Sermon Tone Analysis

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*In Memory of:*

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*Antone (Tony) Leonardo*

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*September 28, 1941*

*April 16, 1999*

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*Service held at:*

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*Franklin Federated Church*

*171 Main Street*

*Franklin, MA*

*April 23, 1999*

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*Officiating*

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*Rev.

Dr. John W. Worley, Ph.

D.*

*44 Farmers Row*

*Groton, MA 01450*

\\ *Music:                             **A**Marine Corp Hymn**@** (played on piano‑slowly)*

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*A**In the Garden**@*

*A**On Eagles Wings**@*

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*Opening Scripture:**          Isaiah 40:31 31  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

(NIV)*

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*Invocation:**                         O Lord who walks with us in the midday, become our assuring companion in this midnight hour as well.

Lift our eyes beyond the shadows of the earth, enable us to put our trust in you Lord Jesus for it is in your name we pray.

Amen.*

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*Music:                       **A**Wind Beneath My Wings**@** *

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*Reading:                    **Kevin Roden*

*Jack Martin*

*Letter from Jim*

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*Music:                       **A**Amazing Grace**@** **Rebecca Schafman*

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*Scripture Reading:    **Psalm 8:3-5 3  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4  what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

5  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.*

*1 Corinthians 15:35©44 35 But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised?

With what kind of body will they come?"

36 How foolish!

What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.. 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.

The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

(NIV).*

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*John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

(NIV)*

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*Message from Mary:**      To her soul mate, husband, lover, and best friend *

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*Music:**                                  **A**The Lords Prayer**@*

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\\ *MEDITATION:   *

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*THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION EVER ASKED*

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*There are two fundamental questions which come to us at a time such as this.*

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*First: Is life after death reasonable?

Second: Is it desirable?*

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*The age old question has always been,  Job 14:14  If a man dies, will he live again?

The Christian answer is, **A**Yes.**@*

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Yes!

The most reasonable faith in this universe* *is a belief in life after death.

God who gave birth to our existence, who made us spiritual souls in His image, who permits us to develop into self-conscious sons and daughters and capable personalities, who permits us to dream dreams of life that has no end - would not terminate our growth.

If human personalities are the most precious things in this universe, and Jesus taught that they were, and if our existence is so carefully planned that the very hairs of our head are known and numbered, would God let us live a few years on earth and then snuff us out as one blows out a candle?

Would it make sense to suppose that in all His efforts in creating His universe, that God would suddenly turn around and blot out His most delicate creation?

If you watched a skilled craftsman spend twenty years in fashioning a particular fine watch, would you expect him to set it to run a few minutes and then crash it to bits beneath his heel?

No, such would be unreasonable.

AWithout immortality nothing is intelligible; with immortality everything is.@

As Paul says, ANow we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known...@ 1 Cor.

13:12.

Again, AThis corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal (perishable, temporal, passing, being, human, this life)  must put on immortality (eternity, hereafter)@ 1 Cor.

15:53.

Yes, common  reason demands it, common desire demands it, common faith demands it.

But it is more than reasonable, it is certain.

Jesus, whose integrity was beyond question and who founded the purest system of religion and ethics, said, Aif it were not so, I would have told you@ John 14:2.

In fact His resurrection vindicates the certainty of the truth.

Christ descended into the grave, and proclaimed, AI am the resurrection, and the life; he that believes in me, though he we dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die...John 11:25-26.

\\ * **II*

 

The second question, AIs life after death desirable?@

What is the future life like?

All of us would like to know more about it, but unfortunately we do not.

Even Jesus did not tell everything about it.

Whether such an existence is desirable depends entirely upon or relationship to God while on earth.

If one is living an evil life now, the future life will be more and more hellish even during eternity, unless one changes.

One who is living a godly life on earth, who is most concerned about his neighbors and the underprivileged, one who takes an active part in the Kingdom of God, who opens his heart to Christ and becomes more and more like Him, who puts heaven within his home, community, and world - he will find the future life increasingly happy.

He will be ever more joyful, more useful, more like Jesus Christ.

When such a one lays aside his worn-out bodfy, he sets the spirit free; he keeps on growing and developing.

It is a place where love finds its own, where beauty, peace, happiness, and justice reign.

Jesus said, AI came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.@

John 10:10.

PRAYER:    O God who are the Creator of our dying bodies, and the Father of our undying sould, who does one by one gather Your scattered children from the distraction of time to the peace of eternity, out of the earthly life into the unknown future - we bow before you.

We thank You that deep in the human heart is the unquenchable trust that life does not end with death, but that You do care for us.

God you are the Helper of the helpless, unite the bereaved, we pray, with the bonds of undying love.

May the memory of their loved one strengthen their faith, hope, and love.

May this experience chasten desires, better aspirations; bring truer diligence, less trust in ourselves and more in You.

May these friends find peace in You, our Strength and Redeemer.

AUnto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think...Unto him be glory...throughout all ages, world without end.

Amen@ Eph.

3:20-21.

\\ *Immediate family:          Mary (wife)*

*Mary**=**s children: Matthew ( Computer Graphics) *

*and Rebecca (Marketing on Staten Island)*

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*Tony**=**s children: Deborah, Tony Jr., Nicholas*

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*Home:                             164 Main Street*

*White house with green trim*

*508-528-8303*

 

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*Funeral Director: *

*Bill Werner, Director*

*Gingley Funeral Home*

*508-528-1043*

*508-533-8252*

 

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*Funeral Music April 23*

*From: Foxfoxfox@aol.com*

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*Here is a list of all the requests made by Mary Leonardo.*

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*Marine Corp Hymn (played on piano‑slowly)*

*In the Garden*

*On Eagles Wings*