Graveside (Patricia Van Dyke)

Welcome: Gather around.

Casket bearers: The Old Rugged Cross

The Apostle Paul once wrote to the Corinthians,

O death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?

Pat believed in the Savior, Jesus Christ and the penalty of Pat’s sins were taken care of at the cross of Jesus Christ.

We know that Pat is no longer physically with us, and we are each filled with a tremendous amount of feelings and emotions that will last a long time.

Pat was related to each of us in a different and special way (a mom, a grandma, an aunt, a sibling, She was so many things to so many people. Maybe see was just a great family friend or neighbor that you loved dearly. She was close to every one of us here and we all miss her so much.

But more important than how Pat was related to any one of us, we need to remember how Pat related to God.

Jesus paid the price for her redemption and she is a full fledged adopted member into the household of God.

As we move forward in thinking of Pat, we can cling to the truth of God’s word, that ultimately, for Pat, death does NOT have the final sting and has no victory. We can even celebrate at a time like this even as we grieve because for Pat to be absent from his body means she is in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Gravestone).

I’d like to welcome all you loved ones here today.

My name is Shawn Clarke and I’ve had the privilege of being one of Pat’s pastors at Faith Community Church. Karen thank you for allowing me the privileged to be a part of this day’s events.

(Mike and Lisa live in Colorado) - (Bud, Kent, and Karen - Lynden)

Pray:

Tribute: Tera

Message:

Today’s time here at the graveside is a chance for us to honor Pat’s remains by placing them in the ground next to Pete (r) her husband of 63 years.

Today, we will be planting, if you will the remains of Pat. The reason we plant things in the ground is that we anticipate them springing up from the ground someday.

We are planting Pat here today with the certainty that she will one day shoot up from the ground and that is because of the glorious reality of the Resurrection of Christ.

We are all familiar with the old, old story. This time of year, we remember that Jesus came to this earth and later on, with the coming of springtime, we will remember His death and resurrection and ascension back to heaven.

But between his coming and his going is what really, really matters, because what he did while on this earth is of eternal significance to us who are alive here today gathered around this place where we will bury the remains of Pat much like you would any other seed.

And as we do this we say our respectful farewells.

Death tends have us reflect on our own mortality and when you attend a service of someone who has claimed Christ as their Lord and Savior, like Pat, we tend to reflect on our own spirituality.

So as we reflect on our own lives, a good question to ask yourself today is, “Is this my final farewell to Pat” or is an “I’ll see you later Pat.”

Are you saying Goodbye forever or in just a while I will see you again.

The bible is clear that for those that belong to Christ, once they pass to Glory, they are absent from their body and in the presence of the Lord. The incredibly great news is for those the Lord has called, and you’ve placed your hope and trust in Jesus for your sins, as you leave today you can say, “I’ll see you later Pat”.

The sad news for those of you that do not belong to Christ and haven’t submitted your life to Christ by placing your faith and hope in Him, as you leave today you are forced to say, “Goodbye Pat.”

The Lord works in mysterious ways and could it be that through Pat’s passing, the Lord is stirring your heart to be warmed up to Him. Could he be