Larry Campell

Prayer

O God, giver of life and conqueror of death, our help in every time of trouble, we trust that you do not willingly grieve or afflict us.Comfort us who mourn;   and give us grace, in the presence of death, to worship you,that we may have sure hope of eternal life     and be enabled to put our whole trust in your goodness and mercy;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of Welcome

Dying, Christ destroyed our death.

Rising, Christ restored our life.Christ will come again in glory.

As in baptism Larry Campbell put on Christ, so in Christ may she be clothed with 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.

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.

Time to Remember

Arthur “Larry” Campbell, 84 years old, left this earth to be with our Lord on Saturday, August 10, 2024, after an extended illness.  He was a life-long resident of Jackson.  Larry was devoted to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his church of almost 50 years, Calvary United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Gladys Campbell, of Jackson; his wife of 48 years, Patricia “Pat” (Steele) Campbell, of Jackson; son, Larry “Keith” Campbell, of Jackson; stepdaughter, Debbie Copley, of Jackson; and grandson, Jeremy Bethel, of North Carolina.

He is survived by his daughter, Carol McGinnis, of Jackson; son, Robert (Tammy) Campbell, of Jackson; stepdaughter, Sally (Tim) Odom, of North Carolina; daughter-in-law, Donna Campbell; brother, Ralph Campbell, of Lancaster; and sister, Ann Sanders, of Springboro, Ohio.  He is also survived by four grandchildren, Robert A. “Soup” Campbell Jr. (Jennifer Childers), Crystal Zinn (Tim Harrison) and Tiffany Copley (Matt Harrison), all of Jackson, and Jake Odom (Christina), of North Carolina; seven great-grandchildren: Brianna Zinn (Jacob Depue), Hannah Campbell, Allison Campbell, Lily Odom, Ethan (Kerra) Kallner, Eric Kallner, and Samantha Harrison; great-great-grandchildren: Pamela Depue, Skyla Depue, Elizabeth Mae “Lizzy” Campbell, Kynzlie Kallner, and Karter Kallner; and many friends and extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Larry was a longtime member of the Calvary United Methodist Church.  He loved many things in life.  He loved to laugh, tease and a good joke.  He loved his wife, Pat, of 48 years as well as his family.   He also loved to travel, he traveled to many places in the U.S. during his lifetime.  He loved playing cards and enjoyed Euchre tournaments and weekly Canasta games.  He loved his motorcycle and could often be seen riding through town.  He retired from Goodyear, after 35 years of employment.  After retirement he often said, “now it takes me all day to do what I used to get done in an evening”.  He could often be found sitting in his favorite lounge chair in his “Florida Room” or puttering in the garage or working in the yard.  He was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

Larry really did enjoy the “Florida Room” on the back of their home. I have played many a Eucher game back there.

More then once, while visited with him in the evening, he offered me a cold beer. He did enjoy a good cold beer.

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.

Prayer

O Jesus Christ our risen Lord, you have gone before us in death.Grant us the assurance of your presence,     that we who are anxious and fearful in the face of death       may confidently face the future,     in the knowledge that you have prepared a place for all who love you. Amen.

Benediction

The peace of God 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.

Dinner will follow the service at the Graveside at Calvary Church. 483 Chillicothe St, Jackson, OH 45640

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.