Murdoch MacKenzie
1938 - 2015
1938 - 2015
A Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the life of Murdoch MacKenzie at the Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh on Thursday 12th February 2015 at 2 pm
Conducted by Rev Fiona Bennett
Minister, Augustine United Church
An audio recording of the full 80-minute service can be downloaded from here.
Order of Service
Introit: Hail, Gladdening Light (CH4 219) (Solo sung by Fiona Bennett)
Hail gladdening Light, of His pure glory poured
who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest,
the lights of evening round us shine.
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine.
Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung
with undefilèd tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of life, alone:
therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, we own.
Tune: Sebaste, John Stainer (1840-1901)
Note: When Anne and Murdoch were teenagers, it was always sung as an introit at Sunday evening worship in Prenton Congregational Church, where they both grew up, and where they were married on 20 June 1964.
This 3rd century Greek hymn is found at No.612 in the 1953 Pica Edition of Congregational Praise, in the translation by John Keble (1792-1866). For more information, please see the note at the end of this Order of Service.
Call to Worship
Hymn: Love Divine, all Loves Excelling (CH4 519)
1
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
2
Come, almighty to deliver;
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
3
Finish then thy new creation:
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee,
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788). Tune: Hyfrydol
Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, 11, 14 (Read by Ruth Dale)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
God has made everything to suit its time. I know that whatever God does lasts for ever; there is no adding to it, no taking away. And God has done it all in such a way that everyone must feel awe in the presence of God. Amen.
Psalm 23: The Lord’s my Shepherd (Solo sung in Gaelic by Morag MacNeil)
1
‘S E’n Tighearna fhèin mo chìobair
Cha bhi dìth orm gu brath;
Gu rèitich E na seòlaidean,
Gam threòrachadh gu ghràs.
Gun ciùinich E na gàir-thonnan
A shàraicheadh mo chùrs;
‘S an cluaintean uaine Phàrrais
Bidh gach àn-radh air mo chùl.
Sèisol:
‘S E‘n Tighearna fhèin mo chìobair
Cha bhi dìth orm gu brath;
Gu rèitich E na seòlaidean
Gam threòrachadh gu ghràs.
2
Gu seall E sligh’ na fìrinn dhomh
Nach dìobair mi rim bheò;
Gum beathaich E le ghràsan mi
‘S le sàthach fhuil is fheòil
Le thaic a bhith gam chuartachadh,
Cha bhuannaich orm an nàmh
‘S tro uisge ciùin a thròcair
Nì mi seòladh le mo bhàt’.
3
Deasaichidh E bòrd dhomh
Fo mo chomhair loma-làn;
Mo chupa nì E lìonadh,
Bidh gach biadh leam nas fheàrr;
‘S ged bhiodh mo shiubhal ànrachdach
Tro sgàile gleann nan deòir,
Le brìgh a ghràis gum buannaich mi
Gu duais an Tìr na Glòir.
Na faclan: Dòmhnall Iain MacDhòmhnaill
Am fonn: Iseabail T. Dhòmhnallach
New Testament: John 17: 9-11 & 15-23 (Read by Helen Laing)
Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said: ….. “I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Hymn: How Great Thou Art (CH4 154)
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
‘How great thou art, how great thou art!’
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
‘How great thou art, how great thou art!’
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze:
And when I think that God his Son not sparing,
sent him to die – I scarce can take it in,
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
he bled and died to take away my sin:
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
and take me home – what joy shall fill my heart!
Then shall I bow in humble adoration
and there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!
Tune: How Great Thou Art, Swedish melody arr. Stuart K Hine (1899–1989)
Time for Reflection: Family and Friends
Hymn: Nothing Distress You (RJS 548)
1
Nothing distress you,
nothing affright you,
everything passes,
God will abide.
Patient endeavour
Accomplishes all things;
who God possesses
needs naught beside.
2
Lift your mind upward,
fair are his mansions,
nothing distress you,
cast fear away.
Follow Christ freely,
his love will light you,
nothing affright you,
in the dark way.
3
See the world’s glory!
