Marion Zimmer Bradley's Funeral

17 October 1999

Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
2300 Bancroft Way
Berkeley CA 94704

Note: Mrs. Bradley picked out the readings and music for her funeral service before she died, so the service that follows is as she designed it.



Music in preparation for worship:
O Welt, ich muss dich lassen, op. 122, No. 1: Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
O World, I now must leave thee
O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen, op 122, No. 6: Brahms
Blessed ye who live in faith unswerving
Ein deutsches Requiem, op. 45: Brahms

V. Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit;
aber ich will euch wieder sehen
und euer Herz soll sich freuen,
und eure Freude soll niemand von euch nehmen.
Ich will euch troesten,
wie einen seine Mutter troestet.
Sehet mich an: Ich habe eine kleine Zeit
Muehe und Arbeit gehabt
Und habe grossen Trost gefunden.
And ye now therefore have sorrow:
but I will see you again,
and your hearts shall rejoice,
and your joy no one taketh from you.
I will comfort you,
as one whom his mother comforteth.
Ye see how for a little while
I labored and toiled,
Yet have I found much rest.

THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD: RITE I

BCP refers to The Book of Common Prayer. S refers to the front of The Hymnal 1982.
Entrance Anthem: BCP, p. 469
The Collect: BCP, p. 470
First Lesson: Isaiah 25:8-9

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord god will wipe away tears from all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Psalm 46
God is our hope and strength, * a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, * and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof rage and swell; * and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.
There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God; * the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most Highest.
God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed; * God shall help her, and that right early.
The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved; * but God hath showed his voice, and the earth shall melt away.
The Lord of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our refuge.
O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord, * what destruction he hath brought upon the earth.
He maketh wars to cease in all the world; * he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire.
Be still then, and know that I am God: * I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Second Lesson I Corinthians 13:1-13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil,
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Love never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease, whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass darkly, but then, face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Sequence Hymn: 658 As longs the deer for cooling streams

The Holy Gospel Luke 7:36-50
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.
And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
And stood at his feet behind him, weeping; and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Now when the Pharisee who had bidden him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner.
And Jesus, answering, said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most?
Simon answered, and said, I suppose him to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house; thou gavest me no water for my feet. But she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
Thou gavest me no kiss. But this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
My head with oil thou didst not anoint. But this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Wherefore, I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
And they that were eating with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
And he said to the woman; Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Homily: The Rev. C. Robbins Clark
Reflections: Ann Sharp
Prayers of the People: BCP, p. 480
The Peace and a Word of Welcome

THE HOLY COMMUNION

Offertory Anthem: Ein deutsches Requiem, op. 45: Brahms

IV. Wie lieblich sind Deine Wohnungen,
Herr Zebaoth!
Meine Seele verlanget und sehnet sich
nach den Vorhoefen des Herrn;
Mein Leib und Seel freuen sich
in dem lebendigen Gott.
Wohl denen, die in Deinem Hause wohnen,
die loben Dich immerdar.
How lovely are Thy tabernacles,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth
for the courts of the Lord:
my heart and my flesh crieth out
for the living God.
Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house:
They will be always praising Thee.


Eucharistic Prayer: BCP, p. 333
Sursum Corda: S-112 Lift up your hearts
Sanctus: S-114 Holy, holy, holy
The Lord's Prayer: S-119 BCP, p. 336
Agnus Dei: S-158 O Lamb of God

The Communion: All are welcome to receive the sacrament at this service.

Communion Anthem: Lass dich nur nichts nich dauren, op. 30 Brahms
Lass dich nur nichts dauren mit Trauen,
sei stille, wie Gottes fuegt,
so sei vergnuegt mein Wille.
Was willst due heute sorgen auf morgen,
der Eine steht allem fuer,
der gibt auch dir das Deine.
Sei nur in allem Handel ohn' Wandel, steh'feste,
was Gott beschleusst das ist
und heisst das Beste. Amen.
Let nothing grieve or distress thee!
In tranquility rest, o my will
in God's leading.
And why take anxious thought for the morrow?
The One who orders all things
will give thee thine own.
In all changes and chances of life, be steadfast.
What God ordains call thou best. Amen.


Communion Hymn: 383 Fairest Lord Jesus
Post-Communion Prayer: BCP, p. 482
The Commendation: BCP, p. 482
The Blessing
Closing Hymn: 362 Holy, holy, holy!
The Dismissal
Postlude O Welt, ich muss dich lassen, op. 122, No. 3: Brahms
Serving

Celebrants: The Rev. C. Robbins Clark, The Rev. Terri Ann Grotzinger
Assisting Priest: The Rev. Patricia Walker-Sprague
Organist: George Anton Emblom
Soprano Soloist: Moira Stern
Thurifer: David Stock
Crucifer: Dave Hedges
Torch Bearers: Celia Fernandez, Maggie Grover
Lectors: Deborah Wheeler, Dr. Dana Kramer-Rolls
Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Catherine Costas, Elisabeth Waters, Bob Williams
Ushers: Bob Mills, Raul S. Reyes
Altar Guild: Kirstie Baker, Elisabeth Waters,
Marjorie Pettyjohn, Mary Plume, Scott Sinclair, Clara Rogers
Flower Guild: Mary McWilliams

Marion Zimmer Bradley's home page