Alice Henning Funeral
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Funeral Service for Alice Henning
October 19, 2023
Berlin Christian Church
New Berlin, IL
Prelude Music
Song: Jealous of the Angels
Welcome and Prayer: Warren Brosi
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
And you know the way to where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Thank you for joining us to honor the life of Alice Henning. In our time together, we want to remember Alice’s life, stand with her family, and turn to Jesus.
Alice embraced Jesus’ offer of salvation through Christian baptism in 1996. Alice and Jerry were both baptized into Christ at Lake Williamson through the ministry of Abundant Life Church in Auburn, IL. Hear the words of the Apostle Paul: Romans 6:3–5 (ESV), “3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Scripture Reading: Psalm 103 (Warren Brosi)
Alice loved music so it’s appropriate to read some one of the songs of God’s people found in the Hebrew hymnbook, the Psalms. Psalm 103.
Of David.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Prayer of Confession: Warren Brosi
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. At times we forget that our life is from you and unto 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.
The next song speaks to the joy of that relationship with Jesus. In the Garden. Some believe that the author of this gospel song, C. Austin Miles, may have had in mind Mary Magdalene’s interaction with the risen Christ on that first Easter morning in the garden near the empty tomb. Thinking Jesus was the gardener until he calls her by name. It is then that she realizes who Jesus is. As we hear this song, it may be helpful to picture the risen conquering Christ speaking to those who love him and long to follow him, not only through the valley of death, but to the house of the Lord forever. Remember the words of Jesus in John 11.25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
Song: In the Garden
Message: Warren Brosi
Alice loved her family and her family loved her. She was not demanding, but gracious and never complained. She lived a contented life. Life was not always easy, but she worked so hard.
Alice enjoyed traveling. She liked road trips to places like Garden of the gods in southern IL, roadside stands, yard sales, and rock concerts. She enjoyed heavy metal, rock ‘n roll, and Elvis. She loved walking through nature.
She was the state champion for archery as a 16 year old in Texas. I’m sure she practice much over the years shooting at targets. The Bible uses some words from archery to describe our relationship with God. One of the words to describe “sin” is to miss the mark. Romans 3.23 say “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” But, the next verse is equally as helpful, “and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3.24).
She also loved the water. From Lake Grandbury, Texas where Jerry and Alice met to Lake Williamson where Alice united with Jesus in baptism, the water helped center her.
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
In the gospel of John, Jesus meet a woman by a well in Samaria. He asks her for a drink. They the conversation continues.
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
John tells us Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit.
There was another day in the life of Jesus where he was grieving the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. He feeds a multitude of people with five loaves and two fish. He dismissed the crowds and sends His disciples ahead of Him in the boat on the Sea of Galilee. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Good advice for those grieving. You may need some time by yourself to pray. But be cautious that you do not isolate yourself from your family and friends in the long term.
Jesus finishes His time of prayer with His Father, then goes to meet the disciples who are a considerable distance out on the lake with some waves and winds picking up.
We pick up the story in Matthew 14.25-33
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
The Lord of the waters is Lord of life and death. The one who is Lord over nature who can walk on water and calm the seas is near you and loves you and wants to rescue you if you will trust Him. He’s the one who can comfort you in your grief and give you the hope of eternal life.
I’m thankful Alice took those steps of faith. I’m thankful for the conversations we shared in the hospital after a couple of her surgeries. She was able to face her illness with a confidence that Jesus was with her.
At the conclusion of our time together, I’ll be available to pray with anyone if you would like to have prayer for something going on in your life.
Benediction: Warren Brosi
Almighty God and merciful Savior, we commend your servant Alice Henning, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. May our farewell express our affection for her; may it ease our sadness and strengthen our hope. Lord, receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints of light. Amen.
On behalf of the family, I want to thank you for your attendance here as we have honored Alice’s life. Following the service, we will drive in procession to carry Alice to her final resting place at Berlin Cemetery. [Luncheon back at Berlin CC yes/no?]
Song: Into the Mystic
Postlude Music