Tracey Jane Parker. 13 February 1964-1 December 1999.
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Marholm. 8 December 1999.
LORD of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, Whose trust ever child-like, no cares could destroy, Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray, Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe, Be there at our labours, and give us, we pray, Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace, Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray, Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm, Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray, Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Reading: Death is nothing at all. – Pamela Harrison.
Lesson: Revelation 21: 1-4. –Lt. Col. Roger Parker.
HYMN:
The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am his and he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow my ransomed soul he leadeth, and where the verdant pastures grow with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me, and on his shoulder gently laid, and home rejoicing brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill, with thee, dear Lord, beside me; thy rod and staff my comfort still, thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread’st a table in my sight; thy unction grace bestoweth; and O what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days thy goodness faileth never: good shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house for ever.
Gospel: John 10: 11-16.
Address:
Tribute: Lt. Col. Roger Parker
HYMN
Jesus, good above all other, gentle child of gentle mother, in a stable born our brother, give us grace to persevere.
Jesus, cradled in a manger, for us facing every danger, living as a homeless stranger, make we thee our King most dear.
Jesus, for thy people dying, risen master, death defying, Lord in heaven, thy grace supplying. keep us to thy presence near.
Jesus, who our sorrows bearest, all our thoughts and hopes thou sharest, thou to man the truth declarest; help us all thy truth to hear.
Lord, in all our doings guide us; pride and hate shall ne’er divide us; we’ll go on with thee beside us, and with joy we’ll persevere.
.PRAYERS
Priest: Let us pray
Lord have mercy upon us
All: Christ have mercy upon us
Priest: Lord have mercy upon us
Priest: As our Saviour taught us, so we pray.
All: 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 how trespasses against us.
And lead us not in to temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Priest: Rest eternal grant her O Lord,
All: And let light perpetual shine upon her.
Special Prayers:
The Commmendation
HYMN:
| All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, he made their glowing colours, he made their tiny wings. The purple-headed mountain, the river running by, the sunset, and the morning that brightens up the sky: |
The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden, he made them every one. The tall trees in the greenwood, the meadows where we play, the rushes by the water we gather every day: He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well. |
Blessing
NUNC DIMMITTIS
Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace:
According to thy word:
For mine eyes hath seen thy salvation:
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people:
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles:
And to be the glory of thy people Israel.
GLORIA
After the Committal at Peterborough Crematorium
You are invited to join the family at the Green Man, Marholm.
DATA BASE REF: I/F 2007
The King of love my Shepherd is
Whose goodness faileth never-
So we have just sung, but there are times in all our lives, when we wonder whether this is true. And for many of us, today may be one of those occasions.
The natural sadness we feel at anyone’s passing, is mixed up with so many other feelings, for most of us here. With most deaths, there is unfinished business for those left behind – especially when someone as Tracey dies suddenly. There may be guilt and frustration on the part of those close to her – a feeling that surely this should not have happened – and even anger at the situation. And above all, concern for Tracey’s two lovely children, Rebecca and Amy.
Dear Rebecca and Amy, our hearts go out to you in helpless sadness. I only hope that in years to come, there will be some consolation for you in the numbers here today.
I first met Tracey some years ago, when Rebecca and Amy were in Castor church choir. Although we all know that Nigel and Tracey led separate lives, on a number of occasions when I was round at Tracey’s house, Nigel was there also. Nigel – we wish you well in the difficult days and weeks ahead – we know you will make a loving, and excellent job of caring for Rebecca and Amy – and we all here will be behind you, and praying for you.
“Perverse and foolish oft I strayed” – so we have sung in our hymn about the Good Shepherd, the King of love. As we all can be, Tracey could be perverse – she was a free spirit; true to herself not other people’s expectations of her; erratic and independent by turns, but also needing and grateful for her close friends, like Pam Harrison who were always there for her. For Tracey was maddening at times, but always loveable.
Rebecca and Amy were talking to me about their mother a few nights ago, we were trying to find words to describe her. This is what the children said, she liked Tigers, she liked rock-climbing, she liked purple. Somehow I think these are important insights into her character. Graceful and independent like the Tiger, going her own way, the risk of rock-climbing, the sense of danger for someone who was easily bored – Purple, an unusual choice and a striking colour; like the 3 year old tomboy Tracey was who shed her clothes, but always wore wellies, with blonde curly hair, who even then enjoyed climbing.
She also, pervesely, liked historical romances and star trek, and the music of Enigma, which was approppiate for she was an enigma – as I said a free spirit who attracted friends, but could madden her family – amusing, fun to be with – the best Toad of Toad Hall ever at Castor school.
She loved travelling, and that was right, as she was always searching, opening doors, but never quite finding what she was looking for.
And yet this unconventional person, had for the last 14 months found stability and enjoyment in a most conventional place. Working as a security officer for the Serpentine Green Centre, was work she loved. She loved the people, the place, her collegues from work. She even loved the uniform – a real poacher turned game-keeper.
At times it is so easy to feel that something has been wasted; so difficult to make sense of life. And where in all this is the Good Shepherd? – the King of Love.
First I believe that he both knows and cares – for Tracey, for Rebecca and Amy – for us all. He cares when even a sparrow falls to the ground, he said, how much more will he care for us his children. He knows us too well, even if we know him not, he knows us so well that even the hairs on our head are numbered. He may not stop the sparrow in its flight falling to the ground; he did not stop Tracey from dying, but He knows and cares.
We only have to look at the seasons, the movements of the planets, the sun rise and set and rise again to see that there is shape , pattern and purpose in our lives. As someone wrote – we lie too close to the carpet to see the pattern. But there is not only purpose and pattern, there is also love, not judgement, love and promise.
And the purpose is this, Rebecca and Amy’s mum was known by the Good Shepherd, and loved by him, as are we all.