William (Bill) Bedwell

Pastor Gary

Funeral / Memorial Service • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Funeral for a man who had historically been active in church and faith yet was distracted by life.

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BILL BEDWELL

Obituary for Mr. William L. Bedwell

William Lambert Bedwell of Rock Hall, MD passed away suddenly on August 31 at his home in Rock Hall. He was 67. He was born on February 18, 1951 the son of the late Wilson Lambert Bedwell and Anne Spradlin Bedwell of Rock Hall, MD. He graduated from High Point High School in Prince Georges County and from the University of Lynchburg with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1973. He married Susan Morris on May 22, 1976. Mr. Bedwell spent the majority of his career in banking. He began working for Bank of Virginia then for Peoples Bank of Kent County and later Farm Credit in Denton, MD. He then worked for Rite Aid in Chestertown where he has spent the last 12 years of his career. Mr. Bedwell was a member of Chester Lodge #115 AF&AM. He supported youth sporting events including Babe Ruth Baseball and Kent Youth Soccer. He loved watching sports and was a devoted family man. In addition to his wife of 42 years he is survived by his mother, his son James William Bedwell and his wife Olivia of Salisbury, MD along with a sister-in-law and his nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home where relatives and friends may call one hour prior to the service 12-1, a reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company Ambulance Fund P.O. Box 577 Rock Hall, MD 21661. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home. www.fhnfuneralhome.com.

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GATHERING

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death. Because I live, you shall live also.

I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death.

Because I live, you shall live also.

GREETING

On behalf of Sue, Jimmy, and Olivia and the rest of the family I would like to thank you all for being here today. Your presence says a lot about their Bill.

We gather today to celebrate the love he had for us and to thank God for his life among us.

It is grief that brings us together as we share in this human loss, but with us here, I pray you experience God’s grace that in the midst of loss and pain, you might find comfort, peace, and new life.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Bill .

We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.

In our gathering, I pray that God grant us grace,

that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.

PRAYER

God, as our eternal father and Creator, you have given and preserved all life. We admit today that we struggle to accept death as part of your plan for life. We admit that we are reluctant to let go of our loved ones and entrust them to you. Help us Lord. Restore our faith today Father. That in death, we may actually come to trust in your ultimate care and wisdom, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

God our Father, and Creator of us all, You give and preserve all life:

We confess our slowness to accept death as part of your plan for life.

We confess our reluctance to release to you those we love.

Restore our faith Father that we may come to trust in your care and wisdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-9

Psalm 130:1–8 The Message

Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy. If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped. I pray to God—my life a prayer— and wait for what he’ll say and do. My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning. O Israel, wait and watch for God— with God’s arrival comes love, with God’s arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

Psalm

1–2 Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life!

Master, hear my cry for help!

Listen hard! Open your ears!

Listen to my cries for mercy.

3–4 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,

who would stand a chance?

As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,

and that’s why you’re worshiped.

5–6 I pray to God—my life a prayer—

and wait for what he’ll say and do.

My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,

waiting and watching till morning,

waiting and watching till morning.

7–8 O Israel, wait and watch for God—

with God’s arrival comes love,

with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.

No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,

buy back Israel from captivity to sin.[1]

WITNESS - Eulogy

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON -

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 NIV84

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecc A Time for Everything

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON - Rev 21:1-8

1 For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

2 A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

3 A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

Revelation 21:1–8 NIV84

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

GOSPEL LESSON -

7 A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

8 A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace. [2]

John 14:1–7 NIV84

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 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. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” m for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ u or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Special Music - Brad Chaires

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” [3]

GOSPEL LESSON*

Jesus, the Way to the Father

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.* If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?* 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is.* From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” [4]

NAMING

Bill Bedwell

Message

Just like every other dad, I’m sure Bill was always trying to teach Jimmy life lessons. Well today he’s going to teach us. He was always teaching because he was constantly learning....that’s how life is. The Beatles song HELP tells that story as well…that as we grow, as we mature, we come to realize that we don’t have all the answers…we don’t know as much as we thought we did.

Bill learned something in life that shouldn’t go unnoticed. I know he learned this because we see it in these photos, we hear it in your words, we see it in your presence here today.

Bill knew the power of giving your self away, of investing time in those he loved most, his family; Bill knew this was the best thing he could do with the life he had been given. If you came into his store and asked for anything, you know this.

Investing time in those he loved most, his family, was the best thing he could do. If you came into his store and asked for anything, you know this.

We heard stories of this from Jimmy...

But Bill’s not finished teaching us. In Bill’s death, we can learn some things that should also not go unnoticed.

Death is rarely convenient.

It comes on it’s own schedule.

Death is always under appreciated until it’s experienced.

The end is a powerful thing and we tend to view it through our own pain and that’s understandable. But I’d also like for you to try to view it outside of pain of loss.

Death is the moment that everything you lived for becomes all you are known for.

These photos give us a glimpse. Our memories remind us, but Bill was so much more as a husband, father, son, best friend.

We have this phrase today YOLO. Because YOLO, we are supposed to consume as much fun and pleasure and stuff as we can. But this isn’t true; Bill knew it.

These are evidences of our creator shaping us in His image from back in Genesis. The beginning of the bible starts with God creating the world and everything in it. Then once the earth is formed, everything is in its place; God creates us, men and women. And God creates us in HIS image…we were created in the image of God. Our ability to maintain a connection with God as His image worked until sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, and throughout the bible people have struggled to live into their created nature as the image of God. Since what we call the fall of Adam, people have known and experienced something was broken in this world…our connection to God has been broken. We have each struggled with doing the right thing, being the right person. All of this because our relationship with God has been broken since just after creation.

