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Tasmanian Anglican

October 2003

 

 

 

 

 

Prayers for family and community at Aunty Ida's funeral

11 September 2003 at St David's Cathedral, Hobart

Let us pray with confidence to God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead for the salvation of all, the God in whom Aunty Ida found hope and comfort and who has received her into His glorious presence on 'that blest day', the day of her earthly death.

A Prayer of Thanks for Aunty Ida's life

Thanks be to God for the gift of life.

God of life, you have made us in your image, you called us to reflect your truth and light. We thank you for the life of Aunty Ida. We thank you that her life did reflect your truth and light. We give thanks for her love for you that nurtured her love for her aboriginal people and for all people.

A Prayer for the community; for us who mourn Aunty Ida's death

God of all mercy, giver of all comfort:

Look graciously we pray, on those who mourn, especially Ida's sisters, Girlie and Bernice, and her children, Lennah, Darrell and Michael and their families. Also for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchild.

Casting all their troubles and concerns on you, may they know the comfort of your love; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

A Prayer that Aunty Ida's work will continue

Dear Peace-making God,
we thank you that Aunty Ida worked for reconciliation and justice, because in her words, 'that is what the Lord would want me to do'*. Help us to maintain that commitment so that our community might be reconciled and just. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer - Traditional

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

 

Bishop's reflection

by John Harrower

 

 

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Aunty Ida's trust, and the trust of every Christian

In a book* that celebrated 52 Australian leaders, Aunty Ida wrote:

There are a number of passages of Scripture that I find help me... The passage in Matthew 14:22-33 about Peter (seeing Jesus and) stepping out of the boat onto the water and about his fear reminds me of the times I have been fearful, when I have had to step out of the boat. I get comfort from an old hymn A Few More Years Shall Roll. I've kept a copy of the hymnal for many years because it gives me hope and comfort; I even have a tape of me singing it from many years ago, and I sometimes listen to it. I am comforted when I say:

A few more struggles here,
A few more partings o'er,
A few more toils, a few more tears
And we shall weep no more:
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that blest day.'

The hymn (by Horatio Bonar) continues:

'Tis but a little while
And He (Jesus) shall come again,
Who died that we might live. Who lives
That we with Him might reign:
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that glad day.

I read the above at Aunty Ida's funeral service, for her family honoured me with the privilege of leading the prayers for family and community, and then affirmed:

In this cathedral today, let us pray with confidence to God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead for the salvation of all, the God in whom Aunty Ida found hope and comfort and who has received her into His glorious presence on 'that blest day', the day of her earthly death.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is both a foundation on which to build a life of love and the assurance of the Love that welcomes us Home 'on that blest day'. I look forward to meeting Aunty Ida again in our Father's house.

In the love of the Resurrected Christ. Amen

(signed) John

Bishop John

You may like to join in the prayer for Aunty Ida's work to continue.

Dear Peace making God,
we thank you that Aunty Ida worked for reconciliation and justice, because in her words, 'that is what the Lord would want me to do'*. Help us to maintain that commitment so that our community might be reconciled and just. Amen.

*Note: Aunty Ida is featured in the book: Living Faith in Public Life: Fifty-Two Australian Voices, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide, 2000, pages 108-109.