Harry Rigby
(22.6.33- 5.12.1997)
Requiem at St Peter's Church
Hazel Grove on 12.12.1997
Entrance Hymn: The Lord Is my Shepherd
First Reading:Philippians 4 : 4 -9
I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone the Lord is very near. There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your heads and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Psalm 27
Second Reading: Revelations: Verse 13
Then
I heard a voice from heaven say to me, Write down:
Happy are those who die in the Lord! Happy indeed, the Spirit
says; now they can rest for ever after their work, since their
good deeds go with them.'
Gospel: John 14: 1-6
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Fathers house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.
Thomas said, Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?
Jesus said: 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Bidding Prayers:
Our brother Harry devoted his working life on earth to the education of young people and to exemplifying that charity towards others which God requires of us all. We pray with confidence that he is alive in the company of the saints in heaven.
We pray for Harrys family who mourn him. May God console them and may they find comfort in the obvious affection and high regard that Harrys colleagues and friends have for him.
We ask Gods grace for all here present today that we will never forget our obligation to pray daily for the souls of the departed that all may share in the joy of heaven.
Following the example of Harrys life, may we all seek Gods help to devote ourselves to the service of others.
Offertory Hymn:
In bread we bring you, Lord.
Motet during Holy Communion
Panis Angelicus: Cesar Franck
Dear Lord & Father of Mankind: Hubert Parry
Commendation and Farewell
Eulogy by Brother Cyril, C.F.X.