Funeral for Beverly Joan Cumin

Gathering Hymns

Shall We Gather at the River - Randy Travis or Morning has Broken - Art Garfunkel/Diana Krall

Words of Grace

(standing near the urn)

Dying, Christ destroyed our death,

Rising, Christ restored our life.

Christ will come again in glory,

As in baptism, Beverly put on Christ,

So in Christ may Beverly be clothed with glory.

Let us prayer:

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants gathered here today. Remember us, Lord, in your mercy. Nourish us with patience. Comfort us with a sense of your goodness. And give us peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Entrance Hymn

In the Garden - Anne Murray

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 Beverly’s family welcome, thank you so much for being here today.

Friends we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Beverly. 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.

Opening Prayer

Eternal God, we praise you for the great company of all those who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labor. We praise you for those dear to us who have departed this life, and whom we now name in our hearts before you.

Especially , we praise you for Beverly, whom you have graciously received into your presence.

To all of those who have departed, grant your peace. Let perpetual light shine upon them; and help us so to believe where we have not seen, that your presence may lead us through our years, and bring us at last with them, into the joy of your home, not made with hands but eternal in the heavens; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Obituary reading

Beverly Joan Cumin, passed away peacefully on Sunday December 10, 2023 at 82 years of age & is now residing in heaven w/ her Lord. Mother to Scott(Kathy), Mark(Jayne), Randy(Tammy), Dave(Paula) & predeceased by Nadine. Predeceased by her parents Edward(Ted) & Kathleen(Kay) Cumin and brother-in-law Edward. Loving sister to Ron(Lynn), Ruth Ann(Glenn), Margo(Edward), Wayne(Gail), Mary Lou(Charles) & Paula(Kendal). Grandmother to 10 & great grandmother to 15. A special thank you to the staff at Age Care Royal Oak especially those in Mulberry Lane.

Psalm

The New International Version (Psalm 121)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

 My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

 He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

 The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

 The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

 the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Hymn

When We All get To Heaven - Casting Crowns

Testamonies

Hymn

Creator - Phil Wickham

Gospel Reading

The New International Version (Chapter 12:22-32)

 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Sermon

We are gathered here today to pay tribute to our dear sister in Christ.

Beverly - a lover of nature. Sunsets. Starry nights. She naturally sensed God’s handiwork in these things. She sensed the eternal presence of God through these things. And she passed on these very things to her children. She understood that the wildflowers would blossom year after year. That the seasons would come and go year after year. That the birds would somehow find the food to survive year after year. These things weren’t a result of having a well paying job. These things weren’t a result of having a perfectly manicured lawn. In fact, no matter what we do, the flowers blossom, the seasons come and go, the birds migrate back home. You see, Beverly understood that God would provide all that was truly needed. Beverly gave herself over to God. She understood the gospel message. She knew the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross was for her. She knew that sacrifice was for all that accepted Jesus as their Saviour. And she shared that message openly and honestly with those she loved. She used those sunsets, those starry nights to show God’s great creation to those she loved. She knew the love of God. She is a child of God.

Beverly knew that by lifting her eyes towards the heavens, she could connect with God. Her help came from God, the maker of Heaven and earth. The wonders of nature....the sun, the moon. God’s hands shields the sun from our eyes…God’s watchful eyes protect us at all times. And she shared those most precious moments with those whom she loved. Beverly - a lover of nature. Beverly, knowing that earthly possessions were simply tools to live our lives; and that all this wealth we build for ourselves in our earthly lives is in fact temporary.

Paul reminds us:

2 Corinthians 5:1–8 “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

We are gathered here today to pay tribute to our dear sister in Christ. We know that for all of us this is a time of sorrow—but it is a time of sorrow mixed with joy. It’s a time of sorrow because:

We realize that for a time we will not be able to see our loved one. Sorrow because of a touch that will not be felt. Sorrow because of a smile that will not be seen. Sorrow because of a laugh that will not be heard. Sorrow because of a voice that no longer beckons us near. Sorrow because of a love that will be remembered, but not experienced firsthand. Yes, there is sorrow in this time of death—but there is also great joy.

There is great joy today because: the woman we honor is a Christian. Joy because she had turned her life over to the Lord. Joy because she had been bathed in the blood of the Lamb. Joy because she made the decision to embrace the cross of Calvary. Joy because through the power of the resurrection she now dwells in an eternal home promised to her by Jesus Christ our Lord.

And we have joy in knowing that our dear sister in Christ now spends her days where every tear is wiped away; where there is no longer any death, or mourning or crying or pain. We can have joy in knowing that she is home.

Revelation 21:1–4 “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘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.””

No more death, or mourning or crying or pain. Praise God!

Many of those Beverly loved are still here with us. But although those whom she has loved on earth aren’t with her now, that doesn’t mean that she’s alone.

1) God is there. He has called her home and was waiting for her with open arms. Can you imagine the joy of finally being in the presence of the One who created the universe? The joy of hearing the voice of the One who commanded the light to be separated from the darkness saying, “Welcome Home”? The joy of experiencing the presence of One who is all-powerful; all-knowing; and in all-places at all times? The joy of being with the One who calls Himself “I Am”?

2) Jesus is there. He bid her welcome into His eternal Kingdom. Oh, what joy to see the One who shed His blood on Calvary so that all who have surrendered their lives to Him could enter into this place of perfection. To touch the hands and feet that were pierced for the sins of the world. To be so close to the One who gave His life, so that we could have eternal life.

3) The Saints are there. All of the Christians who left this earth before her are there with her now. Christian friends who she has grieved over because she no longer had their fellowship—they are there. That fellowship has been renewed now. The Saints who have gone before are there and can welcome her home.

The Bible teaches us that this present world is not the real home of the Christian. Peter begins his first letter by addressing the Christians as “strangers” in this world. Again in 1 Peter 2:11 he addresses the believers in the same way—as “foreigners and exiles” in the world.

Christians who live on this earth do not really belong here. We are here for a temporary purpose—to glorify God—but our true home is in Heaven.

The good news is that our loved one no longer lives as an “foreigner or exile” in this world. She is at home with the Lord where she belongs. She is where she was meant to be. She is where God created her to be. She is at a place that can truly be called “home.” She is absent from her body and at home with the Lord.

John 14:1–3 ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

I invite you in the hours and days to come to find a quiet place of reflection. Somewhere outside. Somewhere under the starry skies. Perhaps illuminated by moonlight. Perhaps a gently walk through a wooded area. Marvel at the beauty that unfolds before you. Marvel at the wonders of nature. Beverly saw these wonders. Beverly understood who created such wonders. Let us praise God for this wonderful planet he has created. And let us live in hope that by confessing our sins, and professing that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour, that we too can confidently go forward knowing that we will one day join Beverly in our eternal home.

Hymn

Amazing Grace (My chains Are Gone) - Chris Tomlin

Commendations and Final Prayers

Oh God, all that you have given us is yours. As first you gave Beverly to us, now we give Beverly back to you. For our sister Beverly let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said “I am Resurrection and I am Life” Beverly was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit, give her fellowship with all your saints. She was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant her a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom. Comfort us in our sorrows. Let our faith be our consolation and eternal life our hope.

Receive Beverly into the arms of your mercy. Raise Beverly up with all your people. Receive us also and raise us into a new life. Help us so to love and serve you in this world that we may enter into your joy in the world to come.

Amen.

Dismissals with Blessings

Ephesians 3:14–19 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Hymn

Abide with Me - instrumental