Funeral for Leanne McNevan

PROCESSIONAL

hymn

SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Romans 8:38–39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

GREETING

Good afternoon and welcome everyone. My name is Rev. Michael Scott and it is an honour and privilege to be officiating today’s service. On behalf of the McNevan family welcome, thank you so much for being here today. Your presence is truly comforting. Friends and family, we have gathered here together to celebrate the life of Leanne. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May we find comfort in our pain, hope in our sorrows, eternal life in death.

POEM

She is Gone (He is gone) (1981) (David Harkins)

You can shed tears that she is gone Or you can smile because she has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her Or you can be full of the love that you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember her and only that she is gone Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

OBITUARY READING

xxxxx

PRAYER

Let us pray:

O God of grace and glory,

We remember before you this day Leanne.

We thank you for the gift of her life,

For Her family and friends.

In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence, we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before;

Amen.

EULOGY/SPEECHES

Jason MacDonald

Tyler MacDonald

John Carr

SCRIPTURE READING

Lamentations 3:1–9 , 19-26 paraphrased: “I am the one who has seen affliction . I have been driven away and made to walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, life has turned its hand against me again and again, all day long. My skin and my flesh grow old and have broken my bones. I am and surrounded with bitterness and hardship. I have been made to dwell in darkness like those long dead. I am walled in so I cannot escape; I am weighed down with chains. Even when I call out or cry for help, my prayers go unanswered. My way is with blocks of stone; my paths are crooked.”

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is my faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.

SERMON

A few days ago, I had the honor of spending some quiet time in reflection with Leanne. This women, full of strength and determination, full of resolve, full of joyful memories of a life well lived…yet this woman, full of pain and suffering so apparent in her demeanor . Yet her compassion for others shone through. Her understanding of the existence of a greater power beyond what you and I could measure quite commendable. Having faith in an eternal plan isn’t always about being the most religious. Having faith in an eternal plan involves living one’s life to the fullest, one day at a time; one relationship at a time; being present in each and every moment with family and friends .

And today we’ve heard the treasured stories, the memories from loved ones…from Tyler…from Jason…from John. We recall our own personal times and memories shared with Leanne.

And today we grieve. We shed tears for our losses and that it okay. That is to be expected.

Tears are caused by grief. It is a solemn and an established fact that grief does violence to our feelings, and deeply pierces the hearts of survivors; for the relationships of life, generally speaking, are most tender and endearing, and more especially so when those we love pass away.

We know, and God knows that Leanne has shed many tears as well. Tears caused by affliction. How frail is the human frame! To what numerous diseases is it liable, the seeds of which are often in our genetics, and by external circumstances, ripen and bring forth fruit to death.

And as we grieve, may I offer hope.

You see, in Heaven, there are no tears:

Revelation 21:4 “‘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.””

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. He wipes away many tears in this world.

You see, in Heaven there is no pain or suffering. There is hope for you and I. And today, at this moment, there is hope for Leanne. She no longer faces the torment of pain and suffering. She know longer sheds tears of sadness. She is at peace, shedding perhaps tears of joy in being reunited with loved ones who have gone before. No doubt dancing to some incredible music. No doubt waiting patiently for us to join her when our time to pass arrives.

There is hope.

CLOSING PRAYER

Heavenly father, your love never ends.

We prayer to you for one another in our need, and for all who mourn with us this day. To those who doubt, give light; to those who are weak, strength, to all who sorrow, your peace. To those who mourn, to those who shed tears, comfort. Keep true in us the love which we hold in one another. In Christ’s name we ask these and all things.

Amen.

The family and friends of Leanne, invite you to join them in a time of fellowship and refreshments.

I invite the Pall bearers to come forward.

CLOSING SONG