| FUNERAL SERVICE FOR A BELOVED PET It is right that we should celebrate that part of our lives that we share with our beloved pets, since they also come from God, whose Son said that not so much as a sparrow falls "apart from your Father," which seems to say that God who gives them life is with all of his creatures in their deaths also. These readings may be helpful as part of a memorial service for the one whom we loved. Invocation Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. The Cosmic Order Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord, O heavens and all waters above the heavens. Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. Glorify the Lord, O nights and days, O shining light and enfolding dark, Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. The Earth and its Creatures Let the earth glorify the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, O whales and all that move in the waters. All birds of the air glorify the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. The People of God Let the people of God glorify the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. Doxology Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; praise him and highly exalt him for ever. In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, praise him and highly exalt him for ever. --From "Benedicite" ("The Song of the Three Young Men") Prayers Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures. Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation. Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, we thank you for the life of this one of your creatures who loved us and whom we loved. May that love be always productive in us of more love toward you and toward all of your creation until we all come together in the manifestation of the sons of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen |