You Are A New Creation
Worship
On Eagles' Wings
Thematic Prayer, Meditation, And Services Of The Word For Christian Burial
(Family and friends are called to silence for the opening of the prayer service.)
Opening Invocation
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:20--22 KJV).
Today, we celebrate the new life of ____________ who has overcome death through Christ and lives with God in his heavenly kingdom. We thank and praise God the Father for giving us his Son, Jesus Christ who gave his life for us and became the first fruits of them who slept.
Responsive Reading from Isaiah 42:5--10
Reader: Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:
Response: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,
Reader: To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Response: I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.
Reader: See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Response: Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth!
Prayer
Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your promise of life with you in Heaven. You gave us your Son, a willing sacrifice, so that we may see the former life pass away and new things spring forth for us as we pass from this world to the next. May we ever sing your praises in thanksgiving for the unspeakable gift, your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Old Testament Responsive Reading
Leader: In the beginning God planned for our salvation and provided us with steadfast love. David recalled God's promise in Psalm 119:
Reader: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
Response: Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.
Reader: Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Response: Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
Leader: I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Response: Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.
Leader: Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Response: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
New Testament Readings
Reader: The Bible tells us of the hope we have in God's plan for salvation. God knows we struggle with our sinful nature. We read in Ephesians 4:21--24:
For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Yet as human beings, we sometimes fail to follow God's teachings, and we experience sin and suffering. We have God's promise, though, if we repent of our wrongdoings, a new creation is ours but we must learn to wait in patience. Romans 8:20--28 says:
For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Reader: We know the Holy Spirit hears our sorrows and intercedes on our behalf, and God who loves us gives us comfort. We have experienced God's love in our lives in many ways, but we are also reminded that God's love is reflected by us when we show love to others. It is in the reflection of our love that we live in God and that we know God lives in us. In 1 John 4:11--19 we read:
Since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.
Meditation and Prayer
Leader: These words calm our fears and offer us comfort and hope. Let us have a moment of silence to contemplate the reassurance we receive through our Lord's love perfected in us. (Silence) Let us pray: Heavenly Father, you have given us life on earth and eternal life because you love us. May we return that love to you and to others who touch our lives. We give you thanks and praise. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Reading from Saint Paul's Letters to the Romans
Reader: We are assured that a new creation awaits us. Yet, as we wait in patience, we see in this world the workings of sin and the fear of death. In Romans, the Apostle Paul answers the question, "How can we who died to sin go on living in it?" He reminds us of God's promise and assures us that all who believe in Christ will win the victory over death and will have joy in the new life that awaits us.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God (Romans 6:3--10).
Meditation
Leader: Truly, we have been freed from sin and have received eternal life through Christ. Yet as we heard, we do not sit back and wait for the great day to come, but we live our lives to the glory of God as we wait. We know that indeed ___________ did live a life to God. In the next silent moments, you are asked to consider ways in which ____________ touched your life in actions of love, comfort, joy, and friendship. (Silence) We ask if there are any thoughts or memories that you would like to share with us today, special ways in which _____________ touched your life.
A Time for Sharing (The leader will allow time for recollections.)
Comfort for the Living:
Reader: In Revelation we are assured,
See I am making all things new. Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true. 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 (Revelation 21:5--6).
We know a new life awaits us all as the Bible assures us:
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation, everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17--18).
Leader: We praise you, Lord, for the reconciliation we received through Jesus Christ. Like David of old, we, too, sing your praise.
Responsive Reading from Psalm 96:1--4, 13
Reader: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Response: Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
Reader: Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
Response: For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.
Reader: For he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
Response: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Leader: Let us pray the prayer our Lord taught us to pray:
All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Leader: God the Father, Creator of all, we thank you for the promise of a new creation and the gift of life eternal. We thank you, Lord, for the comfort and assurance we receive through your Word, confident that __________ lives today with you in heaven. Be with those who mourn, comforting them with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Guide and protect us all until the day comes when we, too, join our loved ones to live with you forever in your heavenly kingdom. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
(The service is concluded.)
Service Program For Distribution
You Are A New Creation
(The participants will read the portions of the service marked as Response and All.)
Opening Invocation
Responsive Reading from Isaiah 42:5--10
Reader: Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:
Response: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,
Reader: To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Response: I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.
Reader: See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Response: Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth!
Prayer
Old Testament Responsive Reading from Psalm 119
Reader: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
Response: Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.
Reader: Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Response: Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
Leader: I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Response: Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.
Leader: Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Response: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
New Testament Readings
Meditation and Prayer
Reading from Saint Paul's Letters to the Romans
Meditation
A Time for Sharing
Comfort for the Living
Responsive Reading from Psalm 96:1--4, 13
Reader: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Response: Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
Reader: Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
Response: For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.