But people have also experienced that something was right here on earth as a result of being created in the image of God. Bill experienced it.

You see our hearts have a song. And it’s a song wants to be sung. I’m not talking about as Ringo and the Beatles…This song is a song of love. As created in God’s image, we are wired with sensitivity to sacrificial love. When we receive it, we are moved deeply. When we give it, we are moved deeply. Bill knew this, Bill experienced this. Whether it was through her parents, her Granny, or assuredly, Bill saw glimpses of it in giving herself away to those he loved because that is how God designed each one of us, to live this life - sacrificially. Today, he would want you to know this.

Many of us have bought into the concept that YOLO. The one with the most toys wins. Get all you can while you can. If I can’t I want my kids to.

Bill knew this, and I’m sure struggled with it, just as you and I have. Some of us can’t break free from this kind of thinking, but some do. Some of us do get a glimpse of the reality that we were created in the image of God for a very unique purpose, one that no one else can fulfil.

I have come to love the Bible. It doesn’t hold things back. It doesn’t tell me what I want to hear. Often the bible explains things I don’t want to hear. It explains much about the Good I love but it also explains the effects of the bad that I love. Scripture teaches that the good I love comes from God and the bad I love comes from me. I struggle with this, but intuitively, I know it to be true. This consuming, this always getting more in life, the avoiding difficult situations, isn’t good for me and it’s not good for anyone else.

The bible also teaches us that death is the moment that we reap the fruit of the life we had to live.

Scripture, the Bible, teaches us that instead of YOLO, actually YODO, everyone will die. But we don’t need to be taught this. We see it happening. Out of the 100s of people in this room, 100% will experience death. But the bible also explains that we can live again.

I know it sounds like fantasy. But scripture teaches that we were the only thing created in the image of God, the only thing with a spiritual nature. And this will live again in one of two ways…we will live to life, the fullness of life; or we will live to death, the fullness of death for eternity. I want to encourage you to choose to live to the fullness of life. That fullness begins right here where we are today when we choose to accept the means God provided for us to enter back into the relationship with him he had in mind back in creation, through faith in his Son Jesus Christ. IF we choose to live this life to please ourselves to bring glory and status to ME, scripture teaches that our earthly death will lead to a new life, but a life separated from everything good. But as we trust in the life-death-and resurrection of Jesus on the cross to be the beginning of an ongoing, growing relationship with God, as we live sacrificially to glorify God.

The Bible teaches that when it’s time for our inconvenient, poorly planned for, wish it could be later, underappreciated death, we will instead begin eternal life.

Bill learned something in his life that can’t go unnoticed.

The power of giving yourself away in love to another. I ask that you let consider that heritage for a moment. As you do, I pray God speaks to you. Impressing on your heart that the reason you get joy from giving, from serving others, is that you were designed by God who found the greatest Joy in giving his one and only son to us so that we could have eternal life. And that you might begin to live for His glory her eon earth, allowing Him to glorify you in your death.

PRAY

Lord, impress your love for Bill, and for us, upon us today, that we may no longer live for ourselves, for those we love, and then you as we have time; but instead be empowered by your spirit to live for you every moment of our lives, finding in you the purpose, direction, and intent of life itself, to love you first leading to a love that reaches others.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 NKJV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You 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.

Prayer

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his April'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 they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

(KJV)

The following prayer of confession and pardon may also be used:

Holy God, before you our hearts are open,

and from you no secrets are hidden.

We bring to you now

our shame and sorrow for our sins.

We have forgotten

that our life is from you and for you.

We have neither sought nor done your will.

We have not been truthful in our hearts,

in our speech, in our lives.

We have not loved as we ought to love.

Help us and heal us,

raising us from our sins into a better life,

that we may end our days in peace,

trusting in your kindness unto the end;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Lift up your hearts.

Who is in a position to condemn?

Only Christ, Christ who died for us, who rose for us,

who reigns at God's right hand and prays for us.

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

COMMENDATION

PRAYERS *

God of us all, your love never ends.

When all else fails, you still are God.

We pray to you for one another in our need,

and for all, anywhere, who mourn with us this day.

To those who doubt, give light;

to those who are weak, strength;

to all who have sinned, mercy;

to all who sorrow, your peace.

Keep true in us

the love with which we hold one another.

In all our ways we trust you.

You know all things in earth and heaven.

So fill our hearts with trust in you

that, by night and by day, at all times and in all seasons,

we may without fear commit those who are dear to us

to your never failing love, for this life and the life to come.

with your Church on earth and in heaven,

we offer honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

O God, all that you have given us is yours.

As first you gave Bill to us,

now we give Bill back to you.

Receive Bill into the arms of your mercy.

Raise Bill up with all your people.

Receive us also, and raise us into a new life.

Help us so to love and serve you in this world

that we may enter into your joy in the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING *

Eternal God, you have shared with us the life of BILL .

Before she was ours, she is yours.

For all that BILL has given us to make us what we are,

for that of her which lives and grows in each of us,

and for her life that in your love will never end,

we give you thanks.

As now we offer BILL back into your arms,

comfort us in our loneliness,

strengthen us in our weakness,

and give us courage to face the future unafraid.

Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another,

make us faithful to serve one another,

and give us to know that peace and joy which is eternal life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER - Brad Chaires

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING *

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.

[1] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005) .

[2] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation, 3rd ed. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007) .

[3] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011) .

[4] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation, 3rd ed. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007) .