Rev Canon Emeritus Peter Devanayagam Memorial Order of Service 2nd July 2022 Final Copy

2nd July 2022

Welcome

Hymn - In Christ Alone

Keith Getty 1974, Stuart Townend 1963

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

© 2001 Thankyou Music
Used by permission. CCL License No. 332301

Prayer

All: Heavenly Father,

in your Son Jesus Christ
you have given us a true faith and a sure hope.
Strengthen this faith and hope in us all our days,
that we may live as those who believe in
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins
and the resurrection to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Responsive Bible Reading

Psalm 139 : 1 - 18

Read by Paul Devanayagam

1 O Lord, you have searched me out and known me:
you know when I sit or when I stand,
you comprehend my thoughts long before.

2 You discern my path and the places where I rest:
you are acquainted with all my ways.

3 For there is not a word on my tongue:
but you, Lord, know it altogether.

4 You have encompassed me behind and before:
and have laid your hand upon me.

5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me:
so high that I cannot endure it.

6 Where shall I go from your spirit:
or where shall I flee from your presence?

7 If I ascend into heaven you are there:
if I make my bed in the grave you are there also.

8 If I spread out my wings towards the morning:
or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

9 Even there your hand shall lead me:
and your right hand shall hold me.

10 If I say ‘Surely the darkness will cover me:
and the night will enclose me’,

11 The darkness is no darkness with you,
but the night is as clear as the day:

the darkness and the light are both alike.

12 For you have created my inward parts:
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

13 I will praise you, for you are to be feared:
fearful are your acts, and wonderful your works.

14 You knew my soul,
and my bones were not hidden from you:
when I was formed in secret,
and woven in the depths of the earth.

15 Your eyes saw my limbs when they were yet imperfect:
and in your book were all my members written;

16 Day by day they were fashioned:
and not one was late in growing.

17 How deep are your thoughts to me, O God:
and how great is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they are more in number than the sand:
were I to come to the end, I would still be with you.

All: Glory to the Father and to the Son:

and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be forever. Amen

Tribute and Reflections

The Life of Rev. Canon Emeritus Peter Devanayagam

Shared by:
Elizabeth Devanayagam
Moses Devanayagam
Dr. Johnny Savarimuthu
Video presentation by the Grandchildren

Bible Reading:

1 Corinthians 15 : 1 - 24

Read by Aidan Lim Devanayagam

1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to
you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died
for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters

at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen
asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not
without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the
grace of God that was with me.

11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you
believed.

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can
some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your

faith.
15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we

have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not
raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your
sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be
pitied.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those
who have fallen asleep.

21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes
also through a man.

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who

belong to him.
24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the

Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord

All: Thanks be to God

Sermon

Preached by Dean Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheah

Hymn - Count Your Blessings

Johnson Oatman, Jr. 1897, Edwin O. Excell 1897

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Chorus:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. (Chorus)

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. (Chorus)

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. (Chorus)

Public Domain

Prayers

Merciful Father and Lord of all life, we praise you that men and women are
made in your image to reflect your life and your truth. We thank you for the
life of your son Peter, for the love and mercy he received from you and showed
among us. We thank you for all that was good in his life and for the memories
we treasure today. Above all we rejoice at your gracious promise to all your
servants, living and departed: that we shall rise again at the coming of Christ.
And we ask that in due time we may share with our all our brothers and sisters
who have gone before us, that clearer vision, when we shall see your face in
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Heavenly Father, who gave your Son Jesus Christ to suffering and death on the
cross, and raised him to life and glory, grant to us and all who mourn a patient
faith in times of darkness, and strengthen our hearts with the knowledge of
your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Merciful God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us
from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, so that when we depart this
life we may be found trusting in Christ and thus receive your eternal blessing,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Minister: As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

All: 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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Minister:

May the Lord our 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 among you and remain with you always.

All: Amen.

Hymn - Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Thomas O. Chisholm 1866-1960

Great is thy faithfulness
Oh God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. (Chorus)

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! (Chorus)

Public Domain

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Our heartfelt appreciation and thanks to:
▪ The Very Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheah, Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral
▪ The Cathedral Choir
▪ The Organist, Mrs. Christina Sankey
▪ Staff of St Mary’s Cathedral
▪ Family, Relatives and Friends of Rev. Canon Emeritus Peter Devanayagam.

Lunch Reception.
The family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to you for
your attendance today, and love and support shown towards our dear
husband, brother, father and grandfather.

We are honoured therefore to invite you all to lunch at the church
Multi Purpose Hall, where we can continue to fellowship and share our
fond memories.