FUNERAL WORSHIP SERVICE

for

Eli Ross-Jensen

 

1921 to 1999

December 6, 1999    1:00 P.M.

 

Apostolic Greeting:

 

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

 

C: And also with you.

 

P: Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received from God.

 

C: Thanks be to God.

 

P: When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we. were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him in Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

 

P: The Lord be with you.

 

C: And also with you.

 

 O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister, Eli ,Ross-Jensen. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us your aid, so we may see in death the gate to eternal life, that we may continue our course on earth in confidence until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before us; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

C: Amen

 

Hymn   "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" (LBW #370)

 

Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love;

The unity of heart and mind Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear,

And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.

From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin we shall be free;

And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity.

 

P: Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

 

C: I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved and he who watches over you will not fall asleep. Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep; the LORD himself watches over you; the LORD is your shade at your right hand, so that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

 

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; it is he who shall keep you safe. The LORD shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth forevermore.

 

P: Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

 

Special Music:            M. Nelson-Miller

 

First Lesson            Psalm 119:1-5,104-106      H. Bourgeois

 

Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Happy are they who observe his decrees and seek him with all their hearts! Who never do any wrong, but always walk in his ways.

You laid down your commandments, that we should fully keep them. Oh, that my ways were made so direct that I might keep your statutes! Through your commandments I gain understanding; therefore I hate every lying way. Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path. I have sworn and am determined to keep your righteous judgements.

 

Eulogy             Dr. Tove Ross-Niklassen

 

Special Music: " Nearer My God to Thee "            Rendell Sergeant & Rev. Samuel King-Kabu

 

Gospel             John 11:17-26

 

So when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You."

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

 

Special Music:  " O Jesus Bless Us "           St. Ansgar's Choir

 

Homily             "How Do You Say Goodbye to A Friend"

 

Hymn  "Abide With Me"            (LBW #272)

 

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.

The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

 

I need thy presence every passing hour,

What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me.

 

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay, in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me.

 

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if thou abide with me!

 

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes,

Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, 0 Lord, Abide with me. ﷓4﷓

 

P: God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

 

Apostle's Creed:

 

C: 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 into hell. 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

 

Prayers:             H. Bourgeois

 

P: Let us pray: Almighty God, you have knit your chosen people together in one communion, in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Give to your whole Church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace.

 

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection.

 

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that your Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days.

 

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind.

 

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in your loving care, that, casting all their sorrow on you, they may know the consolation of your love.

 

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet tide days ahead in the comfort of a holy and certain hope, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love.

 

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Help us, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting.

 

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Grant us grace to entrust Eli Ross ]ensen to your never﷓failing love which sustained her in this life. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, and remember her according to the favour you bear for your people.

 

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: God of all grace, you sent your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to bring life and immortality to light. We give thanks because by his death Jesus destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

C: Amen

 

Lord's Prayer:

 

C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive

those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now

and forever.             Amen

 

Commendation

 

P: Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant, Eli Ross-Jensen. 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.

 

C: Amen

 

P: Let us go forth in peace.

 

C: In the name of Christ. Amen

 

 

Closing Hymn "The Strife Is O'er, the Battle Done" (LBW #135)

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia'

 

The strife is o'er, the battle done; Now is the victor's triumph won!

Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia!

 

The powers of death have done their worst, But Christ their legions has dispersed.

Let shouts of holy joy outburst. Alleluia!

 

The three sad days have quickly sped. He rises glorious from the dead.

All glom to our risen head! Alleluia!

 

He broke the age-bound chains of hell; The bars from heaven's high portals fell.

Let hymns of praise his triumph tell. Alleluia!

 

Lord, by the stripes which wounded you, From death's sting free your servants too,

That we may live and sing to you. Alleluia!

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia'

 

Benediction:

P: The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favour and + give you peace.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Organist/Pianist            Julia Shantz

Soloist:             M. Nelson-Miller

Eulogy                          Dr. Tove Ross﷓Niklassen

Lector:                         H. Bourgeois

Usher:                          Henrik Langer

Duet:                            Rendell Sergeant

                                    Rev. Samuel King-Kabu

Presider:                       Rev. Samuel King-Kabu

 

The family wishes to thank every one for their support and prayers at this time. Thank you for coming and showing your love and may God richly bless each and every one of you.

 

The Internment took place at the Lake View Cemetery (Danish section) in Pointe Claire, following the Worship Service.   Refreshment, back at St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church (Beck Hall), followed the Internment.

 

Committal Service

 

P: I called to the Lord in my distress; the Lord answered by

setting me free.

It is better to rely on the Lord than to put any trust in flesh. It is better to rely on the Lord than to put any trust in rulers.

I was pressed so hard that I almost fell, but the Lord came to my help.

There was a sound of exultation and victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! 1 he right hand of the Lord is exalted! The right hand of the Lord has triumphed!"

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them: I will offer thanks to the Lord. "This gate of the Lord; he who is righteous may enter."

 

P: Almighty God, by the death and burial of Jesus, your anointed, you have destroyed death and sanctified the graves of all your saints. Keep our sister, Eli Ross jensen, whose body we now lay to rest, in the company of all your saints and, at the last, raise her up to share with all your faithful people the endless joy and peace won through the glorious resurrection of Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

C: Amen

 

P: Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on the immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

 

"O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

P: Since almighty God has called our sister, Eli Ross-Jensen, from this life to himself, we commit her body to the earth from which it was made. Christ was the first to rise from the dead, and we know that he will raise up our mortal bodies to be like his in glory. We commend our sister to the Lord: May the Lord receive her into his peace and raise her up on the last day. The Lord make his face shine on her and be gracious to her. The Lord look upon her with favour and give her peace.

 

C: Amen

 

P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:

 

Lord's Prayer:

 

C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your

kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give

us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive

those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and

deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the

glory are yours, now and forever.             Amen

 

P: Lord Jesus, by your death you took away the sting of death. Grant to us, your servants, so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake in your likeness; to you, the author and giver of life, be all honour and glory, now and forever.

 

C: Amen

 

P: Rest eternal grant her, O Lord;

 

C: and let light perpetual shine upon her.

 

P: The God of peace - who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant - make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

 

C: Amen

 

P: Let us go in peace.

 

Benediction:

P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favour and give you peace.

 

P: Go in Peace & Serve the Lord

 

C: Thanks be to God.