Need a reading for a memorial service

[MRD]

My friend that died is having the memorial service a week from today. My husband has been asked to do a reading, but the family has not come up with one that they want.

Do any of you have a reading or poem or essay that would fit this occasion.
It does not have to be solemn, as this is a celebration of life, not a funeral in the typical sense.

Thanks so much in advance

[roseskid]

MRD, I'm sorry to hear of your friend's passing. This may not be what you had in mind, but when my mother died suddenly, a friend gave me a copy of this poem, and I found it quite soothing.

LIFE'S WEAVING

My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me,
I may not choose the colors
He know what they should be.
For he can view the pattern
Upon the upper side,
While I can see it only
On this the under side.

Sometimes he weaveth sorrow
Which seemeth strange to me,
But I will trust his judgment
And work on faithfully.
"Tis he who fills the shuttle
He knows just what is best,
So I shall weave in earnest
And leave with Him the rest.

At last when life is ended
With him shall I abide,
Then I may view the pattern
Upon the upper side.
Then I shall know the reason
Why pain with joy entwined,
Was woven in the fabric
Of the life that God designed.

By Father Tabb

http://www.uwm.edu/People/savr/weavers.html

(it's at the bottom of the page)

I hope this helps...take care, sweetie.

[JLuvs]

A friend gave this to me in college when my best friend suddenly passed away:

Loneliness

When loneliness is all around, know that I am here.

If sorrow seems to fill your heart, know I'll wipe your tear.

When burdens are too much to bear, I'll carry them away.

If times are hard and you feel lost, I'll help you find the way.

When darkness seems to cloud your dreams, I'll hold you through the night.

For I, The Lord, am by your side, to darkness I am light.

--- Anon ----

I am so sorry for your loss.

[bbnbama]

JLuvs...that one you posted is absolutely beautiful......made me tear up reading it.....

[misskitty]

I thought this was rather wonderful. As it relates to a boat, it talks of a "she" rather than a he. But you could apply it to your friend after reading it.

Gone From My Sight

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze and starts
for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength
I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other

Then someone at my side says;

"There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull
and spar as she was when she left my side
and she is just as able to bear her
load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone
at my side says, "There, she is gone!"

There are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad
shout,

"Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

Henry Van Dyke

Check out this website: http://www.poetryamerica.com/poetry-contest.asp for inspirational, or life celebrating poetry. There may be something there that fits.

[nlmcp]

MissKitty, they did that reading at memorial service I was at years ago and I thought it was beautiful but didn't know who had written it. That is good one for someone who loved the water.

[MRD]

Thanks so much you guys. Those are all beautiful and all brought tears to my eyes.

My friend loved New Orleans and loved to make Gumbo (which we are having at the wake) and crawfish, etc. Their house also had a lot of prints from New Orleans Jazz festivals they attended.

So we found this poem. It was written for a jazz musician that passed away, but I "think" we are going to use it. I had the authors name, but its hidden on my messy desk somewhere. So we might use this unless we find something else. So if any of you have any others keep them coming because even if we don't use them, I am filing them away. They are beautiful. And Thank you.



The Death of Jazz New Orleans Style



Miles and miles

Of Obsidian black,

Canary yellow

Flamingo pink,

And violet.



Of Jade green

Pearly white

Sea blue

And saxophone gold



Men and women

Parade through the streets

With umbrellas held high

A brass band and drum

Hold the beat.



When a jazz player dies

The others come to both

Celebrate and mourn

The life of such fine art.

Through the streets of

Old New Orleans,

Dancing to the tune of

A well played life:



Oh when the Saints go marching in

Oh when the saints go marching in

Oh how I want to be in that number,

When the saints go marching in.

[JLuvs]

JLuvs...that one you posted is absolutely beautiful......made me tear up reading it.....

As it does with me. I don't get it out too often. Sadly my friend was murdered so it was shocking for me as we were both 19 at the time.

Here is another beautiful song that I have sung at Celebration of Life services and funerals:

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."

Refrain
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.

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.

Refrain
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.

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.

Refrain
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.

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.

Refrain
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.
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

[bbnbama]

Well the song that I have requested to be played at my funeral may not necessarily apply to myrosiedog but I love this song so much........

GARTH BROOKS
The Dance
(Tony Arata)

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance

[queenb]

I remembered this from when my Granddaddy died...when I was 7 years old, which was 1967. I'm surprised I remembered enough of it to find online...

I Can Not Say

I cannot say, and I will not say
That he is dead. He is just away.
With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,
He has wandered into an unknown land.
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be since he lingers there.
And you-O you, who the wildest yearn
For the old-time step and the glad return-
Think of him faring on, as dear
In the love of there as the love of here;
Think of him still as the same, I say;
He is not dead - he is just away!

by James Whitcomb Riley