A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of

Robert Russell Murray Coulton 16 February 1986 – 27 April 2021

Friday 2 July 2021 • 11 am Officiant: The Revd Jane Window, Cathedral Pastor

Preacher: The Revd Canon Christopher Carolane, Associate Priest

Organist: Mrs Roslyn Carolane, Assistant Organist

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GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME THE WELCOME The Revd Jane Window, Cathedral Pastor.

Grace and peace from the Lord be with you. And also with you.

We have come together to thank God for the life of Robert Coulton, to mourn and honour him, and to support one another in grief.

As we gather together we face the certainty of our own death and judgement. Yet Christians believe that those who die in Christ share eternal life with him. Therefore in faith and hope we turn to God, who created and sustains us all.

PSALM 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills: but where shall I find help?

2 My help comes from the Lord: who has made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer your foot to stumble: and he who watches over you will not sleep.

4 Be sure he who has charge of Israel: will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord himself is your keeper: the Lord is your defence upon your right hand;

6 The sun shall not strike you by day: nor shall the moon by night.

7 The Lord will defend you from all evil: it is he who will guard your life.

8 The Lord will defend your going out and your coming in: from this time forward for evermore.

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THE HYMN

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I was lost but Jesus found me, found the sheep that went astray, raised me up and gently led me back into the narrow way. Days of darkness still may meet me, sorrow’s path I oft may tread; but his presence still is with me, by his guiding hand I’m led.

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He will keep me till the river rolls its waters at my feet: then he’ll bear me safely over, made by grace for glory meet. Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me – sing it with the saints in glory, gathered by the crystal sea.

Francis Harold Rowley (1854–1952)

Sing Praise 283 Reproduced with permission

SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE

‘I am the resurrection and the life,’ says the Lord. ‘Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet will they live.’

John 11.25 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

John 3.16 I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, 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.

Romans 8.38–39

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OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray together.

Loving God, you alone are the source of life. May your life-giving spirit flow through us, and fill us with compassion, one for another. In our sorrow give us the calm of your peace. Kindle our hope, and let our grief give way to joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

EULOGIES

Damian Brady – Working Life Maurice Clisby – Friendships Charlie Coulton - Family

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD PSALM 23 Read by The Revd Jane Window

1 The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing.

2 He will make me lie down in green pastures: and lead me beside still waters.

3 He will refresh my soul: and guide me in right pathways for his name's sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the face of those who trouble me: you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

6 Surely your goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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THE EPISTLE READING 1 Peter 1.3-9

A reading from the First Letter of Peter 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Hear the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL READING John 14.1-6 Read by The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, Dean.

A reading from the Gospel according to St John:

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ 5Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ 6Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Hear the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

THE ADDRESS The Revd Canon Christopher Carolane Associate Priest & Cathedral Emeritus

Please stand to sing

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THE HYMN

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’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

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Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come: God’s grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

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When we’ve been there ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.

John Newton (1725-1807) Australian Hymn Book 56

THE PRAYERS Led by the Revd Jane Window, Cathedral Pastor

Let us pray with confidence to God our Father, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead for the salvation of all.

Thanks be to God for the gift of life. You have made us in your image, and called us to reflect your truth and light. We thank you for the life of Robert. Above all, we thank you for your gracious promise to all your servants, living and departed, that we shall be made one again in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Gracious God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank you that you received Robert by baptism into the family of your Church on earth, and granted him the gift of eternal life. He ate with us the bread of life and drank from the cup of salvation. We thank you for all your goodness to Robert in Christ our Saviour. Amen

Lord of all life and power, who, through the mighty resurrection of your Son, overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise, honour and thanksgiving, now and for all eternity. Amen.

Merciful God, we pray for Robbie’s family remembering especially His parents, Peter and Patricia For Charlie & Bianca with Jack and Peter For Tom & Mila, for Kim and Emma with baby Matilda and for Cassandra. And we pray for Robbie’s friends and colleagues. Their sense of loss is so keen. When we cannot understand the things that happen, and are weighed down by grief and loneliness, uphold us in your love. Give us the assurance of your constant care, that we may have courage for the days ahead. through Jesus Christ our friend. Amen.

God of truth and love, give us wisdom and grace to use aright the time left to us. While we have opportunity, lead us to repent of our sins, and to do what we have left undone. Strengthen us to follow in the steps of Jesus, along the pilgrim way to your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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At the end of the prayers: As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are confident to pray,

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Please stand to sing

THE HYMN

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I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Behold, I freely give the living water, thirsty one; stoop down and drink and live:’ I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream; my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in him.

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I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘I am this dark world’s light; look unto me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright:’ I looked to Jesus, and I found in him my star, my sun; and in that light of life I’ll walk till travelling days are done.

Horatius Bonar (1808-89) Hymns Ancient and Modern New Standard 247

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THE FAREWELL Led by the Revd Jane Window, Cathedral Pastor

Lord Jesus Christ, you gave new birth to our brother Robert by water and the Spirit. Grant that his death may recall to us your victory over death, and be an occasion for us to renew our trust in your Father’s love. Give us, we pray, the faith to follow where you have led the way, to live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen. The congregation are invited to come forward to light a candle Let us entrust our brother Robert to the mercy of God.

Holy and loving Father, by your mighty power you gave us life, and in your love you have given us new life in Christ Jesus. We entrust Robert to your merciful keeping: in the faith of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to save us, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in glory for ever. Amen.

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THE HYMN

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Praise him for his grace and favour to our people in distress; praise him still the same for ever, slow to chide and swift to bless: praise him, praise him, alleluia, glorious in his faithfulness.

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Father-like, he tends and spares us; well our feeble frame he knows; in his hand he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. praise him, praise him, alleluia, widely as his mercy flows!

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Angels, help us to adore him, ye behold him face to face; sun and moon, bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space: praise him, praise him, alleluia, praise with us the God of grace

Henry Francis Lyte (1793–1847) alt.

Australian Hymn Book 68

THE BLESSING The Dean

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority, before all time and now and for ever: and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen. Let us go in the name of Christ. Amen.

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Peter and Patricia and their family thank you for your presence

today and your support at this difficult time.

They are hoping you can join them for refreshments following the service at the

Transit Bar, Level 2, Transport Hotel, Federation Square.

PERMISSIONS A Funeral Service: A Prayer Book for Australia © 1995 Broughton Publishing. Texts of Scripture: the New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Hymns are reproduced by permission. © 2021 The Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral.

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