Funeral Service
ANN RICHARDSON 1955-2006
Reading
Matthew Chapter 2 verse 18
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
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This verse came to my mind as it appears in Pier Paolo Pasolini's film The Gospel According To Matthew which Annie and I greatly admired and the words seemed to be fitting.
Our reading is from Corinthians 1 Chapter 13 Verses 1 to 13
The last time I was called upon to recite this was when Annie asked me to read it for Rosalie's service. Annie loved this passage and we thought it would be right today when we see Annie reunited with Rosalie that I should attempt to read it again.
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Corinthians 1 Chapter 13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love,
I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
but have not Love, I am nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude.
Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away;
as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect;
but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: Now I know in part;
then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.
And now abideth faith, hope, Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love.