Greeting:
Welcome to each of you as we gather this morning to celebrate with joy the life
of a good man and to release his body to be cremated. Those of us left behind
acknowledge the pain of loss and separation and it is difficult. May you be
comforted knowing that we are all part of God’s great creation and as such we,
like all that exists, began as stardust. We believe that we are spiritual
beings cradled in our human bodies that must return to the earth. Christians believe that in death life does not end but that we fall into the
embrace of our loving God who raised Jesus from the dead, and will raise us into
a new life in glory.
So
too with Ford, yet we also believe that his spirit soars and he still walks
with us. Just as the body returns to its origin so too does Ford’s spirit
returns home to his Loving God.
Opening
Prayer: Let us pray, Gracious and Loving God, we gather to remember your son, Ford.
We remember the many ways that Ford revealed you to us. We remember the
generosity of his loving and through his love we felt your generous Spirit. We
remember the ways that Ford nurtured, encouraged, affirmed and supported us,
and through him we felt your nurturing Spirit. We remember Ford’s extraordinary
human spirit and his direct connection to you. We have come to know you,
Generous Spirit, through your son, Ford. And for this we give you thanks. Amen.
First
Reading: (from the book “Where Am I Now?” Michael Morwood, 2011, p 109 – 111)
We
believe we exist in God, but in a God beyond our images and descriptions. God
beyond the many names we use: Breath of Life, Creator, Source, and Sustainer of
everything that exists. Everywhere we look, this energizing presence comes to
visible expression. We believe that each of us gives this presence and source a
unique way of doing so.
Everywhere
we look, we can observe the perpetual rhythm of new life, followed by death,
followed by new life. So we do not believe that death is the final end of
anything, nor is it for us the start of a journey to somewhere else. Rather, it
is a transformation in the continuation of the ebb and flow of existence in
ways we do not understand.
Ford’s
death speaks to us of the wonder of being human in the universe so vast and so
magnificent and of our existence within a mystery and a power that we cannot
put into words. In a very real sense, this vast and magnificent universe of
ours came alive and became aware in Ford. He gave God a way of coming to
expression, here in our lives, here in a way that reached out and touched us,
as a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, and a loyal friend. He lived
and loved God. God lived in him and loved in him. And in death, Ford lives on
in God and in us.
Second
Reading: (from the book “Where Am I Now?” Michael Morwood, 2011, p. 114-115)
Do
you know that every atom
In
my body, here before you, was manufactured in a massive explosion
In
a start billions years ago?
Do
you believe, as I do,
In
the Spirit of life at work for the billions of years
That
finally brought human form to those atoms?
In
me the Spirit of Life and Love
Came
to visible expression in human form
When
I loved you,
When
I called you my friends,
When
I laughed
When
I cried,
When
I did whatever you loved about me.
Where
am I now?
I
continue to dance
With
the Spirit of Life and Love
In
ways beyond words and images.
But
I am with you, and always will be
as
this Spirit continues to move in your lives.
I
am with you
And
always will be,
In
the Spirit of Life and Love.
Gospel
Reading: (1 John 4: 11-12, 17)
Dear
friends. Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has
ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and God’s love is
made complete in us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God
in them. This is how love is mad complete among us.
Reflection:
Sharing of Stories of Ford
Psalm
23
Oh
my Beloved, you are my Shepherd,
I
shall not want;
You
bring me to green pastures for rest.
And
lead me beside restful waters
Renewing
my spirit;
You
restore my soul.
You
lead me in the path of goodness
To
follow Love’s way.
Even
though I walk through the
Valley
of the shadow and of death,
I
am not afraid;
For
you are ever with me;
Your
rod and you staff
They
guide me.
They
give me strength and comfort.
You
prepare a table for me
In
the presence of all my fears;
You
bless me with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely
goodness and mercy will follow
All
the days of my life;
And
I shall dwell in the heart of the Beloved forever.
Amen
(Translation
by Nan Merrill, “Praying the Psalms”)
Let
us pray the Prayer of Jesus: Our Father
and Mother……..
Closing
Prayer: Prayer of Thanksgiving
Gentle
Spirit, as we release Ford’s body for cremation, we give thanks for his human
body who laughed and cried, loved and saw the wonder of creation in family,
children and grandchildren. We give thanks for the many ways Ford’s life
touched ours. We give thanks for the generosity of his loving and his faithfulness.
We give thanks for his dedication to and healing through AA….and for Charlie.
We give thanks for the courage through great suffering and how he faced death.
We give thanks for Charlene’s love and faithfulness that anchored him as he
faced struggles and medical challenges. We give thanks for his supportive
family and for children and little ones who gave him delight and purpose. We
especially give thanks for Ford’s extraordinary human spirit. Ford is now at
peace with you, his Loving God, and Ford remains with us and in our hearts
always. Amen.
Ford,
go with and live on in peace with your God. To each of us here, go now in
peace, knowing that Ford forever remains part of our lives and lives on in our
beings. Amen.
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