Esther Serafin • Celebration of Life • 5/4/24

July 1, 1953 - April 4, 2024

Pre-Service Music:

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1. Greeting / Invocation:

Good morning everyone, my name is Anthony I’m a pastor here locally from Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship here in the wine country.

And I know it means so much to the family for you to be here as you bring your encouragement, your love, your hugs, & prayers.

And we come together today really to celebrate, to celebrate life, not just this temporary life we are in now but the life here after, eternal life.

Because ultimately, us who are left behind are the ones that are in need, Esther is in good hands, she’s is in God’s care, in His presence. How do I know this?

1 John 5:13“13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 John 2:25 “25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.”

John 3:15 “15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 5:24 - Most assuredly, I say to you, she who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, tbut has passed from death into life.

And so, as we begin lets bow our heads & our hearts to the Lord for prayer.

PRAY - God’s Presence - Comfort & Mercy

2. Special Song:

Well, at this time I’d like to invite you all to listen to a song prepared by the family

3. Words From The Family / Friends:

Well, at this moment I’d like to invite Leslie to come up and share some words - Leslie, would you please come up.

Leslie (Daughter) -

4. Special Song #2:

Well, at this time I’d like to invite you all to listen to “I Can Only Imagine” a recording by the group Mercy Me.

It was written by the band's lead vocalist, Bart Millard, who was reflecting on his father's death and imagining what it would be like in Heaven.

The song contemplates the emotions that one might feel when standing before God in Heaven.

You’ll notice the lyrics evoke a sense of wonderment and anticipation for the joys of eternal life.

The song offers a reminder of the joy and peace that awaits in Heaven, turning out attention away from our loss and towards hope and celebration for eternal life.

So this is a good time for us to reflect on the life of Gloria.

5. Sermon Through to Benediction:

5.1 Sermon

Such a beautiful song and so fitting...

And as I’ve mentioned already, we come together here today not just to celebrate Esther’s temporary life here on earth but to celebrate her eternal life in heaven.

And I gotta tell you that it blesses my heart to know that Esther is in the throne room of God rejoicing & magnifying the Lord as Esther is face to face w/ the Lord.

What an amazing thing that is - But for us it’s an interesting dynamic because our hearts are broken, we’ve lost a loved one, a friend, a neighbor, a co-workers. (Pause)

And you know it’s ok to grieve, it is ok to mourn. In fact, Paul said in...

1 Thessalonians 4:13 “13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”

You see we who have placed our faith in Jesus have a living HOPE - the Hope of Eternal Life.

John 5:24 - ...he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life ...and will pass from death into life.

APPLICATION: And that is the key, it’s ok that we mourn, shed tears, & grieve, for our lost loved ones.

APPLICATION: But it’s not because we have no Hope, it’s because we are left behind.

APPLICATION: Esther is in the presence of God, happy is she can ever be!

APPLICATION: And that is the Hope we have - Our hope is not in this life, our Hope is in the next life. Why?

APPLICATION: Because the moment we pass from this life we enter into the next life.

2 Corinthians 5:8 - ...to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

And you know there are a couple of things that I believe Esther would like us to know:

#1 Is That: She Is In Heaven - You know I like the way the Bible describes heaven...

In fact, the apostle John in a vision saw heaven and he said...

Revelation 21:3–4“3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””

In talking with Leslie, I understand that she was a fighter for 14 years with her health conditions.

But there is another thing I know about her today:

Whatever heart break she experience - weight & burdens she carried - Pain - These things are all gone.

She is in complete joy w/ the Lord.

(The second thing I believe she would like us to know is…)

#2 The Reason Why She Is In Heaven - It’s not because she was a great person, though she was - It’s because she put her faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s not about religion it’s about a relationship, its about entering into that personal 1 on1 relationship w/ Jesus Christ as Lord, God, & Savior.

That is the only reason she is in heaven.

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

And so too, Esther, finishing that race because she kept the faith in Jesus.

This is a simple point but a very important point - thats leads us to a very important question: Are you going to heaven? Are you going to heaven & see Esther once again?

You know many times people ask if we are going to know each other in heaven? And that is great question...

The answer is an absolute yes!

1 Corinthians 13:12 - For now we see in a mirror, dimly… now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Of course we will know each other in heaven - but that’s not the question, the question is: are we going to make it there?

You might say Pastor Anthony, i’m a pretty good guy, I pay my taxes, I walk the little old lady across the street, I am philanthropic - PTL! Those are all good things!

But that’s not what gets into heaven - It’s our faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8–9“8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

PRAY -

5.2 Benediction

Shall we all stand together...

On behalf of the family, once again, I want to thank everyone that came here today & those watching online for all your support, encouragement, your love, & your hugs.

And I would ask everyone here in the days, & weeks, & the months to come, maybe give them a call or send them a quick text message let them know you are thinking of them & praying for them, giving them encouraging words as the weeks & months roll by.

May God bless you, May He watch over you, May He keep you, May He lift up His countenance towards you so that He may give you peace that surpasses all understanding that guards your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Well that concludes our service today, and you are dismissed.

Additional Information:

A luncheon will be held immediately following the service

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