A Service of Thanksgiving
For the Resurrection Life of
Joseph M. Taxiera
May 23, 1932 – April 17, 2025
April 24, 2025
11:00 am
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Westborough, MA
PRELUDE
Heaven Song Phil Wickham
New Direction Band
Kiss the Rain Yiruma
Yeon Soh, Piano
Hymn Karl Jenkins
Yeon Soh, Piano
INTRODUCTION
Welcome in the name of Jesus, the Savior of the world. We are gathered to worship, to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to remember before God our brother Joseph, to give thanks for his life, to commend him to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you.
We glorify you.
Jesus Christ, the resurrection, and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you.
We praise you.
Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you.
We worship you.
To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN Beautiful Savior ELW 838
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our brother Joe. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us your aid, so we may see in death the gate to eternal life, that we may continue our course on earth in confidence until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before us; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST LESSON
PSALM 23 Molly Lane
A reading from Psalms.
1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff —
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON
ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8 Glenn Smith, Jr.
A reading from Ecclesiastes.
1For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL
JOHN 11:21-27 Riley Smith
The Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.
21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON The Rev. Jessica Goodrich
HYMN OF THE DAY On Eagle’s Wings ELW 787
Prayers of Intercession
Let us pray.
Almighty God, in holy baptism you have knit your chosen people together into one communion of saints in the body of Christ. Give to your whole church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to share the new life in Christ. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
Give courage and faith to all who mourn, and a sure and certain hope in your loving care, that, casting all their sorrow on you, they may have strength for the days ahead. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that, where this world groans in grief and pain, your Holy Spirit may lead us to bear witness to your light and life. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
Help us, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
The presiding minister concludes the prayers.
God of all grace, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection he opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, will be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you.
SPECIAL MUSIC
Borning Cry John C. Ylvisaker
Resurrection Choir
DIALOGUE
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son,
who reached out to heal the sick and suffering,
who preached good news to the poor,
and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension,
we await his coming in glory.
Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord,
and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food,
the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord;
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory, now and forever.
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Let us pray as Jesus taught us, each in the words or language of our choice.
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, forever and ever. Amen.
OR
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 forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
At this table, Christ is both host and meal, and offers himself to all who hunger and thirst for his presence.
We believe that he is truly present in this sacrament.
Ushers direct you to the rail, where bread is placed in your hand (you can request a gluten-free wafer), and where you receive wine by taking a cup from the tray
(the cups in the center contain white grape juice). Empty cups go into the trays by the windows.
If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward and receive a blessing.
If you need to receive communion in your pew, simply notify an usher.
No one is too young to receive this sacrament, though some families wish to give their children some instruction before they take their first communion. If a young child accompanies you to the rail, please indicate to the pastor whether they should receive bread or a blessing.
AGNUS DEI
COMMUNION MUSIC
The Lord’s Prayer Albert H. Malotte
Marilyn Reiman, trumpet
COMMUNION HYMNS Let Us Break Bread Together ELW 471
One Bread, One Body ELW 496
Table Blessing
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace. Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray. God of abundance, with this bread of life and cup of salvation you have united us with Christ, making us one with all your people. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF COMMENDATION
Let us commend Joseph to the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer.
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Joseph. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
SONG OF BLESSING
Beloved, Now Your Work Is Done text by Hannah Brown
BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace. Amen.
SENDING SONG
Sing Wherever I Go We the Kingdom
New Direction Band
Chorus 1:
All my life all I know; God’s been good, good to my soul
Mountain high valley low; I’m gonna sing wherever I go
All my life all I know; God’s been good, good to my soul
Mountain high valley low; I’m gonna sing wherever I go
Verse 1:
God is for me, He’s not against me, I will hold to the plans He has for me
When I’m broken, He will fix me; I will call on the name of the Lord
Chorus 2:
All my life all I know; God’s been good, good to my soul
Mountain high valley low; I’m gonna sing wherever I go
Verse 2:
He’s my heartsong, in my sorrow; He’s my hope and my strength for tomorrow
When the storms rise, all around me; I will call on the name of the Lord
(chorus 1)
Bridge:
I got joy, joy, joy; deep in my soul
I will sing, sing, sing; wherever I go
(chorus 1)
A procession will form and leave the church, the ministers leading.
Burial follows the service at
Howard Street Cemetery † 30 Howard St, Northborough, MA
The Taxiera and Leonard families cordially invite you to return to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for a collation meal following the interment.
COMMITTAL
Grace and peace from our Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.
Let us pray. Holy God, holy and powerful, by the death and burial of Jesus your anointed, you have destroyed the power of death and made holy the resting places of all your people. Keep our brother Joseph, whose body we now lay to rest, in the company of all your saints. And at the last, O God, raise him up to share with all the faithful the endless joy and peace won through the glorious resurrection of Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty God our brother Joseph, and we commit his body to its resting place; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
The Lord bless him and keep him.
The Lord’s face shine on him with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon him with favor and + give him peace. Amen.
Rest eternal grant him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him.
O Lord, support us all the day long of this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Let us pray as Jesus taught us, each in the words or language of our choice.
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, forever and ever. Amen.
OR
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 forever. Amen.
Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen.
Let us go in peace.
PARTICIPANTS
Celebrant Rev. Cassandra Hartnett
Preacher Rev. Jessica Goodrich
Worship Assistant Dave Kaiser
Lectors Molly Lane, Glenn Smith Jr, Riley Smith
Ushers Paul Bigwood, Caryn Francese, John Moran
Director of Music Elizabeth Sproul
Organist Yeon Soh
Trumpet Marilyn Reiman
New Direction Randy Gomez, Michelle Grim Kati, Lawrence Kati,
Matt Overholt, Mary Overholt
Altar Care Stephanie Leclair, Barbara Shumaker, Holly Pavlak, Linda Frederico,
Elaine Martin, Cherie Lynch-Conway, Joan Olson, Trudy Roybal,
Mary Callahan, Caryn Francese, and Katie Zimmermann
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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.