Welcome to you all to Espiritu Santo, the church where Margaret worshipped for many years.  Welcome dear friends of Margaret as we come together today to give thanks for her life and love.  There are many others who are joining us now in spirit, members of our wider church family who until recent times have come to Tenerife during the year, many of whom we pray will soon be able to return to us soon.  Also, with us from afar are members of Margaret’s own family, her children, granddaughter and three great grandchildren. And we are joined by those who are physically here but due to current regulations we cannot fit them into the church.    Whether here in body or spirit we meet in the name of Jesus Christ, whose coming into the world has brought hope and peace to millions and given the assurance that in life and death we are loved by God, a God who will never let us go.  May the peace of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord fill our hearts and minds as we worship today, as we come together before God to remember and give thanks for our dear Margaret, and to comfort one another in our grief.

(Before we continue, just a little announcement caused by the restrictions of these times.  As you will see in your orders of service there are three hymns printed out.  They will be voiced arrangements through the sound system.  Please remain seated while these are being played but you are welcome to sing along softly or hum behind your mask.  Not ideal I know but that’s the rules we are being asked to follow.  A reminder too that there will be a retiring collection in the form of a basket at the back of the church for contributions according to Margaret’s wishes. This and other details of what is happening after the service are on your order of service.  Because it is also Margaret’s wish that her interment up at Tamaimo should be a private arrangement, I will do the prayer of committal and other concluding prayers that normally take place at a graveside, here in church.  Mobile phones to be switched off or on silent mode please!)

Let us pray.

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and comfort us; renew our trust in your Son, whom you raised from the dead; strengthen our faith that all who have died in the love of Christ will share in his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Hymn – In Christ alone… Let us now hear words of scripture, words which give us hope and help us to understand the immense love in which we are held by our creator  

Psalm 139  (read by Elizabeth Thomas)

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,

”even the darkness is not dark to you;the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.In your book were written

all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.

How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them

—they are more than the sand;I come to the end—I am still with you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans            (8:18-30, 38-39)

(read by Ken Cumming, Pastor of Callao Salvaje Community Church)

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.  And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

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.

This is the word of the Lord. 

Address Margaret Woodifield was born in Sunderland, the younger of two daughters born to William and Doris Woodifield.  Theirs was a Christian household and the children were brought up in the Church of England.  Margaret remembers her confirmation by the Bishop of Durham, Michael Ramsey, who went on to become Archbishop of York and later of Canterbury.  The family moved to Durham at some point and Margaret was active in her church and also in the Brownies and Guides.

She was married whilst still young, about 19 years old, to Richard Rainton who was in the RAF.  They lived in various places in the UK because of Rick’s regular deployments.   She mentioned living in Northumberland, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.  Rick had two young children from a previous marriage, Suzy aged 3 and Clive, only 8 months.  Margaret brought them up as her own, along with the two children that she and Rick had together, Carl and Mark.  Tragically the stepson Clive died at the age of 21 while serving in the army, not in action or due to an accident but of a serious illness.  Son Mark later came to Tenerife and lived with Margaret here for about 10 years.

Margaret’s marriage to Rick sadly ended after 14 years.  Margaret has always spoken of this with sadness even though the marriage had not been happy, especially in the later years.  Life became very difficult for her then.  She turned to her church for help, but it was not forthcoming.   She eventually found the support she needed in the Assemblies of God Pentecostal church in Lincoln, and joined the church there after having what she described as a ‘born again’ experience.  This was in 1980.

Margaret began working as a carer with the Country Cousins network and which took her all over Britain.  She also started taking holidays in Tenerife as well as travelling to other parts of the world, especially to visit friends.  Whilst here she attended the South Tenerife Christian Fellowship at the Apollo Centre in Los Cristianos.  She had a strong sense of calling to move to Tenerife permanently and to work in that church in some capacity.   By now her mother had died but Margaret decided not to make any such move until her father had also passed away.  She finally moved out here in 2000, eventually settling in an apartment in the Sunset complex in Puerto Santiago where she stayed for 16 years. She moved to Colonial Park up the hill here in Los Gigantes for the last 3 years of her life.

After her arrival in Tenerife, as intended, she became very involved with the Apollo church, but left following an internal difficulty there, and began to search for a new spiritual home.  A house group led by Marisha began in Los Gigantes.  Margaret heard about it and started attending, and also joined the Anglican community worshipping here at Espiritu Santo.  The chronology is a bit vague but one of the church members, Bea Gallagher, had opened the church charity shop and Margaret went to help out there.  When Bea left the island, Margaret volunteered or rather was persuaded to take on the management of the shop.  

If you didn’t know Margaret previously you would probably be aware by now in listening to this that her Christian faith was the most important thing in her life.  She became a prominent member of this congregation and latterly member of the church council; for many years she hosted the home group which continued to meet every Thursday until suspended by the lockdown last year.  This followed the Thursday morning Eucharist in church, after which Margaret would go home immediately to prepare for the arrival of God knows how many people for lunch, for which she with her limited resources was a major provider even though it was technically a bring-and-share arrangement.  After lunch there would be a Bible study led in turn by various people and concluding with a focused time of prayer for the people and concerns of those present.  Like our widespread church community itself the home group was supported by swallows and visitors during their times on the island as also some friends from other local churches.  Margaret had an exemplary ministry of hospitality.

