Celebration of the life of

Ruth Luka

8^th February 1943 – 29^th September 2018

St James’ Muswell Hill

Monday 22^nd October 2018

Processional Music

God So Loved The World (The crucifixion), John Stainer 

Welcome - Mark Murthen, Associate Vicar

Hymn – Abide with Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
when other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour;
what but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless;
ills have no weight and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

Henry Francis Lyte (1793 - 1847)

Tributes to Ruth and Eulogy

Tribute and poem – David and Lara

Mother, You’re a Blessing! By Bob Gass 

 ‘Her children … call her blessed; her husband … praises her.’ 
Proverbs 31:28 NKJV

Tribute from the Swiss Ladies – Lotti

Poem – Aspa

Not, How Did He Die, But How Did He Live?  By Summer Sandercox

Eulogy – Elizabeth

Hymn – The Lord’s My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.

Refrain

And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.

Refrain

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.

Refrain

Words adapted by Stuart Townend

Music by Stuart Townend

Prayers of Penitence and Collect

Old Testament Reading – Psalm 91 – Martin

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honour him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.

Hymn  – Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be
as long as life endures.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow;
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we'd first begun. 

John Newton (1725-1807)

New Testament Reading: John 14:1-6 – Cecile

¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Sermon

Prayers

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

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,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.                 

Amen

Hymn - Thine be the Glory

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;
endless is the vict'ry Thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay.

Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;
endless is the vict'ry Thou o’er death hast won.

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb.
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.

Refrain

No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life!!
Life is nought without Thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conqu'rors, through Thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.

Refrain

Edmond Louis Budry (1854-1932),

tr. Richard Birch Hoyle (1875-1939)

Commendation

Dismissal

Recessional Music

You raise me up – Rolf Loveland and Brendan Graham

Recorded by Josh Groban 

Committal

Family and close friends depart for
St Marylebone Crematorium, East End Road, East Finchley N2 0RZ

Elizabeth and David thank you for attending the service today, and for your support.

They would love to see you at the Muswell Hill Golf  Club to further celebrate Ruth and to share memories. They will join you there after the committal at the crematorium.

Muswell Hill Golf Club

Rhodes Avenue

London  N22 7UT

The North London Hospice took such great care of our mum and we would like to support them in continuing the amazing work they do.  Therefore, donations to the North London Hospice, in memory of Ruth, would be much appreciated.

You can donate at https://ruth-luka.muchloved.com

Alternatively, there is a collection box at the back of the church.

Leverton & Sons Ltd