The following intercessions and homily are from the Mass to celebrate the Life of Malcolm Hubble at St Paul’s Church, Nork, near Banstead on Friday 21 May 2010.
Intercessions for Malcolm Hubble
The response to the prayer: Lord, hear us - is - Lord, graciously hear us.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
God of mercy, Lord of life, you have made us in your image
to reflect your truth and light: we give you thanks for Malcolm Hubble.
For the grace and mercy he received from you, for all that was good in his life,
and for the memories we treasure today.
You promised eternal life to those who believe.
Remember for good this your servant Malcolm as we also remember him.
We pray that he may now be at rest in Jesus Christ, in the fullness of your
heavenly kingdom with his beloved Margaret.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
Eternal God, we know our life is a fleeting shadow that does not endure.
We thank you that Malcolm’s bereavement and illness are at an end
and that death itself is conquered.
We thank you for the years of his presence among us, his gifts of music,
masonry and charitable support, his diligence in finance and management,
his effort less people skills, and love and devotion to Margaret.
And while we feel the sadness of his parting,
we rejoice in the faith that Malcolm has gone to be with you,
for in your presence is the fullness of joy,
at your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the support and care that Malcolm received
while he was unwell. Bless all who had the care of him, especially doctors,
nurses and technicians. Guide and prosper all who are engaged in medical
research and science: may they never lose heart in their search to discover
the way of health and healing.
Grant that by their vision and courage
we may advance in our understanding of the world
and be better able to help those in need.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
Lord of life, and peace, your mighty power brings joy out of grief and life out of death.
Look in mercy on Denis, David, Malcolm’s many friends and all who mourn at this time. Give them patient faith in times of darkness,
and strengthen them with the knowledge of your love.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
Almighty and Eternal God, Architect and Ruler of the Universe, at Whose creative fiat all things first were made, we, the frail creatures of Thy providence, humbly implore Thee to pour down on thy servant, Malcolm, thy heavenly blessing, so that passing safely under Thy protection through the valley of the shadow of death, he may finally rise from the tomb of transgression, to shine as the stars for ever and ever.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
So we offer our own prayers to the God of creation, as we place our own lives and all for whom we pray before God.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
And so we join all our prayers together as we pray:
All God of mercy, entrusting into your hands all that you have made
and rejoicing in our communion with all your faithful people,
we make our prayers through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
Lord of life, and peace, your mighty power brings joy out of grief and life out of death.
Look in mercy on Denis, David, Malcolm’s many friends and all who mourn at this time. Give them patient faith in times of darkness,
and strengthen them with the knowledge of your love.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
Almighty and Eternal God, Architect and Ruler of the Universe, at Whose creative fiat all things first were made, we, the frail creatures of Thy providence, humbly implore Thee to pour down on thy servant, Malcolm, thy heavenly blessing, so that passing safely under Thy protection through the valley of the shadow of death, he may finally rise from the tomb of transgression, to shine as the stars for ever and ever.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
So we offer our own prayers to the God of creation, as we place our own lives and all for whom we pray before God.
Lord, hear us
All Lord, graciously hear us
And so we join all our prayers together as we pray:
All God of mercy, entrusting into your hands all that you have made
and rejoicing in our communion with all your faithful people,
we make our prayers through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
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Nork Parish Church
St Paul’s Warren Road
Homily, in loving memory of Malcolm Hubble, Friday May 21 2010.
May my words be in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Some words of Malcolm from his diary:
The choir master stood at the Purley (Pearly?) Gates his face was worn and old, he stood behold the man of fete, for admission to the fold.
What have you done, “St Peter said, to gain admission here?” “I’ve been a choir master, sir”, He said. “For many, and many a year.” The purley (pearly) gates flew open wide, St Peter touched the bell. “Come in”, he said, “and choose your harp, you’ve had your share of hell!”
Today we are here to give thanks and remember our friend in faith and family member Malcolm Hubble. Our readings today have all reflected something of Malcolm, his faith and his hope for the future. And in the Gospel according to John, we hear Jesus teaching his disciples that he is the bread of life. Those who come, or indeed are drawn to him he says will never be hungry and those who believe in him, will never be thirsty. Jesus goes on to reveal in this text that he will raise the faithful up, on the last day to his heavenly home.
Malcolm was a regular church communicant and he truly believed that God chooses us, not simply that we chose to know God - and in music Malcolm found the ultimate expression of this relationship. Even in more recent times when Malcolm was challenged by Margaret’s passing and his own illness, he demonstrated a strong sense of faith in which God was with him - he was never spiritually alone, even though he struggled in those dark days. But you know this past year must not be allowed to obscure a life lived to the full.
Malcolm and Denis were born in East Dulwich on 29 March 1930 to William Frank and Margaret Hubble. They spent much of their childhood at Forest Hill and attended St Georges Church, Perry Hill, Catford - including the Sunday School. The two boys were evacuated aged just nine years, first to Ashford in Kent then later to South Wales, where the boys were split up. But they returned home to London, just as the blitz started. They grew into young men, through their teenage years still in attendance at the same church - that’s where Malcolm learnt to play the organ.
St George’s was also to be the place that Malcolm met Margaret and so the story of their life long love began. At the end of the war Malcolm spent two years in the RAF. And later married Margaret on 2nd February 1957 at their family church of St George’s, no less.
First of all Malcolm worked for Thomas Cook, then he went into the Woolwich Building Society. He continued in the banking sector for his working life, and made many friends, among them David Cox at the Gateway building society. David reflected upon those days, recalling how Malcolm knew how to lead from within a group of people, drawing out their talents and allowing others to take the credit.
Malcolm and Margaret lived for one another, and for music. It is hard to overestimate the importance of Music to Malcolm. He had a real love of classical music and the Anglican or English Choral tradition, which thrilled both their hearts and helped Malcolm sustain his ongoing commitment to the church. But he was not afraid to speak out and there were occasions when he would stand up to young incumbents, perhaps not unlike myself and point out the inadequacies of a poorly composed hymn. Indeed, in his diary Malcolm wrote: “Musical people are so absurdly unreasonable, they always want one to be perfectly dumb, at the very moment when one is longing to be absolutely deaf.”
Malcolm was a private and very discreet man. He was absolutely honest, yet one didn’t hear an unkind word from him. He was generous in nature. He would not get drawn into negativity about others, and would often diffuse a situation with something positive.
Malcolm and Margaret loved their travel and enjoyed Italy in pursuit of art, and Madeira, just two of their favourite destinations. However, they shunned fuss, everything was very private. They were deeply feeling but also loved their routines, for example it had to be fish and chips on a Friday, the National Trust and church concerts. They were also very generous with their charitable giving and following their retirement their increased support of this church, for which I am personally very grateful.
Malcolm was involved in free masonry for much of his adult life, he was treasurer of several lodges and highly regarded among Masonic circles. He was a grand Organist, a senior rank in freemasonry. Yet he never allowed his responsibilities to overshadow his commitment to charitable work. He was known as a gentle person showing kindness to others and generous with his time.
In the last few days before he passed away, Malcolm, characteristically shared a meal with friends and family and attended church on Palm Sunday Morning, bearing birthday cake for all. The next day he phoned his brother Denis to say he was going back into hospital. Dennis, like many of us who saw or spoke with Malcolm in those last few days knew he was very poorly. It was indeed a release for Malcolm when he passed away peacefully on Good Friday morning. There couldn’t have been a more fitting day for him to do so.
His interest in science and religion were markers of a mind that was brimming with ideas and yet like his life, and home, wonderfully ordered. It was fitting that Malcolm’s final wish should be granted and his body, which had served him so well for 80 years should go on to help teach the young doctors of the future and help with scientific endeavour.
Two charming people, who were devoted, who loved their routine, their music and their faith. Margaret and now Malcolm, a couple, we pray, reunited. To conclude, more words from Malcolm’s diary:
I dreamed death came last night and Heaven’s gate swung wide;
With kindly grace, an angel ushered me inside.
And there, to my astonishment stood folks I’d known on earth.
Some I’d known, and labelled unfit, or of little worth.
Indignant words sprung to my lips but never were set free,
For every face showed stunned, surprise, no one expected me!
Actually, Malcom, they did! Amen.
The Revd Damian Stewart Miles, BTh. May 2010
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