Mass live streamed from St Alban and St Stephen RC Church
Spiritual Communion Prayer
My Jesus, I believe that you are in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive you Sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You;
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
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Yeah for for for e for for For For For for for for For you for for you please stand in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen the grace and peace of God our Father who raised Jesus from the dead be always with you and with your spirit in the waters of baptism Sarah died with Christ
And Rose with him to New Life may she now share with him in eternal glory we sing Our opening hymn Amazing Grace Amazing graise save the like me I want was lost found was see was Grace that t My Heart To Fear and Gra my Fe Rel oh preious did that Grace the are I first through many ders to and St I have already come his grace had me save th and Grace will
Lead me home the Lord has proed good to me is word My Hope he will my shield and Pion as as and your life sh receive the Gospel of Christ May Christ now greet her with these words of eternal life come blessed of my father and the member of the family is going to place thee in baptism Sarah received the sign
Of the cross may she now share in Christ’s victory over sin and death I’d like to begin by welcoming you here to the Church of St Auburn and St Steven as we celebrate these funeral rights for Sarah Jane Murphy we come to give thanks to God for
The gift of Sarah’s life for the way in which we have been blessed you as a family and friends as a community by Sarah’s love and life we come to pray for the Repose of her soul that the Lord will forgive her whatever wrong she may have committed in this
Life and that done welcome her into the joy of his kingdom we come to be with Sarah’s family as They Mourn her passing above all we come in faith and in Hope trusting that the Lord’s promise of a new and eternal life is strong and
True but as we begin this funeral mass I invite you to sit and Kate is going to share a few words darling Sarah it is impossible that I’m standing here trying to find the words to express how much you meant to us all there is no way I can do you
Or all your memories justice so I’ll just start by saying how much we loved you and how proud We were of you your passion compassion strength Beauty wisdom and incredible humor meant that people couldn’t help but love you in fact people loved to love you because you were
Amazing in 1981 you came into our lives I was nearly 2 years old and unimpressed by your arrival paying you little attention until no one was looking when I would watch you intently wondering who this tiny person was little could I have known born to our amazing parents Pat and
Carol we had the best childhood Mom and Dad nurtured and loved us always there no matter what unwavering support which has never faled growing up in wheat Hampstead I have endless memories of playing it with friends in the garden swimming in the pool including some synchronized
Swimming which I now realize we took far too seriously bike rides hiding out in our tree house which definitely wouldn’t meet current health and safety standards playing shops dressing up and vandalizing our Barbies we also shared the most incredible times with our family and every Christmas our house was filled
With love laughter and a lot of chaos I’m not sure we ever got to the bottom of who hit uncle aan in the head with the peashooter or who flicked rifle at the door trips to Ireland and to Liverpool to be with our aunts and uncles and our cousins who were more
Like brothers and sisters so many memories of playing in the fields rolling down the hay and wondering how they were allowed to get away with so much swearing when we weren’t always laughing we laughed so much our teenage years were just as fun you had so many friends many of whom we
Shared and are still our friends today your obsession with take that was unequaled a million dance routines in the garden and a promise that one day you would marry marcoen you were so convinced that I think I might have believed you you always so much fun to
Be around always trying new things and at the center of everything you knew everyone and everyone knew knew you roller skating at the Memorial Hall Venture Scout Adventures hanging out later than we should so many memories we used to fight and laugh in equal measures in those days driving
Each other mad and then collapsing into laughter unable to stop our house was always full and As We Grew Older the party was always back at ours trips to batchwood or nights in the swan always ended up with countless people in our lounge or kitchen thank you Mom and Dad
For allowing us those memories after doing brilliantly in your levels at Stags you went off to kill University in 1999 in your little blue saxo and had an absolute blast the visits are a bit blurry but I remember a lot of luminous shot glasses and some questionable karaoke however I think University was
The point when you realized you would be a success or whatever you turned your hand to your degree in Psychology and business led to a life-defining choice to join my and Hall’s HR team in 2003 I say life defining as you took such absolute pride in your work you
Were dedicated committed and determined and we loved watching you Excel and move up to become the head of your department but it is only since your passing that we realize the impact you had on those you worked with the love and respect with which you are held by your colleagues is
Immeasurable it wasn’t just that you were good at your job of course you were but what I now realize is that you bought something special an empathy that made people feel safe and seen and ability to connect with people so they knew they could trust you unwavering
Encouraged to do the right thing even when that was hard and importantly that infectious smile and laughter which brightened even the most difficult situation you also brought these qualities to your role of of Governor at Stags to which you gave 15 years as a volunteer their praise has been just as
Effusive and that’s what made you special not just at work but in your life you moved to cental or in 2006 and well and truly made a life for yourself there I don’t think I’ve ever known any one who knew as many people as you I still can’t walk into a pub without
