THANKSGIVING SERVICE
A Servcie of Thanksgiving for Gervas's life was held in the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, North Cheriton, Somerset, at 3 p.m. on Friday 15th May 2009, taken by Revd. Ewen Pinsent, who had also served in the Northern Rhodesia Civil Service, but after Gervas had retired. The Service was attended by over fifty family and friends, a list is included below.
Here is the Service Sheet (text only), compiled by Gervas :-
The Church of St. John the Baptist
North Cheriton
†
Service of thanksgiving for the life of
Gervas Charles Robert Clay
16th April 1907 – 18th April 2009
3:00 pm Friday, 15th May, 2009
followed by interment of his ashes in the Churchyard,
[carried and placed by his eldest son Robin.]
___________________________________________________
MEDITATION
Gervas left this message for you -
Thank you all for coming to my funeral. I have had a wonderfully happy life together with a wonderful wife. So this is no occasion for sorrow or crying but for rejoicing that I have gone at last to my rest. Please be happy and sing the hymns with gusto as you know I would have liked them sung. And after the service is over please be happy together and tell old jokes and remember me as I used to be. If there is anything that I am allowed to do to help anybody still on earth, you know I will try to do it. Finally - this is only a short goodbye and I shall be there in the next world to welcome you again when you arrive.
Blessings on you all. Gervas.
If I should die and leave you here awhile,
Be not like others, sore and undone,
Who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep.
For my sake - turn again to life and smile
Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do
Something to comfort other hearts than thine.
Complete those dear unfinished tasks of mine
And I, perchance, may therein comfort you.
A. Price Hughes & Mary Lee Hall
More on the back cover
Music before the service
Gilbert & Sullivan – Medley
Greensleeves
Gustav Holst - Cranham (In the bleak mid-winter)
The Service
SENTENCES
WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYERS
HYMN 0h Worship the King, all glorious above;
LESSON
1 Corinthians 15. 51-58
Read by Bill Clay, son-in-law
HYMN Immortal, invisible, God only wise
THE ADDRESS :-
CV - Read by Toby Clay, Grand-son, for his father, Robin Clay, eldest son
Tribute – Read by Daphne Schofield, Grand-daughter, for her mother, Gill Clay, daughter
Memories – Read by Robin Clay, eldest son, for his brother, Nigel, middle son
Poem – Read by Rawley Clay, Grand-son, for his uncle, Crispin, youngest son
HYMN The king of love my shepherd is,
READINGS
Read by Gill Clay, daughter
Pray for me as I pray for you and for all our friends: that we may love and laugh again when we meet merrily in heaven. St Thomas More 1478-1535
Read by Annarella Prime, granddaughter
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than the known way.' So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
Minnie Louise Haskins
HYMN Thy hand, 0 God, has guided
PRAYERS
HYMN All people that on earth do dwell,
THE COMMENDATION
BLESSING
Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you, the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you his peace. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.
TAPS
Day is done;
Gone the sun
From the sea, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.
Music after the Service
Jeremiah Clarke - Trumpet Voluntary
Service sheet - Back page
Those Present
---oOo---
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