Introduction
With our town and nation and the worldwide Christian community we offer Mass for our beloved Queen, complementing the service for her in Westminster Abbey this morning and her burial rite at Windsor Castle this evening. Our prayers extend to her, the Royal Family and all bereaved at her passing. The Queen’s life framed our years. In her passing we sense as believers the intersection of time with eternity for at death Christian ‘life is changed, not taken away; and when our mortal flesh is laid aside an everlasting dwelling place is made ready for us in heaven’. We begin Mass, grateful for the Queen’s own witness, by calling to mind our failure to witness ourselves to the risen Lord Jesus who is our hope of rest and resurrection.
Sermon
Today we bury the Queen. We do so at the end of ten tumultuous days of mourning and accession which Anne and I have been privileged to be part of through attending her lying in state on Thursday and through standing beside the Mayor at the acclamation of her son as King days before.
In the first reading from 1 Corinthians Paul outlines Christ’s own burial as a key component of the good news of Christianity. Christ died, he was buried, he was raised, he will return.
That firstly he died for our sins is opened up by the prophet Isaiah and stated in the Nicene Creed where we say ‘he was crucified for us under Pontus Pilate, suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day’.
That Christ was secondly buried makes an emphasis upon his death. This is the final stage of death as will be illustrated this evening as media shift focus to the crypt of St George’s Chapel and the Queen’s body being buried alongside that of Prince Philip. They will lie, as the dead lie, awaiting Christ’s return and judgement, fourth component of our good news, but as Christians, knowing the key third component resurrection appearances of Our Lord which anticipate that day and that ‘there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1)
On Thursday Anne and I were fortunate through her disability to have a short wait of a few hours away from Westminster before attending the Queen’s lying in state. We went to Buckingham Palace to view the floral tributes. As we walked over the bridge in St James’ Park we were struck by a bright ray of sunshine bursting through dark clouds onto Buckingham Palace with its flag at half mast in mourning. That glorious sight anticipated the sight later on in Westminster Hall of the Queen’s coffin radiant with crown, orb and sceptre on the bright standard alongside the gleaming cross.
Today we bury the Queen. We do so sharing her faith in Christ who died, was buried, gloriously raised and will return to gather the living and the dead into his kingdom. That kingdom she served we continue to build on earth, a kingdom of justice, love and peace. This morning her coffin will lie before the altar where she was crowned in Westminster Abbey. Over that altar there is this scripture written: ‘The kingdom of this world is to become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ’ (Revelation 11:15b)
So be it - Amen, Amen!
Prayers
Eternal God, our heavenly Father, we bless your holy name for all that you have given us in and through the life of your servant Queen Elizabeth.
We give you thanks: for her love of family and her gift of friendship; for her devotion to this nation and the nations of the Commonwealth; for her grace, dignity and courtesy; and for her generosity and love of life.
We praise you for: the courage that she showed in testing times; the depth and of her Christian faith; and the witness she bore to it in word and deed.
We pray for our Sovereign Lord the King and all the Royal Family, that you might reassure them of your continuing love and lift them from the depths of grief into the peace and light of your presence.
Other prayers may be added.
Priest: Eternal rest grant unto Queen Elizabeth, O Lord
All: and let light perpetual shine upon her
All: God of mercy, entrusting into your hands all that you have made and rejoicing in our communion with all your faithful people, we make our prayers through Christ our Saviour. Amen
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