AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE MEMORIAL SERVICE

GATHERING

PROCESSIONAL HYMN OF PRAISE * Suggested from UMH:

949 Hymns listed under Processionals	711 For All the Saints
653 Christ the Victorious	712 I Sing a Song of the Saints of God
709 Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above	708 Rejoice in God's Saints
See also: Beloved, Now We Are the Saints of God ( Hymn 219 )	90 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones

GREETING *

We have gathered here to celebrate the lives of those
who have served faithfully through the years
and now share the triumph of Christ.

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

Let us rejoice in God's presence with us, in death as in life,
among those who mourn
as with those who now see Christ face to face.

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.

OPENING PRAYER*

Tender and compassionate God,
we seek to know you through the hearing of your Word
and pray that we may go beyond hearing to obeying,
as shown by the faithful lives of your departed servants
whom we honor today.
We know that they are precious in your eyes,
worthy of your special attention and ours,
for they served well in the task that you gave them.
Grant that we may feel your presence
as did the followers who knew Jesus in the breaking of the bread,
and may we experience the fire within
that sent them out to share good news. Amen.

ANTHEM OR HYMN

See UMH 652–56 and 700–12, other hymns listed under Funerals and Memorial Services (UMH), and the suggestions.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION*

SCRIPTURE LESSON(S) Suggested lessons:

Isaiah 40:1–11, 28–31	Comfort my people, says your God.
Isaiah 55:6–13 (UMH 125)	Canticle of Covenant Faithfulness
Psalm 23 (UMH 136, 137, 138, 754)	The Lord is my shepherd.
Psalm 46 (UMH 780)	God is our refuge and strength.
Psalm 90 (UMH 809)	God has been our dwelling place.
Psalm 91 (UMH 810)	Under God's wings we find refuge.
Psalm 121 (UMH 844)	My help comes from the Lord.
Romans 8:35, 37–39 (UMH 887)	Nothing can separate us from God's love.
1 Corinthians 15:1–8, 12–20, 35–44, 53–58	The resurrection of the dead
2 Corinthians 4:5–18	Glory in God
Ephesians 1:15–23; 2:1, 4–10	Alive in Christ
Hebrews 11:1–2; 12:1–2	So great a cloud of witnesses
1 John 3:1–3	We shall see God.
Revelation 7:9 –17	Multitude of the redeemed
Revelation 21:1–7, 22–27; 22:1–5 or Canticle of Hope (UMH 734)	A new heaven and a new earth
Matthew 5:1–12	The Beatitudes
Luke 24:1–35	Jesus at Emmaus
John 14:1 –10a, 15–21, 25–27	Let not your hearts be troubled.

Between lessons there may be a psalm, canticle, scriptural affirmation of faith, Gloria Patri, anthem, and/or hymn. See hymns suggested earlier in this service.

SERMON

A hymn or an affirmation of faith may follow the sermon.

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE (NAMING OF THE HONORED DEAD) *

The name of each of the honored dead is read aloud. After each name is read, the congregation may be asked to keep silence or to respond: Thank you, Lord, for this your servant.

PRAYER FOR THE SAINTS AND FAITHFUL DEPARTED *

O God of both the living and the dead,
we praise your holy name for all your servants
who have faithfully lived and died.
We thank you for the sacred ties that bind us
to those unseen who encompass us as a cloud of witnesses.
We pray that,
encouraged by their example and strengthened by their fellowship,
we may be diligent followers
and that nothing will be able to separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

[HOLY COMMUNION]

See A Service of Word and Table II (UMH), III (UMH), or IV (UMH) and the musical settings in UMH. The bishop may use The Great Thanksgiving.

HYMN AND DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING *

If this hymn is a recessional, it follows Dismissal with Blessing. See hymns suggested earlier in this service.

GOING FORTH *

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AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE MEMORIAL SERVICE