A Service of Thanksgiving
For the Resurrection Life of
Bernd ‘Bernie’ Mieth
November 20, 1942 – May 22, 2024
June 1, 2024
11:00 am
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Westborough, MA
PRELUDE
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele Johannes Brahms
Great Is Thy Faithfulness setting by Douglas E. Wagner
Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring J.S. Bach
Yeon Soh, Organ
INTRODUCTION
Welcome in the name of Jesus, the Savior of the world. We are gathered to worship, to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to remember before God our brother Bernie to give thanks for his life, to commend him to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by 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.
Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you.
We glorify you.
Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you.
We praise you.
Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you.
We worship you.
To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. Amen.
GATHERING
HYMN What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our brother Bernie. 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. Amen
FIRST LESSON Isaiah 25:6-9 Gertraude Rossner
A reading from Isaiah.
6On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
7And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
8he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the LORD has spoken.
9It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON Psalm 91:9-16 Gertraude Rossner
A reading from Psalms.
9Because you have made the LORD your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling place,
10no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.
11For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
13You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
15When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honor them.
16With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
CONGREGATION HYMN Here I Am, Lord ELW 574
REMEMBRANCES
Corie Mieth
Dirk Mieth
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL John 6:1-14 The Rev. Jeffrey Goodrich
The Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.
1After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people? 10Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.
SERMON The Rev. Jeffrey Goodrich
HYMN Precious Lord, Take My Hand ELW 773
Prayers of THE PEOPLE
Giving our burdens to God, let us pray for all people according to their needs.
Lord Listen to Your Children Praying
Almighty God, in holy baptism you have knit your chosen people together into one communion of saints in the body of Christ. Give to your whole church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace. Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to share the new life in Christ. Give courage and faith to all who mourn, and a sure and certain hope in your loving care, that, casting all their sorrow on you, they may have strength for the days ahead. God of mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that, where this world groans in grief and pain, your Holy Spirit may lead us to bear witness to your light and life. Help us, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. God of mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
God of all grace, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection he opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, will be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.
DIALOGUE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Preface
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
GREAT THANKSGIVING
Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth.
In mercy for our fallen world you gave your only Son,
that all those who believe in him should not perish,
but have eternal life.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering therefore, his life, death, resurrection, and ascension,
we wait in hope for his coming again.
Send now your Holy Spirit into our hearts,
that we may receive our Lord with a living faith
as he comes to us in his holy supper,
and lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
COMMUNION
At this table, Christ is both host and meal, and offers himself to all who hunger and thirst
for his presence. We believe that he is truly present in this sacrament.
Ushers direct you to the rail, where bread is placed in your hand (you can request a gluten-free wafer), and where you receive wine by sipping from the common cup or taking a cup from the tray (the cups in the center contain white grape juice). Empty cups go into the trays by the windows
If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward and receive a blessing.
If you need to receive communion in your pew, simply notify an usher.
No one is too young to receive this sacrament, though some families wish to give their children some instruction before they take their first communion. If a young child accompanies you to the rail, please indicate to the pastor whether they should receive bread or a blessing.
AGNUS DEI
COMMUNION MUSIC
The Lord’s Prayer
Malotte
Marilyn Reiman, Trumpet
TABLE BLESSING
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace. Amen.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving, and to conform our lives to his; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PRAYER OF REMEMBRANCE
Merciful God, you heal the broken in heart and bind up the wounds of the afflicted.
Strengthen us in our weakness, calm our troubled spirits,
and dispel our doubts and fears.
In Christ’s rising from the dead,
you conquered death and opened the gates to everlasting life.
Renew our trust in you that by the power of your love
we shall one day be brought together again with our brother Bernie.
Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Rest eternal grant to Bernie, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him.
Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC On Eagle’s Wings
Kirby Stalley
BLESSING
Almighty God, Father + Son, and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.
Amen.
SENDING HYMN A Mighty Fortress is our God ELW 504
POSTLUDE
Festival Setting of Thaxted David Howard Pettit
O God Beyond All Praising
Marilyn Reiman, Trumpet
All are welcome to a luncheon in Bernie’s memory in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.
PARTICIPANTS
Celebrant The Rev. Cassandra Hartnett
Preacher The Rev. Jeffrey Goodrich
Director of Music Kirby Stalley
Worship Assistant Bruce Grams
Lector Gertraude Rossner
Organist Yeon Soh
Trumpet Marilyn Reiman
Remembrances Corie Mieth and Dirk Mieth
Ushers Richard Bergemann & Carl Miett
Altar Care Stephanie Leclair
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2024 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #27028.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved
Bernie Mieth Memorial Service 060124.docx