Someone saying aren’t you Sarah Maguire sister so many nights out pubs gigs concerts festivals we certainly had a good time and you were always the life and soul the energy in every room you had so many friends and family who are also friends to whom you gave your love
And your time selflessly you always gave people time no matter who they were always prepared to help or fight someone’s Corner whether they asked you to or not the glue that held so many together your beautiful best friends who have been by your side throughout everything are shattered they have lost
So much too but the memories and laughter remain in Autumn 2013 you met Phil and that was the start of a new and precious chapter I remember you telling me you’d met someone who looked like a cross between Harris and Ford and Mar Owen but you didn’t know whether it was
Serious by Christmas he had pretty much moved in and we all knew this was the start of something special the house was always filled with laugh laughter and music Infamous summer barbecues and parties with friends and becoming a loving stepmom to our lovely Ryan but beyond that you to meed a life together
Which was just your own both smart and curious you shared a love of learning Sarah always reading Phil watching a documentary no wonder you were so good at quizzes on 3rd of December 2016 many of us shared in your beautiful wedding what an incredible day I have never been
So proud to Stand By Your Side as you said I do just as you had stood by mine you loved one another unconditionally and I’m so devastated for your loss Phil but I know that we will get through this together two years later you became parents to your
Beautiful Tiggy wow Sarah she is just perfect I cannot dwell on the unfairness of how just how much you and she will miss it’s too much you were an incredible mother and every day that you are not by her side makes my heart more hurt more than I can bear but she is
Your legacy your beautiful confident smart sassy daughter she is just like you and all I can tell you is that we will love her so much and she will know you through us and she will be the best that she can be and more I promise and throughout all this our steadfast
Parents our rocks and our comfort we are blessed have always been so close and over time sharing that closeness and love with our own husbands and children Mom and Dad I know that you would want everyone to know how proud you were of Sarah and how much you loved her who who
She was as a person and all that she has achieved and I hope I’ve gone some way to explaining that today Sarah you were half of my soul my sister and my best friend we shared everything together the highs and the lows and I want you to know know I was
So very proud of you too like so many my heart is broken there is one proverb which has given me some comfort over the past couple of weeks the flame that burns twice as bright Burns half as long and I don’t think this could be truer of
Anyone than you you sha with such ferocity your light and your warmth your Sparkle and your shine I have lost count of the people who have told me that you lit up every room you walked into and that your in extra smile and laughter brought joy and comfort the incredible number of lives
You touched the family and friends that you loved the souls that you saved the endless laughter every song that you sang and every dance that you danced your achievement throughout your work and Beyond yes Sarah you burnt the brightest and brighter than most people with in twice as many years I’m just so
Sad that we lost you too soon but we will treasure every precious memory you have gifted to us and you will live on through us every time we laugh or we dance or we smile a mother a daughter a wife a stepmother a sister an auntie a sister-in-law a niece
A cousin a friend and a colleague we love you Sarah and we will miss you always thank you for taking us along on the most incredible journey the skies have now been blessed with the brightest star you were one in a billion let us stand and
Pray oh God whose nature is always to forgive and to show Mercy we humbly implore you for your servant Sarah whom you have called to journey to you and since she hoped and believed in you grant that she may be led to our true Homeland to Delight in its Everlasting
Joys through our Lord Jesus Christ your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God forever and ever amen so now we sit CLA will read our first reading a reading from The Book of Ecclesiastes there is an import appointed time for everything and a time
For every Affair under the heavens a time to be born and a time to die a time to plant and a time to uproot the plant A Time to Kill and a time to heal a time to tear down and a time to build a time to
Weep and a time to laugh a time to mourn and a time to dance a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them a time to embrace and a time to be far from Embraces a time to seek and a time to
Lose a time to keep and a time to Cast Away a time to Rend and a time to seow a time to be silent and a time to speak a time to love and a time to hate a time of war and a time of Peace what advantage has the worker from his
Toil I have considered the task which God has appointed for men to be busied about he has made everything appropriate to its time and has put the Timeless into their hearts without men’s ever discovering from beginning to end the work which God has done the word of the Lord thanks be to God my sh I not want he Mak me down to inous Green he Le the my soul he restor again and me to walk with in the P of rightousness in for his own name sake y though I walk in dark there yet will I feel for with me th Ro and for My of my thr my head the dust with all the and my goodness and Mery all my life shall Sur fall in your’s house forever my DW Shall our reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians we want you to be quite certain Brothers about those who have died to make sure that you do not grieve about them like the other people who have no hope we believe that Jesus died and rose
