A Celebration of The Life of
H. Joanne Stearns
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Dayton, Ohio, August 20, 2021, 11:00 AM
Note: The service is being livestreamed and recorded and will be available on our Facebook page.
The restroom is located to the right as you enter the building.
Throughout the service the people’s responses are in italics; directions are in bold italics.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN:
“I come with joy to meet my Lord” Hymnal 1982, #304
Officiant: I am the Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord.
Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though they die.
And everyone who has life,
and has committed themselves to me in faith, shall not die for ever.
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.
After my awaking, he will raise me up;
and in my body I shall see God.
I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him
who is my friend and not a stranger.
For none of us has life in himself,
and none becomes his own master when he dies.
For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord,
and if we die, we die in the Lord.
So, then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s possession.
Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord!
So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.
Please remain standing
Officiant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Officiant: Let us pray. O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant Joanne, being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Officiant: Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with Joanne’s family in their grief. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please be seated for the lessons
A READING FROM PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS
Co-officiant: All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (8:14-19, 34-35,37-39a)
Co-officiant: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF PSALMS
Co-officiant: The LORD is my shepherd;
People: I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me;
you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (PS 23)
REMARKS FROM THE FAMILY
Please stand
HYMN:
“Let all mortal flesh keep silence” Hymnal 1982, #324
Please remain standing
THE GOSPEL:
Officiant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Officiant: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (10:11-16)
Officiant: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you Lord Christ.
Please be seated
THE HOMILY: The Rt. Rev. Kenneth L. Price, Jr.
Please stand
THE APOSTLE’S CREED:
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
All: 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 and ever. Amen.
Please remain standing
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
Co-officiant: For our sister, Joanne, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am Resurrection and I am Life.”
Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Joanne, and dry the tears of those who weep. Hear us, Lord.
You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow. Hear us, Lord.
You raised the dead to life; give to our sister eternal life. Hear us, Lord.
You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our sister to the joys of heaven.
Hear us, Lord.
Our sister was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit; give her fellowship with all your saints. Hear us, Lord.
She was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant her a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom. Hear us, Lord
Comfort us in our sorrows and the death of our sister; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.
A moment of silence is observed.
Officiant: Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to you our sister Joanne, who was reborn by water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. Grant that her death may recall to us your victory over death,
and be an occasion for us to renew our trust in your Father’s love. Give us, we pray, the faith to follow where you have led the way; and where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.
HYMN: “Lord of all hopefulness” Hymnal 1982, #482
Please remain standing
THE COMMENDATION:
Officiant and Co-officiant: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Joanne. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your
own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
THE BLESSING
During the recessional hymn the family will recess.
All others may depart after the dismissal is given or remain for the postlude.
Please stand for the recessional hymn
HYMN:
“Lift high the cross” Hymnal 1982, #473
Please remain standing
THE DISMISSAL:
Officiant: Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Officiant: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.
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The Rev. Rowena Mae MacGregor, Priest-In-Charge
570-404-2025 rector@stmarksdayton.org
Katherine Wagner, Parish Administrator
parishadmin@stmarksdayton.org
Donna Larsen, Music Director
musicdirector@stmarksdayton.org
Carol Nancarrow, Senior Warden
Jim Rudd, Junior Warden
wardens@stmarksdayton.org
