Colin John Furmage

The words for Colin’s burial and thanksgiving services are as follows:

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Graveside Service – Reverend Pat Olivent-Hayes

Opening Sentences

We meet together to support each other at this sad time and to commit

Colin to God’s care and keeping.

The word’s of the Psalmist give us the assurance that God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in times of sorrow and trouble.

Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.

Commendation

Loving God,

We comment Colin to your perfect mercy and wisdom.

Committal

Since the earthly life of Colin has come to an end,

we commit his body to its final resting place,

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Placing of roses into the grave.

We place these roses as a token of our love and gratitude for all

that Colin meant to us and we hold him in our hearts.

(A moment of quiet reflection)

Prayers

Gracious God,

We pray for those whom we love but see no longer.

Grant them your peace;

Let light perpetual shine upon them;

And in your loving wisdom and almighty power

Work in them the good purpose of your perfect will;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Final Prayer and Blessing

We now leave this place to continue on life’s journey

whatever that may hold.

The peace of God,

which passes all understanding,

keep your hearts and minds

in the knowledge and love of God.

And now may the blessing of God the Father,

the Son and the Holy Spirit,

remain with you and those who you love,

this day and forever more. Amen.

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Service of thanksgiving for Colin Furmage – 28 Jan 2011 at 14.30

Knapton Methodist Church

Welcome & Opening Prayer: The Reverend Pat Olivent-Hayes

Today we are all here with a mixture of emotions; sadness, pain,

confusion and maybe a multitude of unanswered questions.

We are here to say the one word we don’t want to say.

Goodbye.

Goodbye to Colin a much loved Son, Brother and friend.

We are also here to celebrate Colin’s life – all he achieved and what he meant to people. The fact that you are here means that he has touched your life in some way.

Through this service we will share music, readings and times for quiet reflection.

The Rev Leo Osborne and I will lead this service as our own tribute to Colin.

Words from Holy Scripture

In Psalm 46 it says – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

As we meet together, the Lord is here his presence is with us.

The hymn we are going to sing is a hymn of celebration and praise, of God. It has been chosen because of the words so please take this opportunity to think about them as we sing it together.

Hymn: ‘Love Divine All Loves Excelling’ (tune: Blaenwern)

Prayer :

Gracious God you are our comforter,

you are our refuge and strength,

a helper close at hand in times of trouble.

This afternoon help us so to hear your word

that our fear may be dispelled,

our loneliness eased

and our hope reawakened.

May your Holy Spirit lift us above our sorrow,

to the peace and light of your constant love,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Tributes: Introduced by The Reverend Leo Osborn

Tribute: David Furmage

Images of Colin’s Life - accompanied with ‘Sheep May Safely Graze’ from Colin’s favourite composer Johann Sebastian Bach   Organist: Alan Morris

Tribute: John Furmage

Tribute: Francis Sanders

Tribute: Sue Bayliss

Written Tributes: Introduced by The Reverend Leo Osborn - accompanied by ‘Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring’

Bible Reading: John 14: verses 1-6, 27 - Read by John Furmage

Address: the Reverend Leo Osborn

Prayers: The Reverend Pat Olivent-Hayes

Let us pray.

Creator God

We thank you that you have given to each of us an enquiring mind

which enables us to make our own decisions.

As we think now about the gift of life we acknowledge we

are complex human beings.

May our sight and our minds enable us to appreciate everything of beauty,

inspiration and interest that we see each day.

May we be truly grateful for the great adventure of life in all its diversity and richness.

May we appreciate that there is always more to learn,

more to explore,

more to experience.

May our minds be ever open to that special truth which

gives us the ability to look at the world with enquiring eyes,

to trust in the future

and to celebrate the present.

Gracious God,

Give us faith in life

And faith in you,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Now eternal God,

We thank you that in your wisdom and grace

You have given us joy through the lives of your departed people.

Today we thank you for Colin

And for our memories of him.

We thank you that for Colin the tribulations

Of this world are past.

Almighty God,

Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort,

Deal graciously with those who mourn,

Be especially close to John, David, Sarah, James and Luke.

That they may cast every care on you

And know the consolation of your love;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We are now going to sing our final Hymn.

Many are the stories of this beautiful anthem giving people strength and hope in time of adversity. In the trenches of Flanders during World War I, it was sung so melodiously by the Welch soldiers that the German soldiers also took it up. Miners sang it on their way to the mines.

Today it is often sung spontaneously at Welsh sporting events.

We stand to sing this hymn of triumph and hope.

Hymn:  ‘Guide Me O Though Great Jehovah’ (tune: Cwm Rhondda)

Blessing

The Blessing of God the Father

God the Son

And God the Holy Spirit

Be with you, those who you love

and those who love you

Now and always.

Amen

Knapton Methodist Church