Fading its splendour,
Everything passes,
all is denied.
Look ever homeward
to the eternal;
faithful in promise
God will abide.
4
Love in due measure
measureless Goodness;
patient endeavour,
run to Love’s call!
Faith burning brightly
be your soul’s shelter;
who hopes, believing,
accomplishes all.
5
Hell may assail you,
it cannot move you;
sorrows may grieve you,
faith may be tried.
Though you have nothing,
he is your treasure:
who God possesses
needs naught beside.
Words: ‘Nada te turbe’ St Teresa of Avila (1515-82) tr. Colin Thompson
Tune: Many Mansions, Peter Cutts (b.1937)
Sermon: Peter Millar
(Peter followed Murdoch as Minister at St Andrew’s Kirk, Madras, in 1978.)
Hymn: Iona Boat Song (CH4 730)
1
From the falter of breath,
through the silence of death,
to the wonder that’s breaking beyond;
God has woven a way,
unapparent by day,
for all those of whom heaven is fond.
2
From frustration and pain,
through hope hard to sustain,
to the wholeness here promised, there known;
Christ has gone where we fear
and has vowed to be near
on the journey we make on our own.
3
From the dimming of light,
through the darkness of night,
to the glory of goodness above;
God the Spirit is sent
to ensure heaven’s intent
is embraced and completed in love.
4
From today till we die,
through all questioning why,
to the place from which time and tide flow;
angels tread on our dreams,
and magnificent themes
of heaven’s promise are echoed below.
Words: John L Bell (b.1949) and Graham Maule (b.1958). Tune: Iona Boat Song.
Prayers: Rev Fiona Bennett
Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (CH4 392)
1
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
3
See! from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down;
did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Words: Isaac Watts (1674–1748). Tune: Rockingham.
Celtic Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Benediction
Skye Boat Song played by a Lone Piper (pre-recorded)
Organ Music at end of Service
JS Bach: Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 625
JS Bach: Fugue in E Minor, BWV 548
Organist: John Butt
Donations
There will be an opportunity to make a donation when leaving the church. The proceeds will be distributed between ASHA, the Augustine United Church Roof Fund and Christian Aid.
Invitation
Thank you for sharing with us in today’s celebration. Immediately following the service, you are all invited for refreshments at Augustine United Church, just across the road.
Notes regarding the Introit:
Phos Hilaron (Φῶς Ἱλαρόν) is an ancient Christian hymn originally written in New Testament Greek. Often referred to by its Latin title Lumen Hilare it has been translated into English as Hail Gladdening Light or O Gladsome/Joyous Light. It is the earliest known Christian hymn recorded outside of the Bible that is still in use today. The hymn is part of vespers in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and also included in some modern Anglican and Lutheran liturgies.
The hymn is first recorded by an unknown author in the Apostolic Constitutions, which was written in the late 3rd or early 4th century AD. It is found in a collection of songs to be sung in the morning, in the evening, before meals, and at candle lighting. Phos Hilaron is to be sung at the lighting of lamps in the evening and so is sometimes known as the Lamp-Lighting Hymn.
Despite some of the words to the other three songs being from Scripture, or in one case dated to around 150 AD, Phos Hilaron is the first to be considered an actual hymn in the modern sense. It is certainly the first complete example. It is far more rhythmic than the others and is divided into twelve verses varying between five, six, eight, nine, ten and eleven syllables a verse. St Basil the Great (329-379 AD) spoke of the singing of the Phos Hilaron as a cherished tradition of the church, the hymn being already considered old in his day (though some attribute the composition of the song to St Basil himself).
The original melody, as used by the Greek Orthodox Church on the original text, is considered taxing on the voice as it spans almost two octaves, with the voice peaking on the words "Heavenly" and "the Father". At that time in Jerusalem a lamp was kept perpetually burning in the empty tomb of Christ, its glow a symbol of the living light of Jesus. As Christians gathered to worship, the hymn was sung and, in a tradition known as the lighting of the lamps, a candle lit from the lamp was brought forth from the tomb, its bright, solitary flame calling the church to celebrate the Risen Lord.