Christian Celebrant
Revd Ian Greig – community pastor in Weobley, Herefordshire
I prepare and lead individual and personal celebration of life services, particularly for families who do not have a church connection. I work closely with funeral directors and others.
As a Free Church Minister, everything for me is surrounded by Christian love and Christian faith, but it doesn't have to be expressed in a formally religious or elaborate way. Nor do the words used have to come from any particular book or tradition.
What the family wants is paramount. They also need someone they can relate to easily, who they feel knows them and their values, and who will work with them to bring a fitting and honouring ceremony for their loved one, with a personal flavour.
Preparing a tribute can be difficult at a time when the sense of loss is acute. I can draw out stories and often amusing memories, and draft a memorable tribute of the right length that brings it together. Then we can decide who is the best person to give it.
I have a good feel for content which is appropriate to the person being remembered – hymns and prayers, delivered with warmth and a light touch, and suggestions for music and other readings. Sometimes people prefer to include little or no declared faith content. I can help find other expressions which celebrate and honour the life of their loved one, and provide opportunity for reflection and thanksgiving.
My approach is non-denominational, relaxed and sensitive to what works for the family.
A few frequently chosen Bible readings
The Lord is My shepherd... even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil...
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear...
I lift my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord...
Jesus said: "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep...
... So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Some hymns frequently chosen for Celebrations of Life
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, O abide with me.
2 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 Lord who changes not, abide with me.
3 I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
4 I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless,
though ills have weight, and tears their bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
5 Hold now 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, O Lord, abide with me!
Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
2 Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings -
God made their glowing colours,
God made their tiny wings. All things...
3 The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning
that brightens up the sky. All things...
4 The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden -
God made them, every one. All things...
5 God gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well. All things...
Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)
vv. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see....
2 ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
3 The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
4 When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.
2 In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.
3 O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by love!
4 With that deep hush subduing all
Our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of Thy call,
As noiseless let Thy blessing fall
As fell Thy manna down.
5 Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.
6 Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided —
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
2 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda)
Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more –
Feed me till I want no more.
2 Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing waters flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliv’rer, strong Deliv’rer
Be Thou still my strength and shield –
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
3 To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.
4 Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render, O help us to see:
’Tis only the splendour of light hideth Thee.
5 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
Love Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav’n, to earth come down;
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion;
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
2 Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast;
Let us all in Thee inherit,
Let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
3 Come, Almighty, to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
May Thy presence e’er be with us,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thou wouldst approve,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
4 Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory
Till with Thee we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.
Morning Has Broken
1 Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.
2 Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.
3 Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise ev'ry morning
God's recreation of the new day
4 Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suff’ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
2 Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
3 In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
to His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore His praises sing.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise the everlasting King!
2 Praise him for his grace and favour
to His people in distress.
Praise him, still the same as ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
3 Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Widely yet his mercy flows!
4 Angels, help us to adore him;
you behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise with us the God of grace!
Henry Francis Lyte, 1834
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for His own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill:
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table Thou hast furnishèd
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.
Francis Rouse, 1579-1659
(similar words, different setting, The King of Love My Shepherd is)
There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.
2 O dearly, dearly, has He loved,
And we must love Him, too,
And trust in His redeeming blood,
And try His works to do.
3 We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains He had to bear;
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
4 He died that we might be forgiv’n,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to Heav’n,
Saved by His precious blood.
5 There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven and let us in.
6 O dearly, dearly has He loved,
And we must love Him, too,
And trust in His redeeming blood,
And try His works to do.
Cecil Frances Alexander, 1847
Lord of the Dance
I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth:
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they wouldn't follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came with me and the dance went on:
Dance, then, wherever you may be...
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame:
The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high,
And they left me there on a cross to die:
Dance, then, wherever you may be...
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I'd gone;
But I am the dance, and I still go on:
Dance, then, wherever you may be...
They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that'll never, never die.
I'll live in you if you'll live in me:
I am the Lord of the dance, said he.
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
-- Sidney Carter
Give me joy in my heart
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
Give me joy in my heart, I pray;
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
Keep me praising till the break of day:
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King of kings.
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King.
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
Give me peace in my heart, I pray;
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
Keep me loving till the break of day:
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,...
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
Give me love in my heart, I pray;
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
Keep me serving till the break of day:
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna...
-- Traditional