A LITURGY OF THE RESURRECTION
A SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING
FOR THE LIFE OF
MICHELE D. BLACKMAN
December 3, 1961 – June 14, 2023
Christ Episcopal Church, Rochester, New York
August 29, 2023 2:30pm
The Reverend Ruth Ferguson, Rector
Stephen Kennedy, Organist and Choirmaster
The Reverend Julie Cicora, Celebrant
United in God’s Love, Empowered to Serve, Welcoming All
THE BURIAL SERVICE
The Liturgy for the Dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too shall be raised.
The Liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, principalities, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.
FAMILY
Gabrielle Blackman
Joslyn Blackman
Tilarose Blackman
Johan Blackman
Rhonda Rogers
Brian Rogers
Kimberly Hernandez
John Evans III
BURIAL OF THE DEAD
HOLY EUCHARIST RITE II
PRELUDE Amazing Grace New Britain, from Virginia Harmony 1831
Please stand as able.
OPENING Hymn 376 Joyful, Joyful Hymn to Joy
OPENING ANTHEMS
Celebrant :
I am the Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord.
Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though he die.
And everyone who has life, and has committed himself to me in faith, shall not die for ever.
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.
After my awaking, he will raise me up; and in my body I shall see God.
I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger.
For none of us has life in himself, and none becomes his own master when he dies.
For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord. So, then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s possession.
Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord!
So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.
A COLLECT FOR BURIAL
People : And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Michele.
We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.
In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate
of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on
earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CANTICLE Gloria Patri S280 Robert Powell
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
After each Reading, the Reader says:
The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God
THE FIRST READING Job 19: 23-27a
A Reading from Job.
“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were graven in the rock for ever!
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at last he will stand upon the earth;
and after my skin has been thus destroyed,
then from my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see on my side,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
PSALM 46 Tone VIII.G
Observing a longer pause at the asterisk. Tone accents are underlined
Cantor
1 God is our refuge and / strength, *
a very present / help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the / earth be moved, *
and though the mountains be toppled in-/to the sea’s depths
All
3 Though its waters / rage and foam, *
and though the mountains tremble / at its tumult.
4 The Lord of hosts is / with us; *
the God of Jacob / is our stronghold.
5 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of / God, *
the holy habitation / of the Most High.
6 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be / overthrown; *
God shall help her / at the break of day.
7 The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are / shaken; *
God has spoken, and the / earth shall melt away.
8 The Lord of hosts is / with us; *
the God of Jacob / is our stronghold.
9 Come now and look upon the works / of the Lord, *
what awesome things / he has done on earth.
10 It is he who makes war to cease in / all the world; *
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and / burns the shields with fire.
11 "Be still, then, and know that / I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be ex-/alted in the earth."
12 The Lord of hosts is / with us; *
the God of Jacob / is our stronghold.
EPISTLE READING Revelation 7: 9-17
A Reading from Revelation.
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Please stand as able.
HYMN AT THE SEQUENCE LEVAS II 189 Great Is Thy Faithfulness Afro-American Spiritual
Chorus below:
THE HOLY GOSPEL John 6:37-40
Officiant The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said to the people, "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.
Officiant The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Please be seated.
REMEMBRANCES
HOMILY The Rev’d Julie Cicora
Please stand as able.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Celebrant and People
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
For our sister Michele, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am Resurrection and I am Life.”
Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Michele, and dry the tears of those who weep. Hear us Lord.
You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow; Hear us, Lord.
You raised the dead to life; give to our sister eternal life. Hear us, Lord.
You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our sister to the joys of heaven. Hear us, Lord.
Our sister was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit; give her fellowship with all your saints. Hear us, Lord.
She was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant her a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom. Hear us, Lord.
Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our sister; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.
Silence
Father of all, we pray to you for Michele and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
THE PEACE
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.
HYMN AT THE OFFERTORY 379 God is Love Abbott’s Leigh
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
All who are able, stand
The Celebrant proceeds:
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who rose victorious from the dead, and comforts us with the blessed hope of everlasting life. For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
SANCTUS AND BENEDICTUS S130 Franz Schubert
Celebrant
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant and People
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again;
The Celebrant continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.
Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
People AMEN.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
The Breaking of the Bread
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.
A period of silence is kept.
