A Service of
Celebration and Thanksgiving with
Prayer and Anointing for
Elizabeth Annie Otopabea Bruce Nee Obeng
80 gracious years Thursday, October 21, 2010
To my children “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17, 18
80 gracious years
Elizabeth Annie Otopabea Bruce
The Gathering Processional Hymn How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.
Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend, O Prophet, Priest and King, My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring.
It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast; ’Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary, rest.
Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought; But when I see Thee as Thou art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought.
Dear Name, the Rock on which I build, My Shield and Hiding Place, My never failing treasury, filled With boundless stores of grace!
Till then I would Thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath, And may the music of Thy Name Refresh my soul in death!
Introduction / Welcome
Hectie, Frempoma
Introit and Collects
Rev Fr Patrick Okaijah-Bortier
In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear. And safe in such confiding, for nothing changes here. The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid, But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed? Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back. My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack. His wisdom ever waking, His sight is never dim. He knows the way He’s taking, and I will walk with Him Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen. Bright skies will soon be over me, where darkest clouds have been. My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free. My Saviour has my treasure, and He will walk with me.
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80 gracious years
Elizabeth Annie Otopabea Bruce
Liturgy of the Word THE EPISTLE: Ephesians 3:14 – End SONG: Amazing Love
Kofi-Ablah, Ayi-Ashong, Cofie-Ankonu
PSALM : 103 I was made a Christian, When my name was given, One of God’s dear children, And an heir of heaven, In the name of Christian I will glory now Ever more remember My baptismal vow
Safo-Ampomah
Naa Anyemah, Naa Shika I must, like a Christian Shun all evil ways Keep the faith of Jesus Serve Him all my days Call to be a Christian I will praise the Lord Seek for His assistance So to keep my word.
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All a Christian’s blessings I will claim for mine Holy work and worship Fellowship divine Father, Son, and Spirit Give me grace that I Still may live a Christian And a Christian die.
80 gracious years
Elizabeth Annie Otopabea Bruce
The Recollections Birth to School years
Kofi-Ablah
Work and Marriage
Ayi-Ashong
Motherhood and Service
Nii Ankonu
Through all the changing scenes of life In trouble and in joy, The praise of my God shall still My heart and tongue employ.
O make my trial of His love, Experience will decide, How blessed are they, and only they, Who in His truth confide.
O magnify the LORD with me With me exalt His name; When in distress to Him I call’d, He to my rescue came.
Fear Him, ye saints and you will then have nothing else to fear; Make you His service your delight, Your wants shall be His care.
The Hosts of GOD encamp around the dwellings of the just; Deliverance He affords to all Who on His succour trust.
To FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST, The GOD whom we adore, Be glory as it was is now, And shall be evermore. 4
80 gracious years
Elizabeth Annie Otopabea Bruce
Liturgy of the Sacrament GOSPEL : John 15: 9 – 17
Rev Fr Patrick Okaijah-Bortier
To be sung in Ga
HYMN; Love Divine, all love excelling Sermon
Canon Maj. (Rtd) Ebenezer Laryea
Intercession Great Entrance
Rev Fr Thomas Quarcoopome Frempoma, Shika, Anyemah, Shika
The Eucharist
Rev Fr Patrick Okaijah-Bortier
O MY Saviour, lifted From the earth for me, Draw me, in Thy mercy Nearer unto Thee.
Thou my everlasting portion More than friend or life to me All along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, let me walk with Thee
Lift my earthbound longings, Fix them, LORD above; Draw me with the magnet Of Thy mighty love.
Chorus
LORD, Thine arms are stretching Ever far and wide, To enfold Thy children To Thy loving side.
Not for ease or worldly pleasure Not for fame my prayer shall be, Gladly will I toil and suffer Only let me walk with Thee
And I come, O JESUS Dare I turn away? No! Thy love hath conquered And I come today;
Lead me through the vale of shadows Bear me o’er life’s fitful sea Then the gate of life eternal May I enter, LORD with Thee.
Bringing all my burdens, Sorrow, sin and care, At Thy feet I lay them, And I leave them there.
Close to Thee, close to Thee Close to Thee, close to Thee All along my pilgrim journey Saviour let me walk with thee
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80 gracious years
Elizabeth Annie Otopabea Bruce
The Citations Church, Mother’s Union, Siblings, Children and Grandchildren Dear Grandma, Happy 80th! Please take care to enjoy this day, and proud to have reached such an age! I admire the strength and courage that you have, and this day shows it! Continue to stay strong and I hope to see you shortly in Accra! Once again, Happy Birthday! Much love, Yaw Ofei-Darko
Shall we not love the mother dear Whom Jesus love so well? And to his glory year by year Thy joy and honour tell?
Jesus keep me near the cross There a precious fountain Free to all a healing stream Flows from Calvary’s mountain
And thee He chose from whom to take True flesh his flesh to be In it to suffer for our sake By it to make us free
In the cross, in the cross Be my glory ever Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.
Joy to be mother of the Lord, And thine the truer bliss. In every thought and deed and word To be for ever his
Near the cross, a trembling soul Love and mercy found me There the bright and morning star Shed its beam around me.
And as he loves thee mother dear, We too will love thee well. And to his glory year by year, Thy joy and honour tell.
Near the cross, O Lamb of God Bring its sins before me Help me walk from day to day With its shadow o’er me
Jesu, the virgin’s Holy son, We praise thee and adore, Who art with God the Father One, And spirit evermore.
Near the cross, I’ll watch and wait Hoping, trusting ever Till I reach the golden strand Just beyond the river.
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80 gracious years
Elizabeth Annie Otopabea Bruce
The Blessing Blessing and Anointing
Rt Rev. J Dadson Recessional hymn
Lead us, Heavenly FATHER, lead us O’er the worlds tempestuous sea: Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, For we have no help but thee: Yet possessing every blessing, If our GOD our FATHER be.
SAVIOUR, breathe forgiveness over us, All our weakness thou dost know: Thou didst tread this earth before us, Thou didst feel its keenest woe: Lone and dreary, faint and weary,
SPIRIT of our GOD, descending Fill our hearts with heavenly joy, Love with every passion blending, Pleasure that can never cloy: Thus provided, pardoned, guided,
Vote of thanks
Oscar 7
80 gracious years
To a mother No I am never far from you, I bear you,
Inwardly as you bore me – as intimately too And as my flesh is of your own
And our early nests, woven one So you are still my own
And everything about you, home,
The features, eyes, the hands, your entire form Are the past, present and to come, The familiarity, the ease
Of my living, and my peace. by Sister Mary Agnes
Order of Poor Clares
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