THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON |

(Jamaal Symmonett (Son)

A reading from the word of God written in Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.

What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this so that all should stand in awe before him. That which is already has been, that which is to be already is, and God seeks out what has gone by.

At the end of the reading, the reader says: The Word of the Lord.

VIDEO TRIBUTES |

Ms. Laretha Fernander& Dance

Senior Justice Bernard Turner

Mr. Derek Sands

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON | Obriel Symmonett (Niece)

A reading from the Word of God written in 2nd Corinthians 5:1-15 For we know that, if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly dwelling, for surely when we have been clothed in it[a] we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burden because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. The one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a down payment. So, we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive due recompense for actions done in the body, whether good or evil.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore, all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for the one who for their sake died and was raised. At the end of the reading, the readers say: The Word of the Lord.

GRADUAL HYMN | Hark My Soul, it is The Lord | William Cowper (1731-1800)

Hark, my soul, it is the Lord! ’Tis thy Savior, hear His Word; Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee, “Say, poor, sinner, lovest thou Me?”

“I delivered thee when bound, And, when bleeding, healed thy wound; Sought thee wandering, set thee right, Turned thy darkness into light.

“Can a woman’s tender care Cease toward the child she bare? Yes, she may forgetful be, Yet will I remember thee.

“Mine is an unchanging love, Higher than the heights above, Deeper than the depths beneath, Free and faithful, strong as death.

“Thou shalt see My glory soon, When the work of grace is done; Partner of My throne shalt be: Say, poor sinner, lovest thou Me?”

Lord, it is my chief complaint That my love is weak and faint; Yet I love Thee, and adore: O for grace to love Thee more!

THE HOLY GOSPEL | John 14: 1-6 | Read By Clergy

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.

THE SERMON | Rev’d Fr. Roderick Bain

At the conclusion of the sermon, the congregation stands, and is led in the Nicene Creed

Celebrant: Let us with confidence and hope confess the faith, into which we were baptized, as we say,

ALL: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, he Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.