February 9th 1991- February 3rd 1992
What though the radiance which was so bright
Be now forever from my sight
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass or glory in the flower
We will grieve not rather find
Strength in what remains behind
William Wordsworth
Memorial for Sarah 3rd February 2002
Music plays as people enter
Vivaldi The Four Seasons Concerto No. 4 in F minor "Winter" Largo
Vivaldi The Four Seasons Concerto No. 4 in F minor "Winter" Allegro
Welcome greeting and statement of intent
Welcome to the memorial service for Sarah Marie.
"No matter what our path or belief system death is an important part of
life. A step in a journey. A new beginning.
It is through the sharing of our sorrow that we are able to relieve our
grief after those we love pass from this life. And by listening to the stories
of those loved ones we learn lessons about how to live our lives fully and
how to remain strong when faced with this challenge ourselves.
Death is a piece of life, not its opposite, not even its end but merely
one station of a larger cycle. We are born, we die, we are reborn in a different
shape. Our bodies decompose and feed the flowers that feed the soil that
feeds the crops that feed the livestock that feeds us. These are the facts
of Life and Death: when something dies it becomes a part of something else
that lives. Biology, if not all theology, supports this view."
"A meditation on death" by Sabina C Becker
Poem
Ten Years
Ten years ago
This very day
I sat with my heart breaking
My world had changed
Come crashing down
Would I ever stop this aching
And as the years
Flew by so fast
The aching dulled a bit
But still the place
Within my heart
Remained darkened; unlit
Yet like the mountain lake
All still and calm, untouched
Changed by a tiny pebble
Dropped into its depths
My pain became a part of me
And made me who I am
By Louise
Reading
"A season for everything"
Book of Ecclesiastes
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the
heavens.
There is a time for birth and a time for death,
A time for planting and a time for pulling up,
A time for killing and a time for healing,
A time for pulling down and a time for building,
There is a time for sorrow and a time for joy
A time for mourning and a time for dancing,
A time for making love and a time for r not making love,
A time for kissing and a time for not kissing,
There is a time for finding and a time for losing,
A time for saving and a time for throwing away,
A time for tearing and a time for mending,
A time for silence and the time for talking,
There is a time for love and a time for hate,
A time for war and a time for peace.
Reading of reflection
From "The Prophet"
And he said: You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find
it unless you seek it in the heart of life? The owl whose night-bound eyes
are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed
behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For
life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one. In the depth
of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; And like
seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams,
for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Your fear of death is but the
trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to
be laid upon him in honour.
Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the
mark of the king? Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?
For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the
sun? And what is it to cease breathing but to free the breath from its restless
tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And
when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And
when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.
Poem and other pieces
You came and touched so many hearts
In so many different ways
You gave so much and asked very little in return
There is an emptiness as if a part of me is missing
But with time you have shown me how to be whole again
I know you are safe now and nothing can harm you
Remember although we are apart
We will always be together
In my heart
Adapted from a poem by Oz Caliburn
Your Loved one lives in your heart
May tender memories
Soften your grief
May fond recollection
Bring you relief
And may you find comfort
And peace in the thought
Of the joy that knowing
Your loved one brought-
For time and space
Can never divide
Or keep your loved one
From your side
When memory paints
In colours true
The happy hours
That belonged to you
Helen Steiner Rice
Sharing of memories and momentoes
People come forward in turn to share
From Karen
2 Corinthians 1:3, 4.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves
have received from God.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they
comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me, all the days of my life, and I
will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Sarah Marie Hignett
Our Message to you.....
Ten years ago our world changed. We lost something that we can never
have again.
How could a small child change so many lives. Her smile remembered always
by those who had the pleasure to receive it.
Sometimes we cannot understand why special people are taken from us.
We seek answers, but are given no reply. We have to accept things we cannot
change.
Sarah you are now everything, the air, the land and the sea. You are all
things we can feel but cannot see. You still touch our hearts in ways that
can not be imagined. You are gone but you are always there. You walk beside
us, You give us strength.
The Angels came and called your name, and took you by the hand. They led
you to another place where you can be in peace.
We will always remember you. Forever you will stay inside our hearts.