Margaret’s life was based on prayer.  She did nothing without praying about it first.  She also had a ministry of intercessory prayer for particular people, for the church, the shop and the volunteers who worked there, for any situation in fact that she felt God was putting into her heart.  She never tried to impose her faith on anyone else but would not be shy of sharing it when opportunities arose.  When she took on the management of the shop she ensured that it was not just going to be a fund-raiser for the church but a base for the church’s outreach and service to the community, and this remains its prime purpose.  But for those who would like to put a monetary value on the work achieved, until the end of 2020 sales at the shop have amounted to 333,226 Euros, most of this raised on Margaret’s watch.  Margaret always set her own targets which were to beat the previous year, which she usually did until Covid-19 interrupted everything. Her best year was 2017 when sales reached around 48,000 euros.

Margaret was an avid reader and student of the Bible and she wore out several copies during her years in Tenerife.  In church she worshipped devoutly, she listened carefully to every word the preacher uttered, and didn’t hesitate to tell him (it was usually me) if she disagreed with something he had said.  Conversely, she would offer praise when due.  Sometimes this feedback was given directly, but most times it was via Marisha.  But it was always good to know that someone was listening to what I said.  She loved singing in church, and she is perhaps the only person in my three congregations here that I can think of who would be softly singing the hymn or chorus that was being played as she approached for Communion, only stopping for a moment to consume the sacrament.

Margaret’s staunch faith was her strongest support in her suffering, and as her illness led to a growing realisation that her earthly journey was approaching its end.  She faced it bravely with the support of the medical services, her closest friends, especially Marisha, Mandy and Beryl and the ministry and sacraments of the Church. She said that our visits for prayer and communion over the past few months were the highlight of her week and always lifted her spirits.  Margaret was prepared for her death, knowing that she had died the all-important death a long time ago when through baptism into the life of Jesus Christ she had already begun to share in his risen life, the eternal life of the Spirit which physical death could never destroy.

Margaret’s final message to us, what she wants us all to know, is that she has had a good life, she has travelled the world, she has had the love of family and friends, and above all, she has a Saviour.  As we commend her now to the merciful care of the God she served throughout her life, she would ask us all to open the eyes of faith to see her passing from us in the flesh not as the failure of therapy but her final healing, not the turning out of the light of life forever, but simply the extinguishing the lamp, because for her the dawn has come.  

Hymn:  The King of love my shepherd isPrayers:   

Hope realized – A poem for Margaret by Marisha Carter, read by Elizabeth Thomas.

Our friend has gone

Her hope realized

She is with her Saviour now

Too soon we want to say

But no; the time and day were marked

The grief is ours, not hers

Happy is she whose hope is in the Lord

Things unseen now seen, her faith fulfilled

All is revealed, no mysteries now

Face to face, the veil removed

All that was hoped now is

Through a mirror dimly, now seen clearly

The imperfect becomes complete

 Father in heaven, we give you thanks for your child Margaret. 

We praise you as we recollect her life and cherish her memory.  We bless you that in bearing your image she has brought light to our lives; for we have seen in her love clear reflections of your compassion, in her integrity demonstrations of your goodness, in her kindness glimpses of your eternal love.

Grant to each of us, beloved and bereft, the grace to follow her good example so that we with her may one day enjoy the realm of greater light and peace, the fullness of your everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who died and rose again and opened for us the gate of glory.  Amen.

Father of all mercies and God of all consolation, you pursue us with untiring love and dispel the shadow of death with the bright dawn of life.  Give courage to Margaret’s children and their families, to other members of her family and to all who are grieving and praying with us at this time.  We pray for Marisha, Mandy, Beryl, and for all members of our St Francis and wider Church family, and for Margaret’s many friends near and far in their loss and sorrow.  Be their refuge and strength, O Lord, reassure them of your continuing love and lift them from the depths of grief into the peace and light of your presence.  Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by dying has destroyed our death and by rising has given us eternal life.  Your Holy Spirit, our comforter, speaks for us in sighs too deep for words.  Come alongside your people, remind them of your eternal presence and give them your comfort and strength, today and always.  Amen.

Lord God, you are tender towards your children and your compassion and mercy is over all your works.  Heal the memories of hurt and failure.  Give us the wisdom and grace to use aright the time that is left to us here on earth, to turn to Christ and follow in his steps on the road that leads to everlasting life.  We ask this in his name, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Rejoicing in God’s new creation let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words that Jesus himself taught us:  Our Father……….

Hymn:  Bless the Lord, O my soulLet us now commend Margaret to God’s eternal peace and keeping:

God our creator and redeemer, by your power Christ conquered death and entered into glory.  Confident of his victory and claiming his promises, we entrust Margaret Rainton to your merciful keeping, in the name of Jesus our Lord, who died and is alive and reigns with you, now and for ever.  Amen.             

In the midst of life we are in death, creatures for a day.

Like a shadow we flee and never stay.

But God is tender to those that fear him.

For he knows of what we are made;

God remembers that we are but dust.

Our days are like the grass;

we flourish like a flower of the field;

when the wind goes over it, it is goneand its place will know it no more.

But the merciful goodness of the Lord endures

forever, full of compassion and mercy. 

We have entrusted our beloved Margaret to God's mercy,

and we now commit her body to its final resting place:

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust:

in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our frail bodiesthat they may be conformed to his glorious body,who died, was buried, and rose again for us.

To him be glory for ever.  Amen. 

‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last and the living one, says the Lord.  For I was dead and now I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of death and of death’s domain.’

God will show us the path of life; in his presence is the fullness of joy: and at his right hand there is pleasure for evermore.

May God give you his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy,in this world and the next; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be withyou today and always.  Amen.