Barry Arthur Celebration of Life

Song

Dying, Christ destroyed our death.

Rising, Christ restored our life.

Christ will come again in glory.

Here and now, dear friends, we are God's children.

What we shall be has not yet been revealed; but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Those who have this hope purify themselves as Christ is pure.

Salute!

God took some of the world’s finest men and women And made them into Correctional Officers.

We face danger every day of our lives. Going into work praying to leave alive, Praying that things don’t go wrong.

We have family and children waiting for us at home. An uneasy feeling in your gut.

People don’t realize what we face when we go behind those closed doors.

They are quick to criticize, judge, and talk down about us. I know how stressful it can be.

The job is hard; you have to be ready to act at any moment. Inmates can be nasty at times and it is our job to stay strong And fair.

Sometimes we actually see change in inmates behind bars. Some of them look up to you.

With respect towards the inmates you get respected back. It takes courage to do what we do.

Thanks to all the Correctional Officers Everywhere!

Words of Hope

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.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death.

Because I live, you shall live also.

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

We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.

Barry Allen Arthur age 52 of Chillicothe, Ohio passed away Sunday, August 4, 2024 in Circleville, Ohio. He was born September 14, 1971 in Gallipolis, Ohio to Larry E. and Loretta Sue Corroll Arthur. Sue told me Barry was loving, even as a baby, you just rubbed his back, and he would drift off to sleep. Barry adored time with his family and loved ones. He particularly treasured an evening walk with his wife Diane and dog Dinky after a long day of work. They would go to Grand view Cemetery and walk together, discussing the day.

He also cherished kayaking with his son Jesse. He adored his grand babies and loved spending time with his granddaughter Lillian and could not have been any more proud to show off his newest grandson Dylan and make precious memories with him and his daughter Brittany. He also held dear the time spent with his parents. Barry was one of the most generous, caring, and altruistic people you would ever encounter. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and playing World of Warcraft. He was also active in 4 Paws for Ability. Training dogs was a special passion of his. .mr T is here today. Barry worked at Pickaway Correctional Institution in Orient as Correctional Officer for the past 20 years. He served as a member of the Honor Guard there. The family would like to thank the Honor Guard for their standing as sentinels today.

Early in his life he attended Gio Grande College, as well as worked as a meat cutter. He and I shared one thing in common, we both worked for Big Bear.

Without a doubt, he will surely be missed by all the friends he made throughout his time there. The Heavens have gained one of the good ones. He is survived by his parents, wife of 23 years: Diana Holcomb Arthur, children: Brittany (Jacob) Riddle, Angelina “Angie” Stephens and Jesse Stephens, brothers: Kevin E. (Donna) Arthur, Larry D. (Lisa) Arthur and Jason T. (companion Stephanie Caiazzo) Arthur, grandchildren: Dylan Riddle and Lillian Johnson. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and his best friend Barry “Sarge” Oyer.

Any wish to share a memory.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Song 4

Sermon I. Those who live in Christ gain the victory

John 14:1–3 AMP

DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

Christ’s Words of Comfort

Scripture: John 14:1–6

Introduction: In times of sorrow and distress, we instinctively turn to the Bible, and very often to this passage. It has dried more tears, strengthened more hearts, and graced more funerals than perhaps any other passage excluding Psalm 23. Jesus spoke these words in the Upper Room on the eve of His crucifixion. His intention was to comfort the troubled hearts of His disciples, for the last verse of John 13 was a very troubling prediction to Peter: “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.” We are frail, fallible human beings, and we’re often filled with confusion, shame, guilt, or sorrow. Jesus knows. In His very next words, He gave reassurance.

1. The Peace Jesus Provides—John 14:1—“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me.” He is telling us that we can take charge of our hearts. We can take control of our emotions and our attitudes. He is commanding us to “let not our hearts be troubled.” How can we endure trials without being troubled? We must trust Him with those things we don’t understand. We must “believe in God, believe also in Me.” As we do so, He pours peace into our troubled hearts (see John 14:27).

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

2. The Place Jesus Prepares—John 14:1–4—He is here promising us a home in heaven. The old versions say that Jesus is preparing for us a mansion. Some of the newer translations use another word, but don’t you think the smallest dwelling spot in heaven will be far greater than the finest mansion on earth? I still like that old word “mansion.” Furthermore, Christ here promises to return to earth, to come back for us, a promise that Paul amplifies in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NIV

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

3. The Path Jesus Prescribes—John 14:5–6—The last two verses of this paragraph warn us that every road doesn’t lead to heaven. There’s only one way, one road, one plan of salvation. Peter later put it this way: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Acts 4:12 NIV

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Conclusion: Today we need the peace that Jesus provides. We’re eager for the place that Jesus is preparing. And we need to make sure we’re on the path that Jesus prescribed.

Song

Benediction

A Hero’s Welcome

Time to come home dear brother Your tour of duty through You’ve given as much as anyone Could be expected to do

Just a few steps further The smoke will start to clear Others here will guide you You have no need of fear

You have not failed your brothers You clearly gave it all And through your selfless actions Others will hear the call

So take your place of honor Among those who have gone before And know you will be remembered For now and evermore

.Dinner will follow the service at Wesley Cove Church.

Graveside Service

In the midst of life, we are in death;      from whom can we seek help?(NINTH CENTURY)

Our help is in the name of the Lord     who made heaven and earth.God who raised Christ from the dead     will give life to your mortal bodies also     through the Spirit that dwells in you.(ROMANS 8:11, ALT.)

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.

Let us pray:

Almighty God,     into your hands we commend your son/daughter,     in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life     through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This body we commit to the ground(to the elements, to its resting place ),     earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. (TRADITIONAL)

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest from their labors     for their deeds follow them.(REVELATION 14:13, ALT.)

Let us pray

O Lord, support us all the day long of our troubled life,     until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,       and the busy world is hushed,       and the fever of life is over and our work is done.Then in your mercy grant us a safe lodging,     and a holy rest, and peace at the last;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.