CW Communion, St Nicholas, Peper Harow 9.30 am CW Communion, St Michael and All Angels, Thursley 10 am Morning Service by Zoom 6.00 pm Evening Prayer/Compline Service by Zoom

Sentences from the Bible for your personal reading before the service Contacts: starts: Church Office: [email protected] 01252 705164. (Tuesday and Thursday 9.30 – 12.30) ‘I am the resurrection and the life,’ says the Lord. ‘Those who believe in Revd Hannah Moore: [email protected] me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes 01252 705941 in me will never die.’ John 11.25,26 Associate Minister Revd Delia Orme: [email protected] 01252 702217 I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8.38,39

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is his faithfulness. Lamentations 3.22,23

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5.4

Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.

2 11 Be there at our homing, And give us, we pray, Your love in our hearts, Lord, The Welcome At the eve of the day. Please join in the responses printed in bold type. Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, Whose voice is contentment, Whose presence is balm; We meet in the name of Jesus Christ, who died and was Be there at our sleeping, raised by the glory of God the Father, we welcome you; grace, mercy and peace be with you all. And give us, we pray, Your peace in our hearts, Lord, All And also with you. At the end of the day. Jan Struther. Copyright © Oxford University Press As we meet we hold dear the memories of our loved ones, like treasure before God. Under God’s loving eye, we reflect on those memories Blessing so that they bring comfort and strength. Under God’ healing touch we allow our memories to offer new hope The Lord bless you and keep you, and courage in our journey towards the future. the Lord make his face to shine upon you And we give thanks that we shared the gift of life and be gracious to you. with those that we have loved and lost. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Let us pray together: And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit All: Gracious Spirit, creator of life and carrier of hope, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen. make your presence known among us. Enable us to be brave in remembering, honest in our sorrow, A retiring collection is taken for the life and work of the parish. and open in love and compassion to each other.

Help us to seek not so much an answer to questions, Thank you for attending our Annual Memorial but rather a new way of living. Service. Help us to seek not so much an end to our sorrow, We are available to help in any way we can when a but rather patience to mourn and grieve. parishioner is bereaved, whether they attend church Enable us to remember with joy, or not, and however long ago it was. the lives of those we have loved.

Amen. Please do keep this service booklet and take it home with you. It is yours to keep and you may wish to keep is somewhere safe to read through the words of the service again at some future time.

Sunday Services coming up in the Parishes 10 3 Hymn Bible reading: Ecclesiastes 3; 1-8 The lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want. He makes me down to lie For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under in pastures green; he leadeth me heaven: the quiet waters by. a time to be born, and a time to die; My soul He doth restore again; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; And me to walk doth make a time to kill, and a time to heal; Within the paths of righteousness, a time to break down, and a time to build up; E’en for His own name’s sake. a time to weep, and a time to laugh; Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, a time to mourn, and a time to dance; Yet will I fear no ill; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; For Thou art with me; and Thy rod a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; And staff me comfort still. a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; My table Thou hast furnishèd a time to tear, and a time to sew; In presence of my foes; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; My head Thou dost with oil anoint, a time to love, And my cup overflows. and a time for peace.

Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me; Hymn And in God’s house forever more My dwelling place shall be.

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, THE ACCLAMATION Whose trust, ever child-like, No cares could destroy; Blessed are you, Lord our God, lover of souls; Be there at our waking, you uphold us in life and sustain us in death: And give us, we pray, to you be glory and praise for ever! Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, For the darkness of this age is passing away At the break of the day. as Christ the bright and morning star brings to his saints the light of life. Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, As you give light to those in darkness Whose strong hands were skilled who walk in the shadow of death, At the plane and the lathe; so remember in your kingdom your faithful servants, Be there at our labours, that death may be for them the gate to life And give us, we pray, and to unending fellowship with you; Your strength in our hearts, Lord, where with your saints you live and reign one At the noon of the day. in the perfect union of love now and for ever. Amen. Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, Your hands swift to welcome, Your arms to embrace; 4 9 Dwell not on memories overlong First Reading With others you must share and care again Reach out and comfort those who comfort you Walking with grief Recall the years, but only for a while Nurse not your loneliness; but live again Do not hurry Forget not. Remember with a smile. as you walk with grief; it does not help the journey.

Walk slowly, pausing often: do not hurry Lighting your candle of Hope as you walk with grief. and naming your loved one Be not disturbed Please stay in your seat and a light will come to you. by memories that come unbidden. The lights are dimmed. Swiftly forgive; and let Christ speak to you O God of grace and glory, we remember before you our unspoken words. loved ones…….. Unfinished conversation will be resolved in Him. Be not disturbed. May the light of Christ, rising in glory Banish all darkness from our hearts and minds. Be gentle with the one who walks with grief. Hear our prayer, gracious Lord, If it is you, as we remember those we love but see no longer. be gentle with yourself. Swiftly forgive; Life eternal grant unto them, O Lord walk slowly, Let light perpetual shine upon them. pausing often.

Amen. Take time, be gentle as you walk with grief. (From the Northumbrian Community) We pray together Eternal God, our heavenly Father, who loves us with an everlasting love Reading: Romans 8; 31-35 and 37-39 and can turn the shadow of death into the morning; give us faith and hope, God’s Love in Christ Jesus that we may be lifted above our darkness and sadness into the light and peace of your presence, What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to

8 5 condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate Help us, we pray in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or and trust that loved ones are within the communion of saints enfolded in famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? God’s forgiveness and love. Lord in your mercy: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who All Hear our prayer. loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor Grant us grace Lord to entrust those whom we remember to your never depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from failing love which sustained them in this life. Receive them in the arms the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. of your mercy, and remember them according to the favour you bear to your people. Lord in your mercy: All Hear our prayer. Address We say together

Our Father, who art in heaven, Prayers hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; God of all consolation in your unending love and mercy you turn the on earth as it is in heaven. darkness of death into the dawn of new life. Show compassion to your Give us this day our daily bread. people in their sorrow. Be our refuge and our strength to lift us from the And forgive us our trespasses, darkness of grief to the peace and light of your presence. as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lord in your mercy: And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. All Hear our prayer. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, Help us, O Lord to receive and understand your will, so that we may find for ever and ever. Amen. light in this darkness, faith in our doubts and comfort for one another. Lord in your mercy: All Hear our prayer. “ I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Fill the emptiness in our hearts O Lord, with the presence of your love. Psalm 121:1 Increase our faith and strengthen us in love so that in our pilgrimage of life we may go forward with courage and joy. A Navaho prayer Lord in your mercy: All Hear our prayer. Grieve for me, for I would grieve for you Then brush away the sorrow and the tears Grant us, O Lord, the wisdom and the grace to use aright the time that Life is not over, but begins anew Jesus left to us here on earth. Lead us to repent of our sins and to With courage you must greet the coming years follow you in the steps of your Son, in the way that leads to eternal life. To live forever in the past is wrong Lord in your mercy: It can only cause you misery and pain All Hear our prayer.