Reader: For he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
Response: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
The Lord's Prayer
All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Opening Invocation
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:20--22 KJV).
Today, we celebrate the new life of ____________ who has overcome death through Christ and lives with God in his heavenly kingdom. We thank and praise God the Father for giving us his Son, Jesus Christ who gave his life for us and became the first fruits of them who slept.
Responsive Reading from Isaiah 42:5--10
Reader: Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:
Response: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,
Reader: To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Response: I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.
Reader: See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Response: Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth!
Prayer
Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your promise of life with you in Heaven. You gave us your Son, a willing sacrifice, so that we may see the former life pass away and new things spring forth for us as we pass from this world to the next. May we ever sing your praises in thanksgiving for the unspeakable gift, your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Old Testament Responsive Reading
Leader: In the beginning God planned for our salvation and provided us with steadfast love. David recalled God's promise in Psalm 119:
Reader: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
Response: Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.
Reader: Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Response: Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
Leader: I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Response: Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.
Leader: Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Response: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
New Testament Readings
Reader: The Bible tells us of the hope we have in God's plan for salvation. God knows we struggle with our sinful nature. We read in Ephesians 4:21--24:
For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Yet as human beings, we sometimes fail to follow God's teachings, and we experience sin and suffering. We have God's promise, though, if we repent of our wrongdoings, a new creation is ours but we must learn to wait in patience. Romans 8:20--28 says:
For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Reader: We know the Holy Spirit hears our sorrows and intercedes on our behalf, and God who loves us gives us comfort. We have experienced God's love in our lives in many ways, but we are also reminded that God's love is reflected by us when we show love to others. It is in the reflection of our love that we live in God and that we know God lives in us. In 1 John 4:11--19 we read:
Since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.
Meditation and Prayer
Leader: These words calm our fears and offer us comfort and hope. Let us have a moment of silence to contemplate the reassurance we receive through our Lord's love perfected in us. (Silence) Let us pray: Heavenly Father, you have given us life on earth and eternal life because you love us. May we return that love to you and to others who touch our lives. We give you thanks and praise. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Reading from Saint Paul's Letters to the Romans
Reader: We are assured that a new creation awaits us. Yet, as we wait in patience, we see in this world the workings of sin and the fear of death. In Romans, the Apostle Paul answers the question, "How can we who died to sin go on living in it?" He reminds us of God's promise and assures us that all who believe in Christ will win the victory over death and will have joy in the new life that awaits us.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God (Romans 6:3--10).
Meditation
Leader: Truly, we have been freed from sin and have received eternal life through Christ. Yet as we heard, we do not sit back and wait for the great day to come, but we live our lives to the glory of God as we wait. We know that indeed ___________ did live a life to God. In the next silent moments, you are asked to consider ways in which ____________ touched your life in actions of love, comfort, joy, and friendship. (Silence) We ask if there are any thoughts or memories that you would like to share with us today, special ways in which _____________ touched your life.
A Time for Sharing (The leader will allow time for recollections.)
Comfort for the Living:
Reader: In Revelation we are assured,
See I am making all things new. Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true. 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 (Revelation 21:5--6).
We know a new life awaits us all as the Bible assures us:
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation, everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17--18).
Leader: We praise you, Lord, for the reconciliation we received through Jesus Christ. Like David of old, we, too, sing your praise.
Responsive Reading from Psalm 96:1--4, 13
Reader: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Response: Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
Reader: Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
Response: For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.
Reader: For he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
Response: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Leader: Let us pray the prayer our Lord taught us to pray:
All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Leader: God the Father, Creator of all, we thank you for the promise of a new creation and the gift of life eternal. We thank you, Lord, for the comfort and assurance we receive through your Word, confident that __________ lives today with you in heaven. Be with those who mourn, comforting them with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Guide and protect us all until the day comes when we, too, join our loved ones to live with you forever in your heavenly kingdom. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
(The service is concluded.)
Service Program For Distribution
You Are A New Creation
(The participants will read the portions of the service marked as Response and All.)
Opening Invocation
Responsive Reading from Isaiah 42:5--10
Reader: Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:
Response: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,
Reader: To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Response: I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.
Reader: See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Response: Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth!
Prayer
Old Testament Responsive Reading from Psalm 119
Reader: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
Response: Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.
Reader: Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Response: Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
Leader: I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Response: Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.
Leader: Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Response: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.
New Testament Readings
Meditation and Prayer
Reading from Saint Paul's Letters to the Romans
Meditation
A Time for Sharing
Comfort for the Living
Responsive Reading from Psalm 96:1--4, 13
Reader: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Response: Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
Reader: Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
Response: For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.
Reader: For he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
Response: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
The Lord's Prayer
All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
