Robin Allen_Order of service Fri06/05/2011 09:32 Page 1 Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Robin Richard Allen 1941 2011 Wednesday 18 th May 2011 at 11.30am St Bride s Church Fleet Street EC4
Robin Allen_Order of service Fri06/05/2011 09:32 Page 2 An Old Gaelic Blessing May the road rise up to meet you: May the sun shine always on your face: May the wind be always at your back: May the rains fall gently on your fields and gardens: And until we meet again, may God keep you In the hollow of His Hand. Rector The Venerable David Meara Director of Music Robert Jones Organist Matthew Morley Choir of St. Bride s Church, Fleet Street
Robin Allen_Order of service Fri06/05/2011 09:32 Page 3 Organ Music Wachet Auf Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750 Nimrod from Enigma Variations Edward Elgar, 1857-1934 Introit I Was Glad Sir Hubert Parry, 1848-1918 Bidding Prayer The Rector Hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our foolish ways; Reclothe us in our rightful mind, In purer lives Thy service find, In deeper reverence, praise. In simple trust like theirs who heard, Beside the Syrian sea, The gracious calling of the Lord, Let us, like them, without a word, Rise up and follow Thee. O Sabbath rest by Galilee, O calm of hills above, Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee The silence of eternity, Interpreted by love! Drop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace. Breathe through the heats of our desire Thy coolness and Thy balm; Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still, small voice of calm. John Whittier, 1807-1892
Robin Allen_Order of service Fri06/05/2011 09:32 Page 4 First Reading 1 Corinthians 13 Read by Alexandra Dixon Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, 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 charity, 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 charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly seeketh not her 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. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Choir Ave Verum Corpus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791 Second Reading Desiderata Max Ehrmann, 1872-1945 Read by David Norman Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Robin Allen_Order of service Fri06/05/2011 09:32 Page 5 Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. Choir Ave Maria Franz Schubert, 1797-1828 Third Reading Footprints in the Sand Mary Stevenson, 1922-1999 Read by Josephine Courant One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life, that there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it. Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times of my
Robin Allen_Order of service Fri06/05/2011 09:32 Page 6 life, there is only one set of footprints. I don t understand why, when I needed you most you would leave me. The Lord replied My Son, My precious child. I Love You, and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you. Hymn The Lord s my Shepherd The Lord s my Shepherd, I ll not want. He makes me down to lie In pastures green; he leadeth me The quiet waters by. My soul he doth restore again; And me to walk doth make Within the paths of righteousness, Even for his own Name s sake. Yea, though I walk in death s dark vale, Yet will I fear no ill; For thou art with me; and thy rod And staff me comfort still. My table thou hast furnishèd In presence of my foes; My head thou dost with oil anoint, And my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me; And in God s house for evermore My dwelling place shall be. Address Jonathan Allen Scottish Psalter 1650 Choir Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific Rodgers & Hammerstein Prayers The Rector
Robin Allen_Order of service Fri06/05/2011 09:32 Page 7 Hymn Jerusalem And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England s mountains green? And was the Holy Lamb of God On England s pleasant pastures seen? And did the countenance divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among those dark satanic mills? Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows of desire! Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire! I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem In England s green and pleasant land. Blessing The Rector Choir Gaelic Blessing John Rutter, 1945- William Blake, 1757-1827 Organ Voluntary Sortie in Eb Louis Lefébure-Wely, 1817-1869 A retiring collection will be taken for the work of St Bride s Church The family invites you to join them after the service at the St Bride Institute
Robin Allen_Order of service Fri06/05/2011 09:32 Page 8 Remember, I ve got you in my pocket (Robin s perennial sign-off to Jonathan and Josephine, referring to the photographs he carried with him everywhere)