Again and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus God will bring them with him we can tell you this from the Lord’s own teaching that any of us who are Left Alive until the Lord Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died at
The trumpet of God the voice of the Archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds together with them to
Meet the Lord in the air so we we shall stay with the Lord forever with such thoughts as these you should comfort one another the word of the Lord thanks be to God we stand to greet the Gospel hallelu hallelu hallelu Come you my father has bless says the Lord take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the World hallelu Hallelujah Hallelu the Lord be with you and with your spirit a reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew glory to you seeing the crowds Jesus went up the hill there he sat down and was joined by his his disciples then he began to speak this is what he taught
Them how happy are the poor in spirit theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven happy the gentle they shall have the Earth for their Heritage happy those who mourn they shall be comforted happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right they shall be satisfied happy the merciful they shall have mercy shown
Them happy the pure in heart they shall see God happy the peacemakers they should be called sons of God happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all
Kinds of calumny against you on my account rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven the gospel of the Lord praise to you Lord Jesus Christ if you’d like to be seated I doubt very much that this time 12 months ago let alone 6 months ago any
Of you could have imagined being here today to do what we are doing at 42 Sarah still had so much to look forward to not least the growing and maturing of her and Phil’s daughter Tiggy so today as a family as you come to grieve and mourn you do so not just
For someone whom you have loved whose life and love has patterned your own lives but also I suspect for all that should have been for all the moments of Milestone Sarah should have been here for right now when the only place you would really want Sarah to be is with
You where she was face to face side by side St Paul’s encouragement not to grieve as others do may be more of a challenge than a comfort numbness hurt disbelief even anger may be more ready emotions than the Hope which St Paul calls us to yes our faith the faith which Sarah
Was baptized into and which we profess looks to the resurrection it believes with Paul that death is not the end and that something more more glorious than this life is in store but where for Paul and for Faith there is certainty today it wouldn’t be altogether odd or
Surprising if all you could must is a very straightforward question why why Sarah my wife my daughter my sister my friend my mother why at all I would be a remarkable preacher if I could answer all the questions you probably have indeed my words could not hope to
Do justice to the pain hurt or loss of these days or even the days ahead and all the while any assurances that Sarah is with the Lord may do little to a sage that aching loss whose only comforting would be her living presence back with you
Now so what to say when there are no right words when our faith is certain or as fragile as it may be is faced with the death of those we love we’ve just listened to a reading from The Book of Ecclesiastes where we are told that
There is a time for every Affair Under the Sun a time for war and a Time For Peace A Time time to build up and a time to tear down a time to be born and yes a time to die in the account of creation which tells us how God created
The Sun and Moon the greater light for the day and the smaller light for the night we are reminded that time was created by God that time is always and everywhere his gift to us indeed apart from life itself it seems to me that time is the most precious of
Gifts imagine having to contend with to hold together all that life affords in a solitary moment infancy and maturity joy and sorrow health and sickness it will be simply unimaginable unmanageable time is that gift which enables us to live through these experiences at a measured
Pace yet be this as it may and for all the blessing that it is God did not create you me or Sarah for time or for this Earth or for this place on the contrary God created us for eternity for a communion and a living with him this much the writer of Ecclesiastes
Knows listen again to what is written he has made everything appropriate to its time and has put the Timeless eternity into their hearts at the core of our being and who we are written into our DNA if you like is a thirst and a yearning for life and for
Eternity and for the one who is eternal namely God we recoil from Death because death is the very opposite of all that God wants for us we fear death because we were created by God for Life a life that God breathed into us for the dawn of creation
Indeed for all that each and every one of us will die death from beginning to end is the most unnatural most ungodly of things no wonder that it turns the world upside down shatters the peace and leaves us bereft our mourning in the face of death
Our sadness in its wake is not a contradiction of our faith in God rather it is of a peace with that faith and all that we know of God a God who desires nothing more and nothing less than the life the living of all he has created for sure it’s precisely because
God desires our life and our living that he sends his son into the world to triumph over sin and death for death is what Humanity in its turning from God has added to the wealth of Human Experience death is a violence that God in Christ puts to an end on a
Cross yes there is sadness immense inconsolable Sadness the world has been turned upside down there is a void a gap an ache but this will only be for a season and for a time not forever indeed the only thing that is constant the only thing that is forever
In which there is no change or alteration no time or season no beginning or end is God and God is love and love is Everlasting for us as Christians the language of love reaches its high point on the cross cross where Jesus like Sarah died well before his time innocently and
