Friends and family, we are here to consecrate this resting place and to commit the soul of sweet baby Jacob Nicholas into the care and keeping of God.

We are here to release what has been the very human dramas of our lives, but we are also here to hold forever our love for baby Jacob. May we open our hearts today, and know that whom God has given to us, no one, and nothing can take away. For this we know as truth, God is more powerful than death.

We release what was and make room for what shall be, as we testify within out minds that life does not end, but merely transmutes, that today we say good-bye and yet we also say hello. We say good-bye to the physical focus of our relationship with Jacob, and we greet the relationship with his soul that now begins anew. Jacob lives forever in God's mind and Our hearts.

It is our desire that from now on we may think of Jacob as a living soul, continuing on the pathway of eternal life and always in our heavenly Father's wise and love care.

May this service bring a measure of peace to the hearts of his loved ones. May we feel the tender loving presence of our heavenly Father so trongly that His peace, which passes all human understanding, will fill our hearts.

Heavenly Father, the source of all, we open our minds and hearts to you that your Divine Love pours its healing balm to mend our broken hearts. May the tears that we shed and all the tears welling up within us be gifted unto you Lord. May our tears be moved from tears of grief to acceptance. Dear God surround us with your pressence and allow us to rest and heal in your love and comfort. We ask for your angels to guide us in the days ahead, transforming each painful thought into a loving memory. Open our minds and hearts to the wisdom and understanding that Jacob has just gone away, and we will meet again in Heaven. AMEN

Quite often as we think about the passing of someone so young we wonder why the child should be born to live such a short life span. Let us remember that minutes, hours, days, months, or years are not the measure of life. The measure is taken in the goodness that has been added because this soul came into your lives. It is difficult to say good-bye on the same day you say hello to Jacob. As a parent, you expected that you would pre-decease your children, and to bury a child is one of the most difficult tragedies we are ever asked to endure. I ask you to remember the joy and love that Jacob awaken in you. I know that you feel you will never be the same, and indeed you will not. You will be harder or you will be softer. We say this to you, if we could have done anything to keep Jacob with you, we would have. It is our deepest sorrow that he is not here now. Our prayer is that your grief might move through you gently. May you not give in to the dark side of sorrow but rather let it illumine you. Sorrow can stretch your hearts now, and more light shine there than ever before. You are very loved, the road ahead of you is difficult, but know that you are surrounded in God's pure love. We have joined our hearts with your hearts, and your prayers are our prayers.

Know that Jacob sits as an angel on your should, loving and guiding you along life's path, and sending you all manner of good.

I would like to say to you the grandparents of this beautiful little soul, that our hearts go with you. You are to be commended that you raised such incredible children as Tim and Sherri. Let your strength and wisdom for weathering the storms of life be their guiding cocoon of love as they heal. Our prayers for you, the grandparents, is that God surround you with love. May the love of all of us gathered here today give you the strength to move gently through your grief, and may you find peace in your heart. May you hold in your mind forever, the truth we agree here today. Jacob lives in our minds and our hearts and he lives forever in the arms and the mind of God.

To you the friends and family gathered here today, you want to know how to confront them. Please don't tell them everything will be alright. It is not alright. Jacob is not here. Please hug them when the tears come, without questions why they are crying. Please talk about Jacob with them when they bring up his name. Please don't feel awkward when they show you his pictures and the things they have saved. Be there for Sherri and Tim as they share their memories and joys of the time they had with Jacob. Please don't tell them that time heals, it can never heal this wound. Jacob will always be their first born. Remember his birthday and most importantly: LOVE THEM, just simply LOVE THEM.

Dear Lord, we ask for your comforting arms to surround us now in the coming days ahead. Yea though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil, for Thou art with us. Death is but a shadow on the path of life, and wherever that path may lead, we know that Thou art with us. We know that the soul that built and used to form that has now been laid to rest on earth, resides with you God in your great kingdom. Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions", many abiding places. In some new abiding place this child of God, Jacob lives gloriously.

And now in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit who brings to our remembrance all that Jesus said, we free you Jacob, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, spirit, soul, and body to our Father's loving care.

And now in a moment of silent prayer, we behold ourselves with you and all who have gone before you, all one in the Father. In the name and through the power of Jesus Christ, we say AMEN.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do no sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn's rain
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circles flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there
I did not die

And so taking a deep breath, feeling the widened space of love that is now opened within our hearts, we say thank you Jacob for bringing a new dimension of love and compassion to our lives. May we honour you for being more loving and compassionate towards others. May your presence in our memories help us to heal ourselves, each other, and our world.

Twinkle, twinkle little star
We know exaclty where you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Safe in the arms of Jesus