The service was held at Redding Parish Church, near Falkirk

We gather with grief in our hearts knowing now that our worst fears over Vicky were realised.

We come to remember Vicky as she was, a young girl with her whole life ahead of her, who was taken from us by this terrible act of evil.

Vicky was a bright bubbly girl who was brought up her Redding, attending Westquarter Primary School and Graeme High School where she is remembered with affection.

Vicky loved animals, especially horses, and she enjoyed horse riding.

Vicky was a much-loved daughter, sister, granddaughter, and half-sister, and niece, and has been sorely missed by them all and the rest of her family and friends over these years since she went missing.

We take this opportunity to thank on behalf of Vicky's family the people of Scotland who have supported them over these last 16 years, especially here in her home village, Redding.

We also thank the police and some parts of the media, for their support and sensitivity shown to Vicky's family over these long years and especially over recent times.

All those years when hopes of Vicky safe return amongst us caused such pain and suffering, worry and anxiety to her family and this community, yet we know now that throughout the ordeal of these long years Vicky was not only safely in God's loving care, but also reunited with her granny and her mum, when she sadly died a couple of years after Vicky.

When Vicky went to heaven her granny was waiting to welcome her and the two of them welcomed Vicky's mum, Annette, after her untimely death

For we also come to remember another life cut short by an act of evil at Calvary when Jesus Christ was crucified.

Yet the darkness of Calvary was transformed by the glorious light of Jesus's resurrection.

Our Christian faith tells us that the darkness of Vicky's death was also transformed to the light of her resurrection by the power of God's love.

When Vicky went to heaven her granny was waiting to welcome her and the two of them welcomed Vicky's mum, Annette, after her untimely death.

Yet in our natural humanity our first thought is of the years of life growing up through teenage years into adulthood which were snatched from Vicky by this cruel, callous, evil act of a depraved man, without any thought or compassion for Vicky or her family.

For her family were robbed of seeing Vicky grow up as all their hopes and expectations for Vicky's future were taken from them.

'Terrible crime'

The judicial process will go on and help give some peace to all who mourn Vicky's tragic and distressing death.

However, whatever happens here on earth the perpetrator of this terrible crime will also one day have to face the awesome judgement of God Almighty, there is no escape for him of that.

As Christians we are meant to have a forgiving spirit, yet forgiveness is a two-way street and we have seen no signs of contrition either for the evil deed or for putting a family through the hell of these last 16 years of uncertainty, worry and fear which also caused the untimely death of Vicky's mum.

So today all we can do is thank God that throughout this time of uncertainty and fear that Vicky was safely in His loving hands.

Yet before this Vicky was forced by this evil man to face something that nobody should ever have to face, especially a young, vulnerable teenage girl.

We must not dwell on this today, but try to see beyond its darkness and focus on the light of our Christian belief which tells us that Vicky is safe and secure in heaven, together with her granny and her mum, in order that God's gracious love might take from us any feelings which might undermine our own lives.

When we are able to do this we stop such evil from gaining any kind of victory over us, as we unite in God's love.

We do not understand how any human being can treat another in this way, especially a young girl like Vicky

Today let us all find resolution and peace as we give Vicky her Christian service and burial in order that you can then move on in your lives, knowing that one day you will see Vicky again in God's eternal kingdom of love.

Jesus brought the light of God's love to humanity in many different and powerful ways when He walked this earth, and through His Spirit He still does this today working through people who care.

His light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.

May His Light shine powerfully upon us all, especially Mike, Shona and the rest of Vicky's family on this sad day.

Loving God, we thank You for Vicky and for all that Vicky meant to those who loved her, cared for her and brought her up.

Enable each one of us to have the blessed assurance in our hearts of knowing that Vicky is with You.

Free from the cruelty, violence and pain which took Vicky from us and restored to her mum and her granny.

We do not understand how any human being can treat another in this way, especially a young girl like Vicky.

What we can know is that when the battle against evil was lost on that day, Your heart was the first to break and it was Your arms which were outstretched in loving welcome to Vicky as she entered into her eternal home.

Strengthen each one of us to live in the peace of knowing that Vicky is freed from the past with all its hurt and now rests in the calm security of Your loving presence, surrounded by loved ones gone before her.

Also that one day we will be reunited with Vicky and be able to hold her in our arms once again.

This we ask through the One who died to make all this possible yet lives and reigns for ever, Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.