Linda Hanover, April 22, 1941 - October 19, 2023

John McMann

Funeral • Sermon • Submitted 6 months ago • Presented 6 months ago

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Notes

Transcript

Welcome & Gathering

David Lindwall

Pray

Special Music

On Eagles Wings

Old Testament Scripture

David Lindwall

Psalm 23 NRSV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Pastoral Prayer

David Lindwall

Celebration of Life

Susan Young

Eileen Kennedy

Grandchildren: Makayla, Amanda, and Jessie

New Testament Scripture

John 14:1–6 NIV

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:23–27 NIV

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Pray.

Message of Hope

It has been one of the highest honors to get to know Linda. Genuinely. You have already heard testimony to what a wonderful mom, grandmother, friend, teacher, wife that she was.

The last few months have really been my experience of Linda, from the day she came into the office to plan this day. Resolved, unafraid, full of faith. Family, do not mistaken her focus and resolve as retreat…she loved you with a passion. Linda was a gift to me.

When Bill and Linda joined this church, it was already getting to the point where she couldnt leave the house. She tried, week after week. And finally we shifted. We put their picture on the screen and Bill come forward with everyone else. Earlier that week I went to their house and had the chance to ask her the vows of membership but then to of course pray for her and over here.

I will never forget the feeling of pride I had in that living room. Not my pride though, just an overwhelming sense of God’s pride for Linda. I barely knew this family and I could sense God’s unfiltered joy for her.

Now, that is what makes today frustrating, hard, difficult, unfair. She was the best of us.

Peace I leave with you

The text I read from John 14 would have the disciples feeling the beginning of a similar emotion. Jesus is preparing them for his death, resurrection, and departure. He is trying to teach them and prepare them for the mission that Jesus is now passing on to them. In the next few days they would see their leader die and that would be excruciating. Then Jesus knows they will have difficult days ahead as well and Jesus promises Peace….His peace.

Reminder today that God can be trusted in this space. A few observations, from the text:

1. His peace is unlike peace of this world

a. He has conquered death itself and is the resurrection. He has walked through the darkest valley so that in our dark valleys, we know we are not alone. Jesus has the last word…this is the only way that he can say....peace I give to you and it can mean anything really when our hearts are broken.

b. His peace is comprehensive. Not just a rest…but deeper than that. Biblical peace is about a setting things right that are wrong. Rebuilding and restoring. The world promises allusions of peace…but goodness we know anything resembling peace is fleeting and difficult to grasp. God’s peace, even if hard to grasp right now is comprehensive.

God is not in the business of making life all copasetic for everyone… God is in the business of turning this rotten fallen world around. Rebuilding.

C. One of the images of peace in the bible is of a rebuilding of a wall that has been broken. Pieces missing and the wall has lost its integrity. God promises peace which is the setting right and rebuilding. Family: God can and will rebuild what is broken here.

2. He is sending the advocate, the Holy Spirit, the testify to our hearts.

But God is not just an outside player in this story. He gives of his Spirit on those days when you just can’t. He promises to join them in the darkness.

3. And he is preparing a place for all of us that are in Christ Jesus. Kay is with the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord.

· Earlier in this text there is the guy named Thomas who begins to challenge Jesus… Wait youre leaving? Let us go with you! Jesus speaks words to Thomas so that we might hear them today… I am the way, the truth, and the life. Kay came to that realization, so even today we can hold onto that hope.

So....Jesus offers them peace in their struggle. That peace is comprehensive, it is tied to his presence

Peace conditioned only by God’s presence with his people. Not on circumstances

“Total well being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence among his people.”

· It’s the peace that even when things are not all alright…we still know he is with us.

This is the steady and reliable truth today.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Special Music

It is well with My Soul

Military Honors

Petty Officer First Class Maxwell McMann

Benediction

This concludes our service. Following the Benediction I will escort the family out of the chapel and then you may follow. On behalf of the family, thank you for being here today to celebrate Ellen’s Life. A reception is provided by Ellen and Bill’s Sunday school class down in the Asbury Room.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

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