Service of Thanksgiving - CITY OF PLYMOUTH

FORT
            TURRIS       ISSIMA   EST NOMEN J E H OVA

          CITY OF PLYMOUTH

 Service of Thanksgiving
                         for
      His Late Royal Highness, The Prince Philip
         Duke of Edinburgh K.G. K.T. G.B.E.
           Lord High Steward of Plymouth

                  Conducted by
 The Rt Reverend Nick McKinnel, Bishop of Plymouth
The Reverend Joe Dent, Rector of St Andrew’s Church

         Thursday 15 April 2021 at 3pm

                     Lord Mayor
                 Councillor Chris Mavin

Lord High Steward
                                              of Plymouth
                                                       18 March 1960

                        The Rod of Office
The Rod of Office is of white wood with silver tips. The Rod bears four silver plates,
three inscribed with the City’s Arms and the names of three previous holders of the
office, namely:
            “Albert Edward Prince of Wales, Lord High Steward 1874”
   “George Frederick Ernest Albert Prince of Wales, Lord High Steward 1902”
     “Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Prince of Wales,
                           Lord High Steward 1919”
The fourth plate bears the inscription:
        “H.R.H. Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Lord High Steward 1960”.
“The Rod bears traces of burning. It was recovered from the ruins of the former
civic centre after the raids on Plymouth in World War II.

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though
he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.
John 11:25, 26

              PRAISE MY SOUL,THE KING OF HEAVEN,
              To His feet thy tribute bring;
              Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
              Who like me his praise should sing?
              Praise him! Praise him!
              Praise him! Praise him!
              Praise the everlasting King.
              Praise Him for His grace and favour
              To our fathers in distress;
              Praise Him, still the same for ever,
              Slow to chide and swift to bless.
              Praise him! Praise him!
              Praise him! Praise him!
              Glorious in His faithfulness
              Father-like He tends and spares us,
              Well our human frame He knows;
              In His hands He gently bears us,
              Rescues us from all our foes.
              Praise him! Praise him!
              Praise him! Praise him!
              Widely as His mercy flow
              Angels, help us to adore Him;
              Ye behold Him face to face;
              Sun and Moon, bow down before Him,
              Dwellers all in time and space.
              Praise him! Praise him!
              Praise him! Praise him!
              Praise with us the God of grace
              Music: Sir John Goss
              Words: Henry F Lyte

The Minister says
In the name of Christ, who died and was raised to the glory of God the
Father, grace, mercy and peace be with you.
We meet this day to remember before God His Royal Highness PHILIP, Duke
of Edinburgh, to renew our trust and confidence in Christ, and to pray that
together we may be one in him, through whom we offer our prayers and
praises to the Father.
Merciful Father, hear our prayers and comfort us; renew our trust in your
Son, whom you raised from the dead;
strengthen our faith that all who have died in the love of Christ will share in
his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 107:23-32
read by The Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Darren Winter
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he
commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul
is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken
man, and are at their wit’s end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,
and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm,
so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet;
so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise
the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of
men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise
him in the assembly of the elders.
Thanks be to God.

A Tribute on Behalf of the People of Plymouth
The Lord Mayor of Plymouth
During the following hymn: A Lord Lieutenant's Royal Air Force Air Cadet
who is currently undertaking her Silver Award will be lighting a candle in
honour and memory of HRH Duke of Edinburgh on behalf of all
participants past and present, national and international of the Duke of
Edinburgh Award Schemes which he set up in 1956.

ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE,
Whose arm restrains the restless wave,
Who told the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed bounds to keep:
We cry, O God of majesty,
For those in peril on the sea.
O Christ, whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at your word,
Who walked across the surging deep
And in the storm lay calm in sleep:
We cry, O Lord of Galilee,
For those in peril on the sea.
O Holy Spirit, gift of grace,
Who moved above the waters’ face
And out of emptiness and strife
Created order, peace and life:
We cry, O Spirit strong and free,
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and power,
Preserve their lives in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, flood and flame,
Protect them by your holy name,
And to your glory let there be
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Music: J B Dykes
Words: W Whiting

Philippians 4:6-9
read by The Rt Hon The Countess of Arran Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Devon
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace
of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both
learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace
shall be with you.
Thanks be to God.

SERMON The Bishop of Plymouth, Rt Reverend Nick McKinnel

PRAYERS led by Canon Mark O’Keefe
Let us pray.
Merciful Father and Lord of all life, we praise you that we are made in your
image and reflect your truth and light. We thank you for the life of His Royal
Highness PHILIP, Duke of Edinburgh, for the love he received from you and
showed among us. Above all, we rejoice at your gracious promise to all your
servants, living and departed, that we shall rise again at the coming of Christ.
And we ask that in due time we may share with your servant Philip that
clearer vision, promised to us in the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort: deal graciously,
we pray, with all who mourn, the members of the Royal Family, this Nation
and all the Nations of the Commonwealth, that casting all our care on you,
we may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as
pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we,
loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which
exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who
is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.

Let us draw our requests together in the prayer that Jesus taught us:
All:      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.

          O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST,
          Our hope for years to come,
          Our shelter from the stormy blast,
          And our eternal home;
          Beneath the shadow of thy throne
          Thy saints have dwelt secure;
          Sufficient is thine arm alone,
          And our defence is sure.
          Before the hills in order stood,
          Or earth received her frame,
          From everlasting thou art God,
          To endless years the same.
          A thousand ages in thy sight
          Are like an evening gone;
          Short as the watch that ends the night
          Before the rising sun.
          O God, our help in ages past,
          Our hope for years to come,
          Be thou our guard while troubles last,
          And our eternal home.
          Music: William Croft
          Words: Isaac Watts

The Minister Prays:
          Gracious and holy Father,
          give us wisdom to perceive you,
          diligence to seek you,
          patience to wait for you,
          eyes to behold you,
          a heart to meditate on you,
          and a life to proclaim you;
          through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

THE BLESSING – The Bishop of Plymouth
May God in his infinite love and mercy bring the whole Church, living and
departed, to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom,
and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be
among you and remain with you always. Amen.

                      THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

                       God save our gracious Queen,
                        Long live our noble Queen,
                          God save the Queen.
                           Send her victorious,
                           Happy and glorious,
                          Long to reign over us:
                          God save the Queen.

                                  FORT
                         TURRIS       ISSIMA   EST NOMEN J E H OVA

         Please note: No collection was taken during this service.
In accordance with the wishes of the Royal Family and should you wish to do
           so; please make a donation to a charity of your choice