FUNERAL WORSHIP SERVICE

for

Henning Ross-Jensen

 

1924  -  2003

 

April 25, 2003: 1:00 P.M.

Parish of St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church, Montreal, QC.

 

Prelude             Julia Shantz

 

Apostolic Greeting             (stand)

 

 

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

 

C: And also with you.

 

P: Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received from God.

 

C: Thanks be to God.

 

P: When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him in Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

 

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

 

P: Let us pray:

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our brother, Henning Ross Jensen. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us your aid, so we may see in death the gate to eternal life,

that we may continue our course on earth in confidence until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before us; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen

 

Opening Hymn 'The Church's Is One Foundation" (stand)

 

The Church's one foundation Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;

She is His new creation By water and the Word.

From heaven He came and sought her To be His holy bride;

With His won blood He bought her, And for her life He died.

 

Elect from every nation, Yet one o'er all the earth,

Her charter of salvation One Lord, one faith, one birth.

One holy name she blesses, Partakes one holy food,

And to one hope she presses, With every grace endued.

 

Though with a scornful wonder This world sees her oppressed,

By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed,

Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up: "How long?”

And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song.

 

Through toil and tribulation And tumult of her war,

She waits the consummation Of peace forevermore;

Til with the vision glorious Her longing eyes are blest,

And the great Church victorious Shall be the Church at rest.

 

Yet she on earth has union With God, the Three in One,

And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is won.

O blessed heav'nly chorus l Lord, save us by your grace,

That we, like saints before us, May see you face to face.

 

P: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the Lord.

 

C: I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all the people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his servants. O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds. I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

 

P: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the Lord.

 

First Lesson: Psalm 23, *            (sit)

*(Some members of the congregation choose not to be identified on the Web)

 

Eulogy: Emil Haltiner

 

Remarks from Friends

 

Special Music: St. Ansgar’s  Choir

 

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:1‑13, Rev. Samuel King‑Kabu

 

Gospel            : John 14:1‑6 , Rev. Helmut Saabas

 

Hymn: ”Jeg er træt og går til ro”

 

Jeg er træt og går til ro, lukker mine øjne to;

Fader, se med kærlighed til mit ringe leje ned!

 

Har i dag jeg, kære Gud, syndet imod dine bud,

vaer mig nådig, vaer mig god, slet det ud for Jesu blod!

 

Se, o Herre, til os ind, os, som har det samme sind,

saet, O Gud, din englehær om al verden fjern og nær!

 

Stå de syge hjerter bi, luk de trætte øjne i,

giv os alle fred og ro i vor Herres Jesu tro!

 

Homily: "Good And Faithful Servant"

 

Hymn: "Beautiful Saviour"

 

Beautiful Saviour, King of creation,

Son of God and Son of man!

Truly I'd love thee, truly I'd serve thee,

Light of my soul, my joy, my crown'

 

Fair are the meadows. Fair are the woodlands,

Robed in flowers of blooming spring;

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,

He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.

 

Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moon light,

Bright the sparkling stars on high;

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer.

Than all the angels in the sky.

 

Beautiful Saviour, Lord of the nations,

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honour, Praise, adoration,

Now and forever more be thine !

 

P: God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

 

Apostle's Creed: (stand)

 

C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the

communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection

of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen

 

Prayers:  Rev. Helmut Saabas

 

P: Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the

resurrection and the life." Lord, you consoled Mary and Martha in

their distress; draw near to us, who mourn for Henning Ross jensen,

and dry the tears of those who weep.

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow.

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: You raised the dead to life; give to our brother eternal life

 C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: You promise life to those who believe; bring our brother to the joys of heaven.

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Our brother was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit; give him fellowship with all your saints.

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: He was nourished with your body and blood; grant him a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our brother; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: We commend to you in grace the next person whom you will call from out our midst. Make us ready in faith for our final hour and strengthen our confidence that you will fulfill our life.

C: Hear us, Lord.

 

P: Guide us in living and in dying; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen

 

Lord's Prayer:

 

C: 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, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

 

Commendation  (sit)

 

P: May our farewell express our affection; may it ease our sadness and strengthen our hope.

 

P: Saints of God, receive your brother in the faith;

C: Carry him in peace to his heavenly reward.

 

P: Hasten to meet him, angels of the Lord!

C: Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.

 

P: May Christ who called you, take you to himself;

C: May angels lead you to the bosom of Abraham.

 

P: O Lord, you raised Lazarus from the decay of the tomb.

C: Grant your servant rest, a haven of pardon, and peace.

 

P: Lord our God, receive your servant, for whom you shed your blood.

C: Remember, Lord, that we are dust: like grass, like a flower of the field.

 

P: Merciful Lord, turn toward us and listen to our prayers: Open the gates of paradise to your servant, Henning Ross Jensen.

Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Help us, who remain, to comfort one another with assurances of faith, until we meet in Christ and are with you and with our brother for ever.

C: Amen

 

Benediction:  (stand)

 

P: The Lord bless us and keep us.

The Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us.

The Lord look upon us with favour and ‑P give us peace.

 

P: Let us go forth in peace.

C: In the name of Christ. Amen

 

During the last two stanzas of the closing hymn the family and clergy will lead, as the casket is carried out in procession.

 

Closing Hymn:             "On Our Way Rejoicing"

 

On our way rejoicing Gladly let us go;

Christ our Lord has conquered; Vanquished is the foe!

Christ without, our safety; Christ within, our joy;

Who, if we be faithful, Can our hope destroy?

 

Refrain:

On our way rejoicing, As we forward move,

Hearken to our praises, 0 blest God of love!

 

If with honest-hearted Love for God and man,

Day by day you find us Doing what we can,

You who gives the seedtime Will give large increase

Crown the head with blessings, Fill the heart with peace.

 

Refrain:

 

Unto God the Father Joyful songs we sing;

Unto God the Saviour Thankful hearts we bring;

Unto God the Spirit Bow we and adore,

On our way rejoicing Now and evermore!

 

Refrain:

 

On our way rejoicing, As we homeward move,

Hearken to our praises, O thou God of love!

Is there grief or sadness? Thine it cannot be!

Is our sky beclouded? Clouds are not from thee!

 

Refrain:

 

Postlude: Julia Shantz

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

Organist: Julia Shantz

Eulogy: Emil Haltiner

Usher: Henrik Langer, Rendell Sergeant

Lector: *(Some members of the congregation choose not to be identified on the Web)

Lector/Prayer:            Rev. Helmut Saabas

Presider/Preacher:        Rev. Samuel King‑Kabu

PALLBEARERS: Eric Kristensen, Emil Haltiner, Gerald Murray, Hans Jensen, *, Henrik Langer

*(Some members of the congregation choose not to be identified on the Web)

 

- The family wishes to thank every one for their support and prayers at this time. Thank you for coming and showing your love and may God richly bless each and every one of you.

-Memorial Fund Envelopes have been included in your bulletin. If anyone wishes to make donations to the Memorial Fund in memory of Henning Ross Jensen, they may do so.

-I The Internment will take place at the Lake View Cemetery (Danish section) in Pointe Claire, following the Worship Service.

- Refreshments will follow the Internment here at St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church (Beck Hall) and everyone is cordially invited to attend.

-Many thanks to the ladies of St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church for providing refreshments.

 

"Thou showest me the path of life; in thy presence there is fullness of joy,

in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. "

 

Committal Service

 

P: I called to the Lord in my distress; the Lord answered by setting me free. It is better to rely on the Lord than to put any trust in flesh. It is better to rely on the Lord than to put any trust in rulers. I was pressed so hard that I almost fell, but the Lord came to my help. There was a sound of exultation and victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! The right hand of the Lord is exalted! The right hand of the Lord has triumphed!"

 

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them: I will offer thanks to the Lord. "This gate of the Lord; he who is righteous may enter."

 

P: Almighty God, by the death and burial of Jesus, your anointed, you have destroyed death and sanctified the graves of all your saints. Keep our brother, Henning Ross Jensen, whose body we now lay to rest, in the company of all your saints and, at the last, raise her up to share with all your faithful people the endless joy and peace won through the glorious resurrection of Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen

 

P: Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on the immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

 

"O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

P: In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty God our brother, Henning Ross Jensen, and we commit his body to its resting place; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him. The Lord make his face shine on him and be gracious to him. The Lord look upon him with favour and give him ‑14 peace.

C: Amen

 

P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:

 

C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your

kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give

us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive

those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and

deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the

glory are yours, now and forever.             Amen

 

P: Lord Jesus, by your death you took away the sting of death. Grant to us, your servants, so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake in your likeness; to you, the author and giver of life, be all honour and glory, now and forever.

C: Amen

 

P: Rest eternal grant him, O Lord;

C: and let light perpetual shine upon him.

 

P: The God of peace ‑‑ who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant ‑‑ make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well‑pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

C: Amen

 

P: Let us go in peace.

 

Benediction:

P: The Lord bless us and keep us.

The Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us.

The Lord look upon us with favour and give us peace.

 

Hymn, "Altid Frejdig"

 

Altid frejdig, når du går

veje, Gud tørr kende,

selv om du til målet når

først ved verdens ende !

 

Aldrig ræd for mørkets magt,

stjernerne vil lyse !

Med et Fadervor i pagt

skal du aldrig gyse !

 

Kæmp for alt, hvad du har kært,

dø, om så det gælder

Da er livet el så svært,

døden ikke heller.

 

 

P: Go in Peace & Serve the Lord

C: Thanks be to God.