Undeservedly the life that we live is a life which Christ embraced the suffering we ad endure is a suffering known to him and the death we recoil from is a death he shared in Freely and willingly For The World At Large the cross is a place of
Defeat for us it is a proclamation of love the kind of love that takes hold where the romance of things leaves off a love which is complete self-giving where in Blood Sweat and Tears Jesus gives everything of himself for each and every one of us not because we are perfect or even
Pleasing but because God does what every father does he loves he loves his children completely unconditionally even blindly dear Sarah as we commend you to the father may He Who gifted you with life infold you in his love and may your soul and The Souls of all the faithful
Departed through the mercy of God Rest in Peace amen and so now if we stand Matthew Jen Helen and Danny are going to lead us in our intercessions calling to mind the ways in which God has blessed us through Sarah’s life love and friendship let us turn to the father in
Prayer for Sarah that God May welcome her into the Peace of the Kingdom Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us the and friends who mourn for Sarah May the promise of eternal life be a source of comfort and hope we pray especially for Phil Tiggy Pat Carol Kate
And all her family and friends Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us for those who have cared for Sarah at Watford General Hospital and for those all the sick they may know the presence of Christ in the midst of suffering Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us for the deceased members of Sarah’s
Family remembering especially her grandparents Carrie aan and Margaret Donal Karen and Kevin may God grant to our loved ones Eternal rest Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us calling on the intercession of Mary Mother of the sorrowful we pray Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy wom Jesus holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen Almighty father we ask you to hear our prayers for Sarah with her may we know your mercy and the fullness of
Redemption we ask this through Christ Our Lord amen we now sit for the preparation of the gifts during which some of the family will bring the bread and wine for for and as we do we sing our offer Tre hymn Morning Has Broken Morning Has Broken best morning black has broken like the praise for the singing Praise for the morning praise for them springing fresh from the world sweet the r new from heav like the first you fall on the f Foret of the In where is may we come to share in the Divinity of Christ we hum himself mine is the mine is the morning born of the one life Every morning God’s recre of your day and so let us stand and pray that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the almighty father Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and the glory of his name for our good and for the good of all his holy
Church as we humbly present to you these sacrificial offerings O Lord for the Salvation of your servant Sarah we beseech your mercy that she who did not doubt your son to be a loving savior may find in him a merciful judge who lives and reigns forever and ever
Amen the Lord be with you and with your spirit lift up your hearts we lift them up to let us give thanks to the Lord Our God it is right and just it is truly right and just our duty and our Salvation always and everywhere to give
You thanks Lord Holy Father Almighty and eternal God through Christ Our Lord in him the hope of blessed Resurrection has dawned that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come indeed for your faithful Lord life is changed not ended and when this Earthly
Dwelling turns to dust an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven and so with angels and AR angels with Thrones and dominions and with all the hosts and powers of heaven with sing the hym of your glory as Without End we Acclaim holy holy holy Lord God of hosts
Heaven and Earth are full of your glory hosana in the highest blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord hosana in the highest if you’d like to kneel or to sit you are indeed holy oh Lord and all you have created rightly gives you praise
For through your son our Lord Jesus Christ by the power and working of the Holy Spirit you give life to all things and make them holy and you never cease to gather a people to yourself so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice chice may be
Offered to your name therefore oh Lord we humbly implore you by The Same Spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration that they may become the body and blood of your son our Lord Jesus Christ at whose command we celebrate these mysteries for on the night he was
Betrayed he himself took bread and giving you thanks he said the blessing broke the bread bread and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for You in a similar way when supper was ended he took the challice and giving you thanks he said the blessing and gave the Chalice to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the Chalice of my blood the blood of the new
And eternal Covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the Forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me The mystery of faith we Proclaim your death oh Lord and profess your Resurrection until you come again therefore oh Lord as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of your son his wondrous Resurrection ction and Ascension into heaven and as we look forward to his second coming we offer
You in Thanksgiving this holy and Living Sacrifice look we pray upon the oblation of your church and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you will to reconcile us to yourself grant that we who are nourished by the body and blood of your son and filled with
His holy spirit may become one body one spirit in Christen may he make of us an eternal offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect especially with the Most Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God with blessed Joseph her spouse with your blessed Apostles and glorious Mars and
With all the Saints on Whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help may this sacrifice of our reconciliation we pray oh Lord Advance the peace and salvation of all the world be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your Pilgrim Church on Earth with your servant Francis our Pope and
