A service of thanksgiving for Bori Benko (1997 – 2021)
Tuesday 14 June 2022 17.00
Music from the Ecumenical Taizé community in France will be played as we arrive.
Welcome, Introduction and Prayer The Reverend Canon Mandy Coutts We stand.
Hymn We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star: O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light. Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him again, king for ever, ceasing never over us all to reign: O star of wonder … Frankincense to offer have I, incense owns a deity nigh; prayer and praising, all men raising, worship him, God most high: O star of wonder … Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb: O star of wonder … Glorious now behold him arise, king and God and sacrifice. Heaven sings: ‘Alleluia’; ‘Alleluia,’ the earth replies: O star of wonder … Words: John Henry Hopkins (1820-1891) Tune: THREE KINGS OF ORIENT, CP 91
We sit.
A Tribute by Canterbury Nursery School Jackie Bracewell and Rachel Sowerby (Co-Headteachers)
Bradford Cathedral Choir Octet O for a closer walk with God, a calm and heavenly frame; a light to shine upon the road that leads me to the Lamb. Return, O holy Dove, return, sweet messenger of rest: I hate the sins that made thee mourn, and drove thee from my breast. So shall my walk be close with God, calm and serene my frame; so purer light shall mark the road that leads me to the Lamb. Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
A Tribute by Bradford College Debbie Rolls, Lecturer, McMillan School of Education
Bible Reading
A selection of verses from Romans 8 read by Kuttimani Tamilmani
28
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 30And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 35
37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor 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. 38
A Reflection The Reverend Canon Teresa Wynne, Team Rector, Cheshunt, Diocese of St Albans
We stand.
Hymn I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save. I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain, I have wept for love of them, they turn away. I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord … I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame, I will set a feast for them, my hand will save. Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied, I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord … Words: Daniel Schutte (b. 1947) Tune: HERE I AM, LORD, CP 470
We sit.
Bible Reading
Revelation 21.1-7 read by Katharine Coutts
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. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And 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; 4 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.’ 5
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.’ 6Then 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. 7Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.’
A Reflection The Reverend Canon Mandy Coutts
Prayers and Commendation The Reverend Canon Paul Maybury
We stand.
Hymn Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice; tender to me the promise of his word; in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name! Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done; his mercy sure, from age to age the same; his holy name, the Lord, the mighty one. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might! Powers and dominions lay their glory by. Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight, the hungry fed, the humble lifted high. Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word! Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord to children’s children and for evermore! Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith Tune: WOODLANDS, CP 362
Blessing We sit. Please share in refreshments served at the back where there is also a display of pictures and the music of Adele will be played.