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A PRAYER
“Turn Thou the key upon our thoughts, dear LORD
And let us sleep;
Grant us our portion of forgetfulness
Silent and deep.
Lay Thou Thy quiet hand upon our eyes
To clear their sight;
Shut out the shining of the moon and stars
And candlelight.
Keep back the phantoms and the visions sad
The shades of gray;
The Fancies that so haunt the little hours
Before the day.
Quiet the time worn questions that are all
Unanswered yet;
Take from the spent and troubled souls of us
Their vain regret.
And lead us far into Thy silent land
That we may go;
Like children out across the field of dreams
Where poppies blow.
So all Thy saints and all Thy sinners too
Wilt Thou not keep;
Since not alone unto Thy well-beloved
Thou givest sleep.”
WORDS FOR THE LOSS OF A CHILD
I’ll lend you, for a little time, a child of mine,” he said,
For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
You’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there, I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over, in search for teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes, I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call, to take him back again?
I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear Lord, thy will be done!
For all the joys thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we’ll run.”
FOR FRIENDS
I pray for my friends, for my very dear friends
Whose memory I revere
I ask you Lord to be kind to them now
Who were always kind to me here
Please grant them Lord, a place of light
A place of peace and rest
A place where saints ring out their praise
A place among the blessed
Where sorrows sweeten into joy
Where tears are wiped away
Where everything becomes as new
For this, dear Lord, I pray
And is it too much, Lord, to ask
That I may join them there
That I, too, may rejoice with you
And in your glory share?
ETERNAL REST
Eternal rest grant unto them
Whose earthly lives are past
Perpetual light shine on them
May they rest in peace at last
Eternal life grant unto them
Whose laughter now I’ve lost
Whose presence and whose smiles I miss
But never mind the cost
Eternal joy grant unto them
Whose sufferings now are through
Their pain and illness finally gone
Their minds and hearts renew
Eternal peace grant unto them
My friends and foes together
Forgive them all their trespasses
May they rest in peace for ever
WORDS READ AT JOHN HIRCOMBE’S FUNERAL
Sunset gilded o’er the meadows
In the west were gleams of gold
As the shepherd in the shadows
Drew his sheep within the fold
But his heart with pain was crossed
For one little lamb was lost
Jesus loves you deeply, dearly
Come, to his arms
In the heart of God, our father
With divine compassion burns
There is joy amongst the angels
When the wanderer returns
Saying all the journey through
Little lamb, I die for you
Jesus loves you deeply, dearly
Come, to his arms
THY WILL BE DONE
You left quietly without a fuss
You always had a smile to share
A laugh, a joke
A time to care
A wonderful nature
Warm and true
These are the memories
I have of you
A beautiful life
Came to an end
You died as you lived
Everyone’s friend
You gave me year’s of happiness
Then sorrow came with tears
You left me lovely memories
I will treasure through the years
NICE WORDS
Just a prayer from
The husband who loved you
Just a memory, fond and true
In my heart you will liver for ever
Because I thought the world of you
THE PARTING GLASS
Oh all the time that e’er I spent
I spent it in good company
And any harm that e’er I’ve done
I trust it was to none but me
May those I’ve love through all the years
Have memories now they’ll e’er recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Goodnight, and joy be with you all
Oh all the comrades that e’er I had
Are sorry for my going away
And all the loved ones that e’er I had
Would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should leave and you shout not
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Goodnight, and joy be with you all
Of all good times that e’er we shared
I leave to you fond memory
And for all the friendships that e’er we had
I ask you to remember me
And when you sit and stories tell
I’ll be with you and help recall
So fill to me the parting glass
God Bless, and joy be with you all
"Kiss of the sun for pardon.
Song of the birds for mirth.
You're closer to God's heart in a garden
Than any place else on earth."
Dorothy Frances Gurney
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