A Funeral for the Iraqi Civilians November 10. 2004
When death occurs, the people should be informed as soon as possible, in order that they might provide appropriate consolation and support to the family and friends, and assist them in making arrangements for the funeral.
When the deceased has no connection with a church, then it is a appropriate to hold the service outside of a church and to omit or adapt portions of it as seems fitting. The ceremonies and rites of faternal, civic, or military organizations, if any, should occur at some other time and place.
All are invited to share in the service.
This will be my way of saying I'm sorry to those Iraqis who have died because of the US and who may never have a proper funeral either in their tradition or a foreign tradition marking the passage of the lives they have wonderfully lived. May God forgive us.
(the extended post contains the funeral service. You may pray along with the service and if you would like offer your condolences in the comments. If you would like to comment something other than support for the Iraqi dead, please post it on the November 9th post)
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Sentences of Scripture
Ps. 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm
Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore I obey them with all my heart.
When your word goes forth it gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant;
I long for your commandments.
Turn to me in mercy,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Steady my footsteps in your word;
let no iniquity have dominion over me.
My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law.
Prayer
The Lord is always with you.
Let us pray.
silent reflection
Eternal God,
we acknowledge the uncertainty of our life on earth.
We are given a mere handful of days,
and our span of life seems nothing in your sight.
All flesh is as grass;
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, and the flower fades;
but your logos will stand forever.
In this is our hope,
for you are our God.
Even in the valley of the shadow of death,
you are with us.
O Lord, let us know our end
and the number of our days,
that we may learn how fleeting life is.
Turn your ear to our cry, and hear our prayer.
Do not be silent at our tears,
for we live as strangers in a strange land before you,
wandering pilgrims as all our ancestors were.
But you are the same
and your years shall have no end.
Amen
Confession and Declaration of Forgiveness
Let us now ask God to cleanse our hearts,
to redeem our memories,
and to renew our confidence in the goodness of God.
Holy God, you see us as we are,
and know our inmost thoughts.
We confess that we are unworthy of your gracious care.
We forget that all life comes from you
and that to you all life returns.
We have not always sought or done your will.
We have not lived as your grateful children,
nor loved as the one called Christ has loved.
Apart from you, we are nothing.
Only your grace can sustain us.
Lord, in your mercy, forgive us,
heal us and make us whole.
Set us free from our sin and the sin of those around us,
restoring to us the joy of your salvation
now and forever.
silent reflection.
Amen
The mercy of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting.
I declare to you, you are forgiven.
May the God of mercy,
who forgives you all your sins,
strengthen you in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit
keep you in eternal life
Readings from Scripture
Let us pray
Eternal God,
your love for us is everlasting;
you alone can turn the shadow of death
into the brightness of the morning light.
Help us to turn to you with believing hearts.
In the stillness of this hour,
speak to us of eternal things,
so that, hearing the promises in scripture,
we may have hope and be lifted above our distress
into the peace of your presence;
through God's mercy.
Amen
As you read the passage from Job, be reminded that Job is a righteous man and has done no evil. Job deserves only praise for his goodness and kindness.
Job 19
Words of Reflection
No words here could express the great depth of pain that is felt for the loss of the innocents. Each one has a name and a story that has been cut short by senselessness. Death is always hard but there is nothing that can make up for the pain of loss for all of these human beings. These wonderful human beings mowed down in the midst of God's creation. These living breathing human beings with the potential to love and fill the world with love have been stopped by the zenith of hate. But just as Job cries out in the midst of his pain so we cry out in ours; "Surely my redeemer lives." It will be that this evil act will reckoned by the overpowering of love. Indeed life will grow again in love from the ashes of such great hate.
We mourn these innocent lives and will never forget these acts of hate as we grow in God's love.
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Supplication and Intercession
God of compassion,
comfort us with the great power of your love
as we mourn the sudden death of these many Iraqis.
In our grief and confusion,
help us find peace
in the knowledge of your loving mercy to all your children,
and give us light to guide us
into the assurance of your love.
silent prayers of thanksgiving, supplication and intercession
through God's mercy.
Amen
Commendation
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of all.
We are mortal, formed of the earth,
and to earth shall we return.
This you ordained when you created us, saying,
"You are dust,
and to dust you shall return."
All of us go down to the dust;
yet even at the grace we make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Lord, to your servant with all your saints,
where there is neither pain nor sorrow nor sighing,
but life everlasting.
Into your hands, O merciful God,
we commend your Iraqi servants.
Acknowledge, we humbly pray,
a sheep of your own fold,
a lam of your own flock,
a sinner of your own redeeming.
