Psalm 23 for my Dad

Over the coming weeks, I’ll share my journey with my dad and his dying and his ceremony. For now, I’ll share this moving rendition of Psalm 23 and the introduction to this song in his ‘falling off the perch’ ceremony.

“Mum and Dad attended St Johns Anglican Church for a few decades, Mum was devout and Dad, well, he loved to help. Parishioner, Margaret Fisher sent a message, “David was an incredibly generous man, he gave so much time serving the community.”

Dad would serve at morning tea, work in the op shop, attend working bees at the church, attend the men’s groups, disturb the women’s groups, he was a regular on the catwalk fundraiser, and he loved to pick up the elders to take them to church services.  As Minister Lenore wrote me in a message, “he was larger than life, with a wicked, sometimes risqué sense of humour.”

Indeed, dad did get himself into a few pickles!

Dad worshipped in his own way. Often when he was stressed he would hum or sing softly, Psalm 23, the version sung by Harry Secombe that we’re about to hear.”

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down

In pastures green he leads me,

beside still waters.

He restores my soul

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I will fear no evil,

For thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

Thou prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies,

Thou anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.