Vincent our Bishop the order of Bishops all the clergy and the entire people you have gained for your own listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you in your compassion and merciful father gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the the
World remember your servant Sarah whom you have called from this world to yourself grant that she who was United with your son in a death like his may also be one with him in his resurrection when from the earth he will raise up in the flesh those who have
Died and transform our lowly body after the pattern of his own glorious body to our departed brothers and sisters too and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life give kind admittance to your kingdom there we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your
Glory when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes for seeing you are God as you are we shall be like you for all the ages and Praise You Without End through Christ Our Lord through whom you bestow on the world all that is
Good through him and with him him and in him oh God Almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever and Everen so now let us stand and at the savior’s command and formed by Divine teaching dare to say Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation ation but Deliver Us from Evil Deliver Us Lord we pray from every evil graciously Grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from
Sin and safe from all distress as we await the Blessed hope and the coming of Our Savior Jesus Christ for the Kingdom Glory Lord Jesus Christ who said to your Apostles peace I leave you my peace I give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously
Grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and Reign forever and ever amen the Peace of the Lord be with you always and with your sp Let Us offer each other the sign of peace Lamb of God you take away the sins of
The world have mercy on US Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world have mercy on US Lamb of God you take away the S of the world grant us peace if you’d like to kneel to s Behold the Lamb of God Behold Him who
Takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed we now come to the distribution of Holy Communion if you aren’t Catholic or you
Haven’t major First Holy Communion or you don’t wish to receive Holy Communion this morning you’re very welcome to come forward for a blessing Cross Your Arms over your chest and in that way the minister will know that you wish to receive a blessing amen for For For H Yeah For I watch the sun rise lighting the sky casting each shs near and on this Morning right so it be I feel those Shadows near me but you close to me following all my way may I be always close to you following all your ways Lord I watch the sunlight shine through the clouds warm me earth below and at the midday life seems to say I feel your brightness near me for you close to me following all my may I be always close to you following all your Ways I watch the sunset fading away lighting the clouds with sleep and as the evening closes its eyes I feel your presence near me for you are always close to me following all my way May I be always close to you following all your ways I watch the Moonlight guarding the night waiting till the morning comes yes silent Earth is at rest only your peace is near me yes you always close to me follow all my ways may I be always close to you following all your
Ways Lord let us stand and pray Lord God whose son left us in the sacrament of his body food for the journey mercifully grant that strengthened by it our sister Sarah may come to the Eternal table of Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever confident in Our Hope of eternal life
Let us commend her to the loving mercy of our father and let our prayers go with her she was adopted as God’s daughter in baptism and was nourished at the table of the Lord may she now inherit the promise of eternal life and take her place at the table of God’s
Children in heaven let us pray pray also on our own behalf that we who now mourn and are saddened May one day go forth with our sister to meet the Lord of life when he appears in glory receive her and present to God the most high receive her soul and present her to God saints of God come to her hasten to meet her angels of the Lord Receive May Christ who called you take you to himself may angels lead you to the bosom of abah Receive to God the most high Eternal rest gr unto her oh Lord and let per your light shine upon her Receive God the most into your hands father of mercies we commend Our Sister Sarah in the sure and certain hope that together with all who have died in Christ she will rise with him on the last day we give you thanks for the blessings which you bestowed
Upon Sarah in this life they are signs to us of your goodness and of our fellowship with the Saints in Christ merciful Lord turn toward us and listen to our our prayers open the gates of paradise to your servant and help us who remain to comfort one another with
Assurances of Faith until we all meet in Christ and are with you and with our sister forever we ask this through Christ Our Lord amen and so in peace let us take Sarah to her place of rest I in The and I daned in Theon and the stars and the I came down from heaven and IED on the earth I don’t stand whereever you may be I am the lord of the and you all you may you all I dance for the and the but they wouldn’t dance they
Wouldn’t follow me I for the Bish and for James and John they came with Dan said whever you may be I am the lord of the said he and I lead you you mayad you in the he I on Theath the holy people said it was a shame they wh and they stried and they me on high and they left me there on the cross to die wherever you may be I am the lord of the said he and I lead you all wherever you may be lead you all in the
He they cut me down and I li up high I am the life that will never never die I live with you if you live with me I am the lord of the D said he don’t stand wherever you may be I am
The lord of the D said he and I lead you wherever you may be and lead you all in the s go back this way it’s probably easier as long h Co sty looks good Mar you’re okay done