FRACTION ANTHEM S151 Tonus Peregrinus
INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOLY COMMUNION
All are welcome to receive Holy Communion. Our tradition is to receive both bread and wine, sharing in the common cup. As dioceses ease restrictions on the common cup, there are new stipulations about how to receive the wine. In our diocese, we are discouraged from intincting (dipping the wafer into the wine) based on research which shows that hands going into the cup carry far more germs than when we sip from the cup.
Following diocesan protocol, if you would like to receive the wine, you are invited to sip from the cup. If you are not comfortable with this protocol, you may cross your arms over your chest to indicate that you do not wish to receive the wine when the cup comes to you
Gluten free wafers are available upon request. Please ask the priest when receiving communion.
MUSIC AT COMMUNION
LEVAS II 152 Let Us Break Bread Afro-American Spiritual
LEVAS II 148 Welcome Table Afro-American Spiritual
POST COMMUNION PRAYER
Celebrant
Let us pray.
Eternal God, heavenly Father, You have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE COMMENDATION
Celebrant: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints,
People: where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Celebrant: You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you
ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust; yea even at the grave
we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
People: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Celebrant: Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Michele.
Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.
Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting
peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen.
The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever.
Amen.
HYMN 665 All My Hope on God is Founded Michael
Officiant Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE “Offertorio” Domenico Zipoli (1688-1726)
OBITUARY
Michele D. Blackman
December 3, 1961 - June 14 2023
Michele D. Blackman was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on December 3, 1961 to Erine L. Blackman and Winfield A. Jay, Jr. She died on June 14, 2023 at age of 61 at Hildebrandt Hospice Center in Rochester, NY after a long illness.
Michele graduated from Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange, NJ in 1979. After graduation, Michele attended Kean College in Union, New Jersey.
Michele moved to Rochester, NY in 1993 and regularly attended Christ Church, Rochester NY. She graduated from Bryant and Stratton‘s medical administrative executive assistant program in 2002. She also enrolled in Roberts Wesleyan to complete a certification program in medical transcription and administration.
Michele held several positions in the healthcare arena. She was employed at the American Red Cross where she worked as a compliance administrator. She trained and subsequently worked as a resident assistant for Heritage Christian Services at a group home. Michele worked at the American Red Cross Blood Services as an administrative assistant.
In 2011, Michele moved to Atlanta, GA before settling in Durham, NC in 2015. She returned to Rochester in January of this year to be near her daughters.
Michele had a generous spirit and a passion for caring for others. Her greatest joy was cooking for and tending to her grandchildren, Tilarose and Johan.
Michele often opened her heart and home to young people who needed a little TLC. She enjoyed watching movies, cooking, and listening to all types of music, jazz, reggae, R & B, and gospel.
Michele loved parakeets and butterflies. She tended lots of houseplants and her favorite flower was sunflowers. She was also an avid crocheter and made gorgeous blankets for family and friends.
Michele is survived by her daughters, Gabrielle Blackman and Joslyn Blackman, her grandchildren Tilarose Blackman and Johan Blackman, her sisters Rhonda Rogers and Dana Jackson, and her nephew, Brian Rogers (Kim Hernandez). Her family by mutual choice includes John Evans and Tatiana Jones.
Michele was preceded in death by her parents, Erine L. Blackman and Winfield A. Jay, Jr.
A service will be held at Christ Church,141 East Avenue, Rochester, NY on August 29, 2023 at 2:30 pm. The family will be greeting friends and relatives following the service in the Guild Room.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to American Diabetes Association, Hildebrandt Hospice Center or Second Chance Bird and Reptile Rescue.
Let Me Go
Christina Rossetti
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not for long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that once we shared
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all part of the master plan
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the friends we know.
Laugh at all the things we used to do
Miss me, but let me go.
Participants in this Service
Readers
Gabrielle Blackman
Deb Vanderbilt
Remembrances
Rhonda Rogers, Joslyn Blackman
Honorary Pall Bearers
John Evans
Brian Rogers
Celebrant
The Reverend Julie Cicora
Music Director and Organist
Stephen Kennedy
Our family is grateful for The Christ Church acolytes, altar guild, sexton, ushers, and Coffee Hour team for helping us celebrate Michele’s life with you today.
We appreciate all the prayers, cards, calls, and donations made in memory of her and in support of us as we grieve.