Ellen Lackey, August 23, 1940 - February 2, 2023

Welcome & 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.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Ellen Lackey. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow….hope, in death….resurrection.

Pray (Ruth Ann gets in place)

Special Music - Ruth Ann

In the Garden

Old Testament Scripture

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

O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and of death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, 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.

Add prayer for family:

Bill

Will you join me in the Lord’s prayer as you are able....

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US, AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER AMEN

Special Music

How Great Thou Art

New Testament Scripture

John 11:17–27 NIV

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

This is the word of God, for you and me, the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Let’s pray.

Message of Hope

It has been a joy to get to know Ellen and about her life. She has lived in Conroe for a long time. Active here at First Methodist Conroe in the BASIC class, supported children activities, and many other things.

Ellen loved to travel. Her and Bill lived in England, Holland, Saudia Arabia, South Korea, Boston.

Ellen loved the theatre, playing bridge, her rocking horse collection.

She loved to shop, she was a perfectionist, a host, with lots of friends.

Happily married to Bill for almost 31 years…March

Ellen was not perfect. We at times can crown our loved ones in moments like this. But she was a loving sister, mom, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to many. Her humor, her love, her company will be missed.

It is what makes today difficult.

The funeral where death died

This is one funeral I would have wanted to be at. Maybe not at first but this is an amazing scene. We have here. But dont miss it. It is a funeral.

• grief

• anger

• sadness

• blame

• desperation

• tears

• food

This is a funeral. However, it is a funeral that frames something very important for us. I want you to see the participants…I think we might be able to find ourselves in the story.

Mary and Martha Grieving

First, the family is in desperate grief.

“If you had just been here...”

First Martha in verse 21

John 11:21 NIV

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

Then Martha goes and fetches her sister, the teacher is here., 32....

John 11:32 NIV

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Have you ever been here? Almost blaming God? Knowing that your faith instructs one thing but experiences are not aligning.

Jesus has feelings too?

One of the things I love about the gospels is it reminds us that Jesus is human....He gets hurt like we do, he mourns, he weeps, he suffers.

The first thing we see from Jesus is some indignation, some frustration with what is happening.

NIV that we read is pretty watered down “deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” No, this word better denotes deep anger or rage.

Some read this that he is frustrated at the disbelief and the way they are missing what he is saying and the hope that they should have. Other’s say that he is angry at death.

I think it is a bit of both, but the latter grips me this morning. In the face of tragedy, he is angry that that this world is broken…an anger for his friends because look at the order of things here…

John 11:33–34 NIV

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

He is moved in anger and immediately asks…ok where is he?!

Then the very next verse, he cries. Jesus wept.

Jesus is angry at death, then weeping with grief… all because he has love for these friends.

T. F. Torrence: “There is no unknown God behind the back of Jesus.”

Jesus walks with them to resurrection

With all of the grief, the tears, the doubts, Jesus walks with them to the tomb.

Tell the story:

• again angered and determined, he goes to the tomb

• take away the stone

• they talk about a smell

• Then Jesus says those words...

“Lazarus, come out.”

Just the mention of his name and breath fills his lungs:

• In one word the distance of death is breached.

• In one word the greatest loss is overcome

• In one word their weeping turns to joy

• In one word their grief turns to dancing

• In one word the great “I Am” proclaims the greatest Exodus.

Friends, this is no magic trick. This is not simply a miracle on the level of the blind. This is the final “Sign” in the book of John because it is the one that shines brightest on what is coming. In just a few days Jesus was going to be rolled up in a grave similar to this. There was going to be mourning, grief, fear, desperation, there was going to be doubt.

“I am the resurrection” would not be held by the grave.

Lazarus’ tomb as Ben Witherington puts it is, “God’s YES to life is bigger than death’s NO.”

Jesus walking out of the tomb after three days.

This means that no one is bound by a grave any more.

It does not matter if it is 4 days like Lazarus or 40 years. Sin has no hold, death has no sting, a new light has dawned in the darkness. This is why Lazarus is not something to pass over too quickly…it is a promise for you today.

• With one word he can bring healing

• with one word he can call you to him

• with one word he can deliver you from addiction

• with one word he can break through your lonliness

• with one word he can set you free

• With one word he seals eternal life

This funeral in John 11 is the funeral where death died. It is the promise of eternal life for Ellen and it is the promise that Jesus is also bringing life to you today.

Hymn

Amazing Grace

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.