Receive them into the arms of your mercy,
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and into the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen
Blessing
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God,
and of God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit,
remain with you always.
Amen.
Now, Lord, you let your servants go into peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have see the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of all your people in the world.
Glory to the Creator, and to the Redeemer,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever.
Amen!
Sentences of Scripture
Ps. 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm
Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore I obey them with all my heart.
When your word goes forth it gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant;
I long for your commandments.
Turn to me in mercy,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Steady my footsteps in your word;
let no iniquity have dominion over me.
My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law.
Prayer
The Lord is always with you.
Let us pray.
silent reflection
Eternal God,
we acknowledge the uncertainty of our life on earth.
We are given a mere handful of days,
and our span of life seems nothing in your sight.
All flesh is as grass;
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, and the flower fades;
but your logos will stand forever.
In this is our hope,
for you are our God.
Even in the valley of the shadow of death,
you are with us.
O Lord, let us know our end
and the number of our days,
that we may learn how fleeting life is.
Turn your ear to our cry, and hear our prayer.
Do not be silent at our tears,
for we live as strangers in a strange land before you,
wandering pilgrims as all our ancestors were.
But you are the same
and your years shall have no end.
Amen
Confession and Declaration of Forgiveness
Let us now ask God to cleanse our hearts,
to redeem our memories,
and to renew our confidence in the goodness of God.
Holy God, you see us as we are,
and know our inmost thoughts.
We confess that we are unworthy of your gracious care.
We forget that all life comes from you
and that to you all life returns.
We have not always sought or done your will.
We have not lived as your grateful children,
nor loved as the one called Christ has loved.
Apart from you, we are nothing.
Only your grace can sustain us.
Lord, in your mercy, forgive us,
heal us and make us whole.
Set us free from our sin and the sin of those around us,
restoring to us the joy of your salvation
now and forever.
silent reflection.
Amen
The mercy of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting.
I declare to you, you are forgiven.
May the God of mercy,
who forgives you all your sins,
strengthen you in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit
keep you in eternal life
Readings from Scripture
Let us pray
Eternal God,
your love for us is everlasting;
you alone can turn the shadow of death
into the brightness of the morning light.
Help us to turn to you with believing hearts.
In the stillness of this hour,
speak to us of eternal things,
so that, hearing the promises in scripture,
we may have hope and be lifted above our distress
into the peace of your presence;
through God's mercy.
Amen
As you read the passage from Job, be reminded that Job is a righteous man and has done no evil. Job deserves only praise for his goodness and kindness.
Job 19
Words of Reflection
No words here could express the great depth of pain that is felt for the loss of the innocents. Each one has a name and a story that has been cut short by senselessness. Death is always hard but there is nothing that can make up for the pain of loss for all of these human beings. These wonderful human beings mowed down in the midst of God's creation. These living breathing human beings with the potential to love and fill the world with love have been stopped by the zenith of hate. But just as Job cries out in the midst of his pain so we cry out in ours; "Surely my redeemer lives." It will be that this evil act will reckoned by the overpowering of love. Indeed life will grow again in love from the ashes of such great hate.
We mourn these innocent lives and will never forget these acts of hate as we grow in God's love.
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Supplication and Intercession
God of compassion,
comfort us with the great power of your love
as we mourn the sudden death of these many Iraqis.
In our grief and confusion,
help us find peace
in the knowledge of your loving mercy to all your children,
and give us light to guide us
into the assurance of your love.
silent prayers of thanksgiving, supplication and intercession
through God's mercy.
Amen
Commendation
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of all.
We are mortal, formed of the earth,
and to earth shall we return.
This you ordained when you created us, saying,
"You are dust,
and to dust you shall return."
All of us go down to the dust;
yet even at the grace we make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Lord, to your servant with all your saints,
where there is neither pain nor sorrow nor sighing,
but life everlasting.
Into your hands, O merciful God,
we commend your Iraqi servants.
Acknowledge, we humbly pray,
a sheep of your own fold,
a lam of your own flock,
a sinner of your own redeeming.
Receive them into the arms of your mercy,
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and into the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen
Blessing
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God,
and of God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit,
remain with you always.
Amen.
Now, Lord, you let your servants go into peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have see the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of all your people in the world.
Glory to the Creator, and to the Redeemer,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever.
Amen!
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Michel Foucault. Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison.
Wayne A. Meeks. The First Urban Christians: The Social World of the Apostle Paul.
Michel Foucault. The History of Sexuality Vol. 3: The Care of the Self.
Presbyterian Church (USA). Book of Common Worship.
