In Loving Memory of

Marlene Charlesworth 6th October 1950 ~ 10th November 2011

The funeral service conducted

By Pastor Andrew Fisher

On Wednesday 16th November 2011

at 11am

ORDER OF SERVICE

MUSIC IN MEMORY OF MARLENE Dirty Dancing ~ Time of my Life

WELCOME

~

OPENING PRAYER

The death of someone we love and care about, is like the death of part of us. No one else will ever call out from within us quite the same responses, the same feelings or actions or ideas. Their death is an ending of one part of a story. Lord as we look back over Marlene’s life. We ask that what we have received, what we can appropriate, and continue on in our own lives, we will, and what must be laid to rest, we will lay those things down. Our love for Marlene reminds us that our sharing in one another's lives brings both support and pain. Our being parted from her reminds us of our own mortality ......And that your love is enduring. We thank you that our love for Marlene draws us together and gives us a new appreciation of one another, and of the beauty and fragility of relationships, which mirror your grace and goodness to us. Lord, time's tide may wash Marlene’s footprints from the shore, but not our love for her nor the influence of her life upon our own. Nor the ways in which they will ever be a sign for us, of those things which really matter - which are eternal. Hear this prayer for your love's sake. Amen.

PRAYERS

All: Lord, we come into your presence to remember Marlene and

to seek your comfort, for we know that nothing can separate us

from your love and that you support us in our sorrow. We are sure

that the souls of the righteous are with you and that nothing can

harm them. Although they have died they are in peace. Give us

your strength to rejoice that you have taken Marlene to be with

yourself where she shall no more be in need. May we find life and

peace and perfect joy with her in your presence; through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

Amen

~

READING FROM SCRIPTURE

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green

pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters He restoreth my soul: he leadeth

me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through

the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy

rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the

presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will

dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

READING FROM SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 13 Vs 1-13

LOVE

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a

resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can

fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move

mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and

surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient,

love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is

not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not

delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts,

always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,

they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is

knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but

when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a

child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put

childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we

shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am

fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of

these is love.

~

MUSIC IN MEMORY OF MARLENE Joe Cocker ~ You Are So Beautiful

POEM

Golden Memories

They say memories are golden

well maybe that is true.

I never wanted memories,

I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,

a million times I cried.

If love along could have saved you

you never would have died

In life I loved you dearly,

In death I love you still.

In my heart you hold a place

no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway

and heartache make a lane,

I'd walk the path to heaven

and bring you back again.

our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same.

But as God calls us one by one,

the chain will link again.

A PERSONAL TRIBUTE & MUSIC Were In Heaven

A PERSONAL TRIBUTE & MUSIC IN MEMORY OF MARLENE Were In Heaven

POEM

You Can Shed Tears That She is Gone

You can shed tears that she is gone

Or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her

Or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone

Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,

be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what she’d want:

smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

THE LORDS PRAYER

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

COMMENDATION

Let us commend Marlene to the mercy of God, Our maker and redeemer. God our

creator and redeemer, by your power Christ conquered death and entered into

glory. Confident of his victory and claiming his promises, we entrust Marlene to

your mercy in the name of Jesus our Lord, who died and is alive and reigns with

you, now and forever.

Amen.

COMMITTAL

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great goodness. As

a father is tender towards his children, so is the Lord tender to those that love him.

For he knows of what we are made; he remembers that we are but dust. Our days

are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field; when the wind goes over it,

it is gone and its place will know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord

endures for ever and ever towards those that love him. and his righteousness upon

their children's children.

We have entrusted our sister Marlene to God’s mercy, and we now, commit her

body to be cremated: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust: in the sure and

certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, who

will transform our frail bodies that they may be conformed to his glorious body,

who died, was buried, and rose again for us. To him be glory for ever.

Amen.

THE BLESSING

May God give you his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy, in this world

and the next; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy

Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

EXIT MUSIC Sarah Brightman ~ Time To Say Goodbye

Donations In Memory of Marlene may be given for MABS

The family would like to invite you back to M.C.C. Restaurant following the service

Service Sheets Designed & Printed by

The English Funeral Director, Tony Smith. Tel: 650 631 719