Jeremiah “Jerry” Reidy - October 20, 1963 - March 24, 2024

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 Jeremiah Reidy. 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

Song - Cornerstone

Old Testament Scripture

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Lamentations 3:22–25 NIV

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your 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;

Lamentations 3:31–32 (NIV)

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

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:

Amen.

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 AND EVER AMEN

Song - Word of God Speak

Celebration of Life

Joe Rud - friend

Jim Rose - friend

Lourdes Fong - friend

Santiago Roy - friend

Joe Brady - Nephew

Sebastian Berry - Nephew in law

Jerry Reidy - Son

New Testament Scripture

John 3:16–21 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Luke 23:39–43 NIV

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

pray.

Message of Hope

It has been a deep honor of my life to be on this difficult journey with you and to get to know more of the Jerry that has had such an impact on this world. It would be difficult to really add much more by way of testimony to Jerry’s life than what has already been done, but I would like to try and bring it all together around the grounding hope of our faith.

The choices of Scriptures today are gripping. Full of pain and emotion. Especially Luke text with the criminals on the cross.

Now, hear me…Jerry was no criminal and in now way do I want to insinuate that but I think there is something we can see with this scene that will give us a lens of reflection for Jerry. Luke tells the story of two men that are on a cross next to Jesus. In the center is one who is about to die a criminal’s death even though he is innocent. Beside him on either side are two that are experiencing justice in the ancient near east. Whatever their crimes, they have been sentenced. Same in position but different in disposition. One is indifferent and still playing the victim. Another one, understanding his position and choosing humility and to see Jesus in the proper light.

By all acounts, family: Grace, his children, relatives, coworkers, subordinates and superiors, Jerry did not consider himself in a manner that deserved accolades or respect. He did not justify or wash away anything. This humility allowed him to be present and intentional with his children. To answer the phone when it rang, to encourage kids and direct reports even when they did not follow his clear plan for life and thriving. He gave of himself from this disposition and provided whatever was needed. Reliable.

This disposition in Luke of the man next to Jesus gave room for salvation. Gave room for something that only God can do.

We mourn today because of the deep love for Jerry and the deep love received from Jerry.

We also mourn today because on a primal and instinctive level we know death is not how it should be. Loss and grief, pain and suffering, death is not right. this is not how it should be.

This section of John’s gospel that we read is probably familiar to most here today. It is the scripture that you hear if someone were to describe the good news of Jesus. It is probably the first one memorized in Vacation Bible School.

Why is that?

It is because on the most basic level it speaks to the root of our predicament.

Death.

Today is of course a day to celebrate the life of Jerry but it is also for us. It is a reminder that death no longer has the final word.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son to bring eternal life.

When Jesus laid his life down and then was raised it means all in Christ will be raised. And even in the now, in the grief, that brings hope.

Light has come into the world

The second truth I hope we can all see is that we do not just have a future hope, but we have a hope now.

John 3:19 (NIV) 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world

Jerry knew that this light had come into the world. He chose to live in the light. He chose light for his family.

Jerry knew that a light had come into the world and he walked in that light. And because of it everyone around him was brought into the light.

Family, that light lives on. The best parts of Jerry was from God and that legacy lives on in you today. As you raise children, as you tell others of Jerry. As you decide everyday to choose humility, light, and love. As you choose to be reliable to others.

This is the invitation for all of us today....to walk in this light so that the world might know there is another way.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Song (remain seated) - I can only imagine

Benediction

The peace of God He 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.

Graveside

A SERVICE OF COMMITTAL – Edwina Jane Saul

July 1, 2023

Greeting

Listen, I will tell you a mystery!

We will not all die, but we will all be changed.

For this perishable body must put on imperishability,

and this mortal body must put on immortality.

Then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

But thanks be to God,

who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 CORINTHIANS 15:51, 53, 54 b-55, 57)

The following prayer is offered:

Let us pray.

O God, you have ordered this wonderful world

and know all things in earth and in heaven.

Give us such faith that by day and by night,

at all times and in all places,

we may without fear commit ourselves

and those dear to us

to your never-failing love,

in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Jesus said: "Very truly, I tell you,

unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains just a single grain;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Those who love their life lose it,

and those who hate their life in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me must follow me,

and where I am, there will my servant be also.

Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." (JOHN 12:24-26)

Commital

Standing at the head of the coffin and facing it (preferably casting earth upon it as it is lowered into the grave) the pastor says:

Almighty God,

into your hands we commend your son Jerry,

in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

One or more of the following or other prayers is offered:

Eternal God, you have shared with us the life of Jeremiah Reidy

Before he was ours, he is yours.

For all that Jerry has given us to make us what we are,

for that of his which lives and grows in each of us,

and for his life that in your love will never end,

we give you thanks.

As now we offer Jerry back into your arms,

comfort us in our loneliness,

strengthen us in our weakness,

and give us courage to face the future unafraid.

Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another,

make us faithful to serve one another,

and give us to know that peace and joy which is eternal life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The pastor dismisses the people with the following or another blessing:

Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling,

and to make you stand without blemish

in the presence of God's glory with rejoicing,

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

be glory, majesty, power, and authority,

before all time and now and forever. Amen. (JUDE 24-25, ALT.)