Western NC ConferenceWestern NC ConferenceThe United Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church

2016 Service of 2016 Service of Remembrance, Celebration Remembrance, Celebration

and Thanksgivingand Thanksgiving

Leader:Leader:We have gathered here to celebrate the lives of those who have served faithfully through the yearsand now share the triumph of Christ.

People:People:We affirm with praise and thanksgiving the goodness of our Lord.

Leader:Leader:Let us rejoice in God’s presence with us, in death as in life,among those who mournas with those who now see Christ face to face.

People:People:In the midst of our grief we sing with joy,for God’s love is over all that has been made.Blessed be God’s glorious name for ever.

Glorious Things ofGlorious Things ofThee Are SpokenThee Are SpokenWords: John Newton, 1779 (Ps. 87:3; Is.33:20-21; Ex. 13:22); Music: Croatian folk song; arr. by Franz Joseph Haydn, 1797) UMH Hymn #731OneLicense.net E-801569. All rights reserved.OneLicense.net E-801569. All rights reserved.

Glorious things of thee are spoken,

Zion, city of our God;God, whose word cannot be

broken, formed thee for his own

abode.

On the Rock of Ages founded,

what can shake thy sure repose?

With salvation’s walls surrounded,

thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

See, the streams of living

waters, springing from eternal love, well supply thy sons and

daughters, and all fear of want remove.

Who can faint while such a

river ever will their thirst assuage?Grace which like the Lord, the giver, never fails from age to age.

Round each habitation hovering,

see the cloud and fire appearfor a glory and a covering, showing that the Lord is near!

Thus deriving from our banner

light by night and shade by day,

safe we feed upon the manna

which God gives us when we pray.

Blest inhabitants of Zion, washed in our Redeemer’s

blood; Jesus, whom our souls

rely on, makes us monarchs, priests

to God.

Us, by his great love, he raises,

rulers over self to reign, and as priests his solemn

praises we for thankful offering bring.

Go live through Go live through Prayer of Illumination, Prayer of Illumination,

Old Testament, Gospel Lesson, Old Testament, Gospel Lesson, Sermon, Anthem, Sermon, Anthem,

Prayer of RemembrancePrayer of Remembrance

In MemoriamIn MemoriamMay 16, 2015-May 15, 2016May 16, 2015-May 15, 2016

Bishop:Bishop:The Lord be with you.The Lord be with you.

People:People:And also with you.And also with you.

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, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Rejoice in Rejoice in God’s SaintsGod’s Saints

UMH 708. Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1977; Music: Attr. to William Croft, 1708 Words © 1973,1980 Hope Publishing Co.Onelicense.Net E-801569. All rights reserved. Onelicense.Net E-801569. All rights reserved.

Rejoice in God's saints, today and all days;a world without saints forgets how to praise.Their faith in acquiring

the habit of prayer,their depth of adoring,

Lord, help us to share.

Some march with events to turn them God's way;

some need to withdraw, the better to pray.

Some carry the gospel through

fire and through flood:our world is their parish;

their purpose is God.

Rejoice in those saints, unpraised and unknown,

who bear someone's cross, or shoulder their own.

They shame our complaining,

our comforts, our cares;what patience in caring,

what courage, is theirs!

Rejoice in God's saints, today and all days;

a world without saints forgets how to praise.

In loving, in living, they prove it is true:

the way of self-giving, Lord, leads us to you.

Please remain standingPlease remain standingwhile the family memberswhile the family members

recess from recess from Stuart Auditorium.Stuart Auditorium.

They will receive friendsThey will receive friends on the lawn. Thank you.on the lawn. Thank you.