Love from Karen, Mike, Alyce, Blake, Courtney, Jack, and Noah RUSSELL.
xxxxxxx ooooooo XXXXXXX OOOOOOO
Sarah
As a gentle breeze passed by
So did the gentle passing of a
Very special soul
Her name was Sarah
A little child with a face of
An angel and a smile that would
Melt the heart of a tyrant
A fair-haired child with a smile
That would captivate the world
With the passing of her we will
Always remember the tiny patter
Of her feet and to remember the
Warmth we felt when you heard her laugh
This little girl had the courage that
Would solve the meanest of tasks
With an ability to make us feel very
Proud to have had her as a part of us
This child was sent from above and
Placed in your care, parents who are
Very special, who loved and cared for
Such a special tiny soul.
Also remembering the whole time that
Then all this world of suffering and pain
Sarah was laughing and playing with a smile
Thankful for all of which she gave to us
Not to be thought of this as a loss
But one of such a positive gain
I know at this time
You both feel torn apart of the empty lives you must endure
Just remember your little Sarah
Loved you with conviction and a love
Of which was so pure
How I wish I could now take her little hand
And tell her things will turn out fine
But better still let her pain be mine
You both were chosen was a privilege
Given in caring for this soul from the heavens
In my eyes Sarah was so precious so meek and mild
And was heavens very special child
A poem written in a card sent by
Donna and Glenn Kyle
My reflections
Her Grace and peacefulness through suffering
Taught me strength and endurance
Her joyful laughter
Taught me to embrace life with an open heart and an open mind
Her ready smile no matter what
Taught me that no matter how hard the road I trod, no matter how dark the
night, how deep the shit, every step had a purpose and every cloud had a
silver lining if you looked for it hard enough.
So every time over the last 10 years I find myself sitting wondering why
her? Why me? Why so young? I look in the mirror and see deep within myself
the changes, the growth and the wrinkles that her presence in my life and
her passing have bought me and I have my answer. Maybe only part of an answer
but an answer none the less.
Reflective music/song
"A little ray of Sunshine" by Axiom
========================
by Brian Cadd and Don Mudie
Her fathers says she has to have a name,
not the same as her mom's, but a name just the same,
A little ray of sunshine has come into the world,
A little ray of sunshine in the shape of a girl.
We'll show her the dress that she'll wear
With the gold flowing hair that nature provided
My little ray of sunshine has come into the world,
My little ray of sunshine in the shape of a girl.
A little ray of sunhine -
I want to know if you think she looks good in the pink,
Grandma has bought her ... our own little daughter.
She can make you feel good,
She can make you feel that it's all worthwhile,
Only by her smile, only by her smile...
Have you noticed she's just like her father,
And I think that I'd rather
Her hair was much darker,
My little ray of sunshine has come into the world,
My little ray of sunshine in the shape of a girl.
She can make you feel good,
She can make you feel that it's all worthwhile,
Only by her smile, only by her smile, only by her smile...
Talkin' 'bout my little ray of sunshine,
My little ray of sunshine,
Little ray of sunshine,
Little ray, little ray, little ray,
Sweet little darlin',
My little ray of sunshine, woa woa woa ... hmmmm....
Song
Baby Baby by Ratcat
By Ratcat
I've been feeling oh so sad
You are the best thing I've ever had
I can't stop thinking about you
All the fun times we've had
I cant stop thinking about you oh no
Baby baby I love you so
And I don't want to let you go
Baby Bab y I feel alright
When I hold on to you tonight
I've been feeling oh so blue
Lost in love I just don't know what to do
I can't stop dreaming about you
I've been dreaming every day
I cant stop dreaming about you, oh no
Baby Baby I love you so
And I don't want to let you go
Baby Baby I feel alright
When I hold on to you tonight
I've been feeling so afraid
I've never felt so lonely as I'm feeling today
I can't help thinking about you
I've been thinking every day
I cant help dreaming about you, oh no
Toast
Only when you drink at the river of silence
Shall you indeed sing
And when you have reached the mountain top
That you shall begin to climb
And when the Earth has claimed your limbs
That you shall truly dance
"To Sarah and all who she touched. Blessed Be"
Closing and invitation
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sun on ripened grain
I am the gentle Autumn's rain
When you wake in morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there I did not die
Final musical piece
Vivaldi Concerto in A major Adagio
Please join us in the gazebo for a drink after the service. Take the time
to reflect on those who you have loved who have passed away and enjoy the
walk in the gardens
Thanks to Robin Trebilcock
