Queen Elizabeth’s Last Gift to Us

On the Liturgy of The Queen’s Funeral Services

Count me among those impressed and moved by the two public services today for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  They were not only for her, but intentionally for us.  They were her last gifts to us as she planned and approved them, including the liturgy.

Of course, she by no means invented the liturgy of the services from whole cloth.  She was too much a devoted Anglican Christian to do such a thing.  And the services were very traditional as is meet and right.  But she did choose many of the details such as music and readings.

I was particularly moved by the main scripture reading chosen for the Committal service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor, Revelation 21:1-7.  I cannot think of a more comforting and appropriate reading for a funeral or committal service:

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Thanks be to God for such a glorious hope!  And thanks to Her Late Majesty for sharing that hope with us.