Sermon Tone Analysis

Dying, Christ destroyed our death.

Rising, Christ restored our life.

Christ will come again in glory.

Here and now dear friends

We are God’s children

What we shall be has not yet been revealed;

But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Those who have this hope purify themselves as Christ is pure.

*Friends,* we have gathered here to thank God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of *Susan A Major.*

We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.

May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, and in sorrow - hope, and in death - resurrection.

*PRAYER*

   Let us Pray.

O God, who gave us birth, you are always ready to hear us as we pray.

You know our needs before we ask.

Give to us now your grace, that as we face the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity.

Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and death.

Help us to live as those you are prepared to die.

And as our days are accomplished, enable us to face death with faith, so that living or dying, our life may be in You, and that nothing in life or in death will be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.

*OBITUARY READING*

* *

*SONG*

 

Time For Memories – God’s Photographs in our mind

 

Time for Questions -

*Job 14:14* If mortals die, can they live again?

This thought would give me hope, and through my struggle I would eagerly wait for release.

Time For Hope* *

*Jesus said*, I am the resurrection and the life.

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

Jesus said I am the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, Because I live, you shall live also.

Psalm 23:1-6

    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 thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine 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 for ever.

MEDITATION

Many people have found great comfort from Psalm 23 because it speaks of a God who cares for us not only in this life, but in the life to come.

God gives us good things . . .

green pastures, still waters.

God walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death.

Where does God lead those who trust in Jesus Christ?

We are led to God’s presence where we will live forever.

It is easy to think God is on our side whenever we get together to celebrate baptism, graduation or a wedding . . .

But when someone dies, our response is often different.

Sometimes we wonder where God is.

Sometimes we question why God allowed the death to occur.

At times God even gets blamed for the death.

These questions and doubts are a normal response to the death of someone we love.

In some cases we even thank God that our loved one has been released from the suffering and pain and is now at peace.

Whatever our response, the death of our loved one causes us to think about God, the afterlife and our own spiritual life.

The spiritual journey we are on has cross-roads, stop signs, U turns.

We are at times brought to an abrupt stop in life to consider higher things like:  the meaning of life, the meaning of death, and spiritual issues.

We re-evaluate our priorities.

We may ask - Where do I go from here?

During times like these we need to know we are not alone.

Family and friends fill a great need for us, but when we are all alone, we need to know that there is someone who cares for us more than all others.

Psalm 23 assures us of God’s presence.

At times we may feel guilty, we may think of the disappointments and failures of life . . .

that is when we need to appreciate God’s love and forgiveness.

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

God is forgiving and welcomes us home at the end of life’s journey.

God is beside you.

The everlasting arms of God are around you.

He holds you close.

He says - I love you, trust me, I am walking with you through this, rest, I have been with you this far . . .

I will continue to go with you all the way.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You art with me.

You will find God’s presence helpful in dealing with the burdens of life.

Your soul will be renewed.

Your spiritual journey is yours, it is unique, It is important that you pursue it.

Growth and change will surely take place and living will is possible again with God’s help.

*John 14*    "Don't be troubled.

You trust God, now trust in me.

There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you.

If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

And you know where I am going and how to get there."

"No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said.

"We haven't any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

     Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one can come to the Father except through me.

* *

*“HAVEN OF HIS LOVE” by Jon Gilbert*

 

THE SEA OF LIFE IS ROUGH AND STORMY

AND MY CRAFT IS SMALL AND FRAIL; 

BUT WITH GOD’S HAND AT THE WHEEL,

I CAN WEATHER ANY GALE.

THROUGH SHOALS OF DISAPPOINTMENT, WITH CRUEL REEFS ON EITHER SIDE,

WITH THE MASTER AS MY PILOT,

MY SHIP WILL SAFELY RIDE.