Goodbye, Grandma… Until we meet again.

I don’t usually post personal stuff here - but will make an exception. My grandmother passed away last week - 105 years old! Today we had her funeral and I was blessed to be asked to be a part of it. As part of the rememberance of her life I was able to tell about the summer of 1978 when I acted as valet for my two grandmothers as we travelled through Europe by train, and I may post that story later, but what I wanted to put here was the ‘Prayer of Committal’ that I gave at the conclusion of the service.

Let us commend Isabella to the mercy of God our Maker and Redeemer.
Eternal Father, before whose face the generations rise and pass away:
We praise and thank you for the gift you gave us in Isabella
whom today we commend into your sure keeping.
Merciful Father, who gives every good and perfect gift:
We thank you for Isabella, for the years we shared with her,
We thank you for every memory of love and joy,
We thank you for every sorrow shared.
We thank you for her life and for her death,
We thank you for the rest she now enjoys in Christ,
We thank you for giving her to us.

Heavenly Father, God of all comfort:
We know that in death, life is changed, not ended.
You turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life.
Yet despite our faith in the promise of new life, death still causes us grief and pain.
Just as Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, so we weep because of our own loss.
Show compassion to your people in our sorrow. Give us peace in our grief and mourning.
And lift us from the darkness of grief to the peace and light of your presence.
Help us to go into the world this day strengthened by memories of joy and laughter we have shared with Isabella.
As your word says:

When this corruptible shall put on incorruption.
And this mortal shall put on immortality.
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?

Triune God, our creator, redeemer, and friend:
By your power Christ conquered death and entered into glory.
Confident of his promises, we entrust Isabella to your merciful keeping
as a lamb of your own flock a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold her in the arms of your mercy, in the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and in the company of your saints forever.

We ask all these thing in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.