The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.
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| Flowers from the Conn family |
For the past ten days funerals have played a large part in my life. I've watched four services of remembrance for Queen Elizabeth II and attended three more events for members of our own congregation. I'm steeped in ritual.
I've noted the commonalities and the differences in the way we remember. At St. Paul's Cathedral in London we saw a service many viewers are familiar with from watching other royal events. The magnificent domed ceiling, the great organ, trumpet fanfare, striking uniforms and a huge choir of men and boys. All the pomp we've come to expect from the British.
At St. Giles, in Edinburgh, we watched a much plainer service, closer to the Presbyterian style of our own congregation, -- hardly surprising since John Knox was once the minister there. There were no flourishes to the music and no frilly collars on the boys, girls, men and women in the choir. Surprisingly to me, the Lord's prayer still included "forgive us our trespasses" rather than "forgive us our debts."
In Wales the architecture of Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff is a mix of ancient and modern. The Cathedral itself is 900 years old but it was heavily bombed during the Blitz. The reconstruction after the war restored what was salvageable but where rebuilding was necessary, the architect followed a modern style.
St. Anne's Cathedral in Belfast began as a small parish church before being reconstructed as a cathedral, in the Romanesque style. A grand building from humble beginnings.
At SPPC our architecture falls under the "all purpose" label. Our sanctuary and hall can be separated by a removable wall, or opened together into one large room. There is no stained glass and only a velvet runner on the communion table. Nothing grand about it.
But what happens inside these buildings is what matters. In these spaces, whether grand or humble, we hear words of comfort from scripture, feel the love and support of others, and commit those we love to the eternal care of Christ Jesus.
In St. Pauls, the reading was from Romans 14: 7-12 assuring us that "those who live in the Lord, will die in the Lord." The Bishop of London preached the sermon, detailing the ways in which the late Queen Elizabeth had lived a life of service as dictated by her faith. The sermon ended with the words of Simeon, : ‘Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word’. It was a moving and uplifting service. You can read the whole sermon here.
As befits a Presbyterian service, at St. Giles, there were several readings from The Word, including Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, Romans 8: 28-40, and John 14: 1-6. The minister also spoke of the late Queen's personal faith, quoting from some of her Christmas broadcasts.
The message from the pulpit at St. Anne's in Belfast included references to Joshua 4 and to Philippians 4: 8-9. The sermon also dwelt at length on "the troubles" and Queen Elizabeth's contribution to peace and reconciliation. The entire sermon is here.
In Wales the scripture was read in Welsh so, until I found a broadcast with sub-titles, I had no idea what the reference was. Turns out it came from 2 Chronicles, where King Solomon asks God for wisdom to be a good monarch. The sermon again paid tribute to the Queen and asked for comfort for King Charles III and all of the Royal Family, and for all who mourn.
In the services I attended for our own congregation, we heard words of comfort read from the scriptures, shared memories, and listened to a message from the pulpit assuring us that God's love for us is "relentless" to quote one of Rev. Irwin's homilies. We said good-bye to our friends "in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection."
Whether our sorrow at this time is national or personal, we turn to the same God, the same scriptural assurances, and we rest on our faith. Grand or humble, public or private, God knows the longings of each heart, and holds each one as precious.
To all who mourn, remember that Christ said, "I go to prepare a place for you." That promise is for all.
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| flowers from the Day Family |
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