Congregational Opening Hymn
Each Life That Touches Ours for Good
Lyrics by Karen Lynn Davidson, Music by A. Laurence Lyon, © 1985.
Organ Accompaniment by LeeAnna Xanthos-McQueen; conducted by Bergen Goesch
Each life that touches ours for good
Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love.
What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.
When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.
For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior's name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.
Musical Number
Gethsemane
Music & Lyrics by Melanie Hoffman. © 2016
Performed by Bradley's Young Men's Group: Caleb Stanley, Isaac Hunter, Enoch Palmer, Calvin Little, Mason Palmer, Andrew Rodgers, Henry Goering, William Goering, Caleb Cherry. Accompanied by Brent Little; Conducted by Sarah Rodgers.
Jesus climbed the hill to the garden still.
His steps were heavy and slow.
Love and a prayer took Him there
To the place only He could go.
Chorus
Gethsemane. Jesus loves me,
So He went willingly to Gethsemane.
He felt all that was sad, wicked, or bad,
All the pain we would ever know.
While His friends were asleep, He fought to keep
His promise made long ago.
Chorus
Gethsemane. Jesus loves me,
So He went willingly to Gethsemane.
Bridge
The hardest thing that ever was done,
The greatest pain that ever was known,
The biggest battle that ever was won—
This was done by Jesus!
The fight was won by Jesus!
Chorus
Gethsemane. Jesus loves me,
So He gave His gift to me in Gethsemane.
Gethsemane. Jesus loves me,
So He gives His gift to me from Gethsemane.
Musical Number
Be a Light
Words by Shawna Edwards & Linda Urquhart; Music by Shawna Edwards
Performed by the Huntley Meadows Ward Primary Children: William Rodgers, Liam Hunter, Toby Stanley, Ashlynn Stanley, Lily Flores, Lincoln Jolley, Maggie Cherry, Nora Cherry, Hudson Cherry, Charlotte Little, Daniel Rodgers, Knox Flores, Eva Trujillo. Accompanied by Kyra Palmer; Conducted by Richy Palmer
Verse 1
Be a light
Be a star
Be a candle in the dark
You can shine like a city on a hill
Give your hand
Give your heart
Give the very best you are
Be the salt of the earth is you will
You can help and serve somebody you know
Share your light and love whenever you go
For life can be blessed and oh so bright
When you choose to be a light.
Verse 2
Always seek
To be meek
Don't be angry or upset
Never swear or call anyone a fool.
Just forgive
And forget
For nobody's perfect yet
Never judge other folks. It's not cool.
Chorus
Be a light.
Bridge
Jesus taught us to serve and give
For that's the happiest way to live
Have some faith
When you pray
In the quiet of your room
For He knows what you need before you ask.
And in all that you do
Try to live the golden rule.
Every good thing you choose to do will last.
Chorus
Be a light.
Musical Number
Bless Us All
from The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992 film) · Music & Lyrics by Paul Williams, © 1992.
Thanksgiving was Bradley's favorite holiday because the Blakes have hosted Thanksgiving for Sarah's extended Monson family for the last 10 years. The long Thanksgiving weekend always includes noisy games and sleepovers with cousins, a gingerbread house contest, and a re-watching of The Muppet Christmas Carol. Watch the Muppet version here.
Performed by Bradley's Siblings & Selected Cousins: Chris Blake, Miles Monson, Bruce Monson, Daisy Haslam, Rupert Haslam, Penny Blake, Sam Monson, Jetta Haslam, Annie Blake, and Minnie Haslam. Accompanied by LeeAnna Xanthos-McQueen; Conducted by Rebecca Monson.
Life is full of sweet surprises, everyday's a gift
The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit
It fills me up with laughter, it fills me up with song
I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong
Bless us all, who gather here
The loving family I hold dear
No place on Earth compares with home
And every path will bring me back from where I roam
Bless us all, that as we live
We always comfort and forgive
We have so much that we can share
With those in need we see around us everywhere
Let us always love each other
Lead us toward the light
Singing in the night
Let us run from anger
And catch when we fall
Teach us in our dreams and please, yes, please
Bless us one and all
Bless us all with playful years
With noisy games and joyous tears
We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
Congregational Closing Hymn
Because
Music & Lyrics by Shawna Edwards. © 2025.
Organ Accompaniment by LeeAnna Xanthos-McQueen; conducted by Bergen Goesch
Because He walked the path, I know the way.
Because He calmed the storm, I'm not afraid.
Because He made the lame to walk and caused the blind to see
And blessed the children one by one, I feel His love for me.
Chorus
And I will praise forever
The Savior of the world,
And I will sing together
With all the Saints on earth.
Because He gave to me ev'rything
He had to give,
I breathe, I see, I hope, I love, I live.
Because He conquered death, I'll live again.
Because He is my friend, I'll follow Him.
Because He felt all grief and pain, He makes my burden sweet.
And when He comes to earth again, I'll kneel before His Feet.
Chorus
And I will praise forever
The Savior of the world,
And I will sing together
With all the Saints on earth.
Because He gave to me ev'rything
He had to give,
I breathe, I see, I hope, I love, I live.
Poetry Reading: Shared by KC Blake at the graveside service
Every Season
Music & lyrics by Nichole Nordeman, © 2000; favorite recording from Kenneth Cope’s 2002 “Hear My Praise” album
KC Blake was working in a Utah recording studio in 2002 when Kenneth Cope recorded this song, and he has loved it ever since.
The lyrics are beautifully specific to our last seasons with Bradley, from the recent 4th of July family reunion in Bozeman, MT where he was a finalist in the cornhole tournament and we marveled together at the Northern Lights, to the many memories of Halloweens and Thanksgivings and leaf raking in the fall, to the white blanket under which he slept on his last night on earth with us. These beautiful words speak to us of the hope of new spring and new life, for Bradley in the beyond and for us to know happiness again as we remember him and continue to live in this beautiful world.
Listen to the Kenneth Cope version.
Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You in children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer
And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and what’s to come
You are autumn
And everything in time and under Heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice You when branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter
And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You and how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be as You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring
Poetry Reading: Shared by Sarah Blake at the graveside service
Matriarchal Blessing
By Carol Lynn Pearson (with the addition of the word “love” after “holy,” added by Sarah)
I have blessed you, you know.
Not hands on head but body around body
nine months encircled
by the liquid sound of my light
uttering not promises
but miracles cell by cell
giving not admonitions
but affirmations of
your natural splendor.
You receive and you are my blessing
a blessing that I author
by the power of the holy love
that I bear and that I share
by love ordained
and through which I pronounce you
blessed forever.