Introductory Rites:   Rite of Reception. In a brief ritual recalling Lori’s baptism we sprinkling her remains with blessed water. We place the pall to remind us all that she has been clothed in immortality by her baptism in the Lord. The white cloth is a sign of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the white garments that the redeemed wear before God’s throne in heaven.

Opening Song:                                                                                     Be Not Afraid, Gather #683

1. You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst.

You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way.

You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand.

You shall see the face of God and live.

Refrain

Be not afraid. I go before you always.

Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.

2. If you pass through raging waters in the sea, you shall not drown.

If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed.

If you stand before the pow’r of hell and death is at your side,

know that I am with you through it all.

3. Blessed are your poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs.

Blest are you that weep and mourn, for one day you shall laugh.

And if wicked tongues insult and hate you all because of me, blessed, blessed are you!

Text: Based on Isaiah 43:2–3; Luke 6:20ff. Text and music © 1975, 1978, Robert J. Dufford, SJ, and OCP. All rights reserved.

Opening Prayer

Liturgy of the Word

SIT

First reading:                                                                                                        Revelation 21:1-5

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.

The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 

I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,  coming down out of heaven from God,  

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.

He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them

 as their God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes,  and there shall be no more death or mourning,

      wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”

The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

To the thirsty  I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.

The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.

Psalm 23                               The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading:                                                                                                     Romans 8:14-23

If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, will he not also give us every­thing else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?

No, in all these things, we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

STAND

Gospel  Acclamation                                                                                                            Alleluia

Gospel:                                                                                                                     Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

He began to teach them, saying:

     “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

     Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

     Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

     Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 

     Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

     Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

     Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

     Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

     Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you  and utter every kind of evil

      against you falsely because of me.

     Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

Homily

Petitions:                                                                         Please respond:  “Lord, hear our prayer.”

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Preparation of the Gifts:                                                              On Eagle’s Wings, Gather #691

1.You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, who abide in his shadow for life,

say to the Lord: “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”

And he will raise you up on eagle’s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn,

make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand.

2. The snare of the fowler will never capture you, and famine will bring you no fear:

under his wings your refuge, his faithfulness your shield. ( to refrain )

 3. You need not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day;

though thousands fall about you, near you it shall not come. ( to refrain )

4. For to his angels he’s given a command to guard you in all of your ways;

upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Text: Psalm 91; Michael Joncas, b.1951, © 1979, OCP Publications.

Our Father                                                                                                                                         

Communion Rite

At this time, Holy Communion will be distributed. For those who are not Catholic, they may come forward to receive a blessing or may choose to remain in their pew.

Communion Song:                                                                   Prayer of St. Francis, Gather #828

1. Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.

Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord, and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

2. Make me a channel of your peace. Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.

Where there is darkness only light, and where there’s sadness ever joy.

3. O Master, grant that I may never seek so much to be consoled, as to console,

To be understood, as to understand, to be loved, as to love, with all my soul.

4. Make me a channel of your peace. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

In giving of ourselves that we receive, And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Dedicated to Mrs. Frances Tracy. Text: Based on the prayer traditionally ascr. to St. Francis of Assisi, 1182–1226. Text and music © 1967, OCP. All rights reserved.

Closing Prayer

Rite of Farewell                                                    The Hand of God Shall Hold You, Gather #981

The hand of God shall hold you, the peace of God enfold you,

the love that dreamed and formed you still surrounds you here today;

The light of God beside you, above, beneath, inside you, the light that shines to guide you home

to the loving hand of God.

1. May God’s light shine ever upon you, may you rest in the arms of God;

        may you dwell forevermore in communion with all the blessed.

2. May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you

           and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.

Text: Marty Haugen, b.1950, © 1994, GIA Publications, Inc.;  verse 2 from In paradisum; Rite of Funerals, © 1970, ICEL

Recessional  Hymn:                                                    Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You, Gather #614

1.Joyful, joyful, we adore you, God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow’rs before you, opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

2.All your works with joy surround you, earth and heav’n reflect your rays,

Stars and angels sing around you, center of unbroken praise.

Field and forest, vale and mountain, flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird, and flowing fountain, sound their praise eternally!

3.You are giving and forgiving,ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!

God our Father, Christ our brother, let your light upon us shine;

Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

4.Mortals, join the mighty chorus, which the morning stars began;

God’s own love is reigning o’er us, joining people hand in hand.

Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife;                                    

Joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph-song of life.                               Text: Henry van Dyke, 1852-1933, alt