Order of worship for the funeral of Walter Josef Stranz

Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Walter Josef Stranz

1st March 1924 - 24th August 2005

'Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.'
Micah 6.8


Welcome to this service of thanksgiving for Walter's life
When he was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1994, Walter declared it to be his best retirement yet but said he was sure that his funeral would be a great party. It is in that spirit that you are invited to celebrate his life. Please do write your name in one of the books of remembrance. Walter's family would very much like to know the names of all who were here today.
You are warmly invited to meet with friends over refreshments which will be served in the hall at the end of the service. The family will return from the brief committal service at the crematorium to join you.
Scripture sentences

Jesus Christ says:
I am the resurrection and the life. Those who have faith in me shall live even though they die; and no one who lives and has faith in me shall ever die.

Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted

I am convinced that there is nothing in death or life, in the realm of spirits or superhuman powers, in the world as it is or shall be, in the forces of the universe, in heights or in depths that can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Introductory words
We have come together to worship God and give heartfelt thanks and praise for the life of Walter Josef Stranz.
We meet in Walter and Betty's regular place of Sunday worship. Walter did not leave detailed instructions about his funeral and as is the way of families, we have had few scruples about over-ruling one or two of his suggestions. Wonderful teacher that he was we do feel that he has been educating us to the end by encouraging the three English mother-tongue members of the family to discover the mystical poetry of John Masefield. He would have wanted all of you to feel welcome here today, whatever your own religious beliefs and whatever your politics. Walter was a Christian but he didn't think that meant he was therefore a better person than people who don't believe. In his early life in Nazi Germany he directly experienced some of the horrors that ensue from believing one kind of human being is better than another, for whatever reason. As we meditate life and death, joy and suffering together today, we draw closer to one another despite our differences, we renew our own commitment and convictions and we celebrate Walter's life. We also celebrate this extraordinary ordinary town called Redditch.

Thank you all so much for coming today. The public man so many of you knew as a teacher, comrade, political sparring partner, councillor, leader, mayor or friend was for us simply Wal or Dad. We remember him always playing to win at scrabble, picking flowers from the garden for our birthdays, drawing the curtains so that no triangles of light showed through, the seemingly endless quest to find a good cup of coffee where ever we might be, his biting humour and pithy remarks, his chocolate and nut blancmange pudding, his love of stewed fruit and Cadbury's fruit and nut chocolate.
We remember too his illness, his fortitude and latterly his frailness.
We know that at his 70th birthday party he said he felt he had had "a fortunate life". We give thanks for that.

Prayer
O God who brought us to birth and in whose arms we die, in our grief and shock, contain and comfort us; embrace us with your love, give us hope in our confusion, and grace to let go into new life; through Jesus Christ
Amen
Hymn Tune: St Bartholomew
My God, my King, Thy various praise
Shall fill the remnant of my days;
Thy grace employ my humble tongue
Till death and glory raise the song.

The wings of every hour shall bear
Some thankful tribute to Thine ear;
And every setting sun shall see
New works of duty done for Thee.

Thy truth and justice I'll proclaim;
Thy bounty flows an endless stream;
Thy mercy swift, Thine anger slow,
But dreadful to the stubborn foe.

Thy works with sovereign glory shine,
And speak Thy majesty divine;
While peoples round the earth proclaim
The sound and honour of Thy Name.

Let distant times and nations raise
The long succession of Thy praise,
And unborn ages make my song
The joy and labour of their tongue.

But who can speak Thy wondrous deeds?
Thy greatness all our thoughts exceeds?
Vast and unsearchable Thy ways,
Vast and immortal be Thy praise!

ISAAC WATTS (1674-1748) BASED ON PSALM 145

Beatitudes for the disabled Catherine Reynolds Reading from the Hebrew scriptures: Isaiah 58:6-8 Jacqui Smith
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Reading from William Morris: Why I am a Socialist Albert Wharrad

Reading from Paul's Letter to the Romans, Chapter 12 Stanley Taylor

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Hymn Tune: Come My Way
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath;
Such a Truth, as ends all strife,
Such a Life as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast,
Such a Feast, as mends in length,
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move,
Such a Love, as none can part,
Such a Heart, as joys in love.

GEORGE HERBERT (1593-1633)
Reading from the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 16 Hywell Morgan

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?' When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.' So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.


Sermon - From theatres of memory to the threat of resurrection Jane Stranz Music Hymn: Sing we a song of high revolt
(Sung to the tune of 'The Red Flag')

Sing we a song of high revolt;
Make great the Lord, his name exalt:
Sing we the song that Mary sang
Of God at war with human wrong.
Sing we of him who deeply cares
And still with us our burden bears;
He, who with strength the proud disowns,
Brings down the mighty from their thrones.

By him the poor are lifted up:
He satisfies with bread and cup
The hungry folk of many lands;
The rich are left with empty hands.
He calls us to revolt and fight
With him for what is just and right
To sing and live Magnificat
In crowded street and council flat

FRED KAAN (1929 - ) BASED ON LUKE 2

Prayers of intercession Catherine Reynolds, David & Mary Marsden
When the leader says:
God in your great mercy kindle a flame in us

The congregation sings:
Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take all fear away

JOHN BELL, IONA COMMUNITY (1949 - )
Poem: 'The Everlasting Mercy', John Masefield John & Claire Gathercole

Hymn Tune: Rhuddlan
God of freedom, God of justice,
God whose love is strong as death,
God who saw the dark of prison,
God who knew the price of faith:
touch our world of sad oppression
with your Spirit's healing breath.

Rid the earth of torture's terror,
God whose hands were nailed to wood;
hear the cries of pain and protest,
God who shed the tears and blood;
move in us the power of pity,
restless for the common good.

Make in us a captive conscience
quick to hear, to act, to plead;
make us truly sisters, brothers,
of whatever race or creed:
teach us to be fully human,
open to each other's need.

SHIRLEY ERENA MURRAY (1931 - )
WRITTEN IN 1981 FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Blessing
Es segne und behüte uns...