Advice for eulogy

[Stefan Jakubowski]

My stepfather passed away age 103 years. He came from a seafaring family joining the merchant navy at a young age. He served around the world, was torpedoed three times and lost two brothers who were in the Royal Navy.

Is there a prayer or eulogy that he would have recognised that I can read at his funeral? I want to recognise his merchant navy service of which he was so proud and also recognise him as a hero.

Be grateful for any suggestions.

Thanks

Stefan

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Stefan
Sad loss and i hope that you may get some good replies for the Service.
Condolences

[Keith at Tregenna]

THE PRAYER

O Eternal Lord God, who alone spreads out the heavens and rules the raging of the seas, receive into your protection all those who go down to the sea in ships and occupy their business on the great waters. Preserve them both in body and soul, prosper their labors with good success, in all times of danger, be their defense, and bring them to the haven where they would be, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PILOT'S PSALM

The Lord is my Pilot, I shall not drift. He guides me across the dark waters. He steers me in deep channels. He keeps my log. He pilots me by the star of holiness for His name's sake. Yea, though I sail 'mid the fenders and tempests of life I shall dread no danger for He is near me. His love and care shelter me. He prepares a harbor before me in the homeland of eternity. He anoints the waves with oil, my ship rides calmly. Surely sunlight and starlight shall favor me on my voyages and I will rest in the Port of our Lord forever.

Eternal Father

(Navy Hymn - First Verse and Mariners Verse)

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep,
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea!

Lord, stand beside all those who sail
Our merchant ships in storm and gale,
In peace and war their watch they keep
On every sea, on thy vast deep.
Be with them, Lord, by night and day,
For Merchant Mariners we pray.

Psalm 23, Mariner's Version
Captain J. Rogers

The Lord is my Pilot;
I shall not drift.
He leadeth me across the dark waters
and steereth me in the deep channels.
He keepeth my Log
and guideth me by the star of holiness
for His Name's sake.
Yea, though I sail amid
the thunders and tempests of life,
I shall dread no danger,
For Thou art with me;
Thy love and Thy care, they shelter me.
Thou preparest a harbor before me
in the homeland of eternity;
Thou anointest the waves with oil,
and my ship rideth calmly,
Surely sunlight and starlight
shall favor me all the days of my voyaging,
and I will rest in the port of my Lord forever.

Source: The Mast, September 1948

[Ivan Cloherty]

I second hymn 'Eternal Father Strong to Save' it is known to virtually to all seamen and would have been well known to those who served in WWII. If you are having more than one hymn I would respectfully suggest you make it the final hymn as it will long be remembered.

It will be played at my own funeral, along with 'wish me luck as you wave me goodbye'

[Rodney Mills]

These are a couple of suitable poems for an eulogy:

"Crossing the Bar."

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Sunset and the evening star.
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar
when I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
when that which drew me out of the boundless deep
turns again home!

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell
when I embark:

For though from out our bourn of tide and place
the flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my pilots face
when I have crossed the bar.


"Sea Fever."

John Masefield

I must go down to the sea again to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheels kick and the winds song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the sea again, for the call of the running tide
is a wild call and clear call that may not be denied
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying.
And the flying spray and brown spume, and the seagulls crying.

I must go down to the sea again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gulls way and the whales way where the winds like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover.

And a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick is over.

Condolences, Rodney

[Graham Payne]

I think the response to this post is excellent.
Well done to you all.