A special service of prayer, remembrance and music to mark the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Welcome to this service of prayer and remembrance for the Shoreline Benefice, to mark the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Because of its strong naval connections, our service is recorded in St Mary's Shotley.

Feel free to light a candle or, if you feel it is safer, use an electric candle.

Let us be quiet for a moment.

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet

shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

In the name of Christ, who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father, grace, mercy and peace be with you.

John 11.25,26

Today we take time to remember before God His Royal Highness Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to renew our trust and confidence in Christ, and to pray that together we may be one in him, through whom we offer our prayers and praises to the Father.

O God, make speed to save us.

O Lord, make haste to help us.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, lover of souls: you uphold us in life and sustain us in death: to you be glory and praise for ever! For the darkness of this age is passing away as Christ the bright and morning star brings to his saints the light of life. As you give light to those in darkness, who walk in the shadow of death, so remember in your kingdom your faithful servant, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, that death may be for him the gate to life and to unending fellowship with you; where with your saints you live and reign, one in the perfect union of love, now and for ever. Amen.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 23 is sung:

The Lord is my shepherd;

therefore can I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

He shall refresh my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You spread a table before me

in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil

and my cup shall be full.

Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Revelation 21.1-7 is read.

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. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And 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;

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.'

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.' Then 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. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

In this is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

HYMN : Lord of all hopefulness

1. Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,

whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy, be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,

your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

1. Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,

whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe, be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,

your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

1. Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace, be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

4. Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,

whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm, be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,

your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

REFLECTION TIME

You may wish to reflect, alone or with others.

• What stands out in your memory about the Duke of Edinburgh?
• What will you always remember about him?
• What things did you learn through his life and death, including about God?

By all means press the pause button, if you want to take some time for your reflections.

PRAYERS

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,

And there shall no torment touch them.

You, Lord, have delivered my soul from death,

My eyes from tears and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the Lord,

In the land of the living.

Merciful Father and Lord of all life, we praise you that we are made in your image and reflect your truth and light. We thank you for the life of His Royal Highness Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for the love he received from you and showed among us. Above all, we rejoice at your gracious promise to all your servants, living and departed, that we shall rise again at the coming of Christ. And we ask that in due time we may share with your servant Philip that clearer vision, promised to us in the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal God, our maker and redeemer, grant us, with your servant Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and all the faithful departed, the sure benefits of your Son's saving passion and glorious resurrection: that, in the last day, when you gather up all things in Christ, we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort: deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn, the members of the Royal Family, this Nation and all the Nations of the Commonwealth, that casting all our care on you, we may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

COMMENDATION

Into your hands, O Father and Lord, we commend your servant, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Enlighten him with your holy grace and suffer him never to be separated from you, O Lord in Trinity, God everlasting.

May God in his mercy grant us, with all the faithful departed, rest and peace.

Amen.

The Nunc Dimitus is sung:

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen :

thy salvation;

Which thou hast prepared :

before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :

and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :

and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

THE BLESSING

May God in his infinite love and mercy bring the whole Church, living and departed, to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom, and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.