Service for Janice

New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition John 14

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.”

Greater Love

This is such a tender time in someone’s life.

On the one hand, we are grateful.

Grateful for a life well lived.

Grateful for the memories that we share together.

Grateful that for Janice now suffering has ended, and peace has come.

And yet, we are sad.

Sad that we had to say goodbye sooner than we’d hoped.

Sad that while Janice’s life carries on in the Lord’s care, he is no longer here with us.

Sad that we might not hear that laugh, or get to feel that embrace, or enjoy time in our loved one’s company.

And maybe just a little bit scared?

Death can be a scary thing.

It’s shrouded in mystery and unknowing.

And yet, in this moment, in this room, I believe Jesus has a message for all of us.

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Jesus tells us in another teaching that there’s only one commandment, only one thing you need to do to live in the light of Christ, and that’s to love one another.

And so I am confident that Janice has heard our savior say “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

I am confident beyond measure that Janice rests in the arms of our savior this very moment.

And yet, we are still left here today with our own grief and sadness.

But I believe that God has given us a set of gifts that we can share together today to walk us through our own grief and sorrow.

Three Gifts

Words from God

We can be reminded of what Scripture has to say to us about death.

That death is defeated in the person of Jesus Christ, as Paul put it “death is swallowed up in victory.”

That Jesus does indeed prepare a place for Janice, and for each and every one of us.

We can know for sure because of this that we will be reunited with Janice again.

We will see her again for sure.

The Word reminds us that Jesus meets us in our grief, comforts us, and reminds us that our hearts need not be troubled.

The Word reminds us Jesus is always with us, in the good times and the bad, in the sunshine and the rain, in the mundane and the sacred.

The Gift of our Memories

One of my favorite things to do as a pastor is to hear from families the stories they cherish about their dearly departed.

Truly one of the best parts about the street I grew up on was that neighbors are all really treated as family.

In a few moments we will be reminded of the stories of a life well lived from Janice’s family.

Mind you, there are some stories I’m guessing we probably shouldn’t share in church…

Those memories, those stories that we carry with each other, those are a sacred gift from God.

Take some time today, perhaps at lunch with these dearly beloved gathered here today and listen to those memories.

Share those stories.

Laugh.

Cry.

Remember.

The Gift of Each Other

And by the way, God has given us the gift of each other.

Take a look around.

This is a room that is filled to the brim with those who Janice has impacted through her life.

This is a room filled with people who have been loved and loved well by Janice.

And this is a room full of people who are feeling similar things, and traveling similar grief.

Know that wherever you are on the journey of grief, you don’t walk alone.

Know that however sad we might be, we can be certain that Janice is at peace.

Know that Janice rests in the arms of the savior Jesus this very minute, this very second.

Know that we will see Janice again, in the great heavenly banquet to come.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: Amen.