Memorial Service for Eric Kirton
Download or view streaming video of the memorial service.
For individual messages and eulogies, see video links below.
Sunday 25 March 2007, 8:00 pm, The Life Chapel
Led by Benny Kong
Welcome / Introduction
Song - My Tribute
Words by Andrae Crouch
How can I say thanks for all the things you have done for me –
Things so undeserved, yet you gave to prove your love for me?
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be – I owe it all to thee
To God be the glory! [3x]
For the things he has done!
With his blood, he has saved me
With his pow'r, he has raised me
To God be the glory
For the things he has done!
Just let me live my life
Let it be pleasing, Lord, to thee
And should I gain any praise
Let it go to Calvary
With his blood, he has saved me
With his pow'r, he has raised me
To God be the glory
For the things he has done!
Scripture Reading (Carol Kirton Sherbeck)
Psalm 71:1-3,5-6,8,17-21,23
Song -
Higher Hands
Words by John W Peterson
Though it seems I’m oft unnoticed
And lost in time and space
God above is watching o’er me
Though I cannot see his face
Higher hands are leading me [2x]
I am not alone, I know
As I walk this world below
For higher hands are leading me
There’s a great eternal purpose
In the life of everyone
And someday, we’ll know its meaning
When our days on earth are done
All my times are in his keeping
He has numbered me my years
And someday he’ll take me yonder
Where there’ll be no pain nor tears
So I face an unknown future
Full of faith and unafraid
And the peace I have through trusting
For the world I would not trade
Prayer (Kong Yeng Phooi)
Song -
Love Crucified Arose
Words by Michael Card
Long ago, he blessed the earth
Born older than the years
And in the stall, a cross he saw
Through the first of many tears
A life of homeless wandering
Cast out in sorrow’s way
The Shepherd seeking for the lost
His life the price he’d pay
Love crucified arose
The Risen One in splendour
Jehovah’s soul-defender
Has won the victory!
Love crucified arose
And the grave became a place of hope
For the heart that sin and sorrow broke
Is beating once again!
Throughout your life, you felt the weight
Of what you’d come to give:
To drink for us that crimson cup
So we might really live
At last, the time to love and die –
The dark appointed day
That one forsaken moment when
Your Father turned his face away
Love crucified arose
The One who lived and died for me
Was Satan’s nail-pierced casualty
Now he’s breathing once again!
Love crucified arose
And the grave became a place of hope
For the heart that sin and sorrow broke
Is beating once again!
[Repeat first chorus]
Message (M Selveindran – a member of the Evangel Book Centre management board, representing Dad’s work in the Evangel ministry over the past 32 years) - video
Tributes
Song -
Find Us Faithful
Words by Jon Mohr
We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
And those who’ve gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful
Encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament
To God’s sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But, as those who’ve gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives
O may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
O may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we’ve left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find
Multimedia Overview of Eric Kirton’s Life and Ministry
Accompanied by “You Raise Me Up”, performed by Celtic Woman, composed by Brendan Graham and Rolf Lovland.
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
There is no life – no life without its hunger
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly
But when you come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity
(This was one of Dad’s favourite songs, played often during his time of illness. It is a double tribute: to Dad, who raised many to find their true potential and purpose in Christ; and to his God, who used an available ordinary life like Dad’s in ways beyond his imagination, and who also sustained him through many difficult days, particularly the last few months as his life slowly ebbed away due to illness.)
Scripture Reading (V Nadarajah)
2 Corinthians 4:7-11,14,16-18; 5:1,5; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Song -
Because He Lives
Words by Gloria & William J Gaither
God sent his Son - they called him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove
My Saviour lives!
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow
Because he lives, all fear is gone
Because I know (I know) he holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives!
How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days
Because Christ lives!
And then one day, I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory
And I'll know he lives!
Prayer (Wong San Tosh)
Last Respects
Accompanied by “Thine Be The Glory” performed by The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, lyrics by Edmund Budry, music “Maccabeus”, adapted from Georg Friedrich Handel
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son –
Endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won!
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away
Kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son
Endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won!
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb!
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom
Let the Church, with gladness, hymns of triumph sing
For her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting!
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life
Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife
Make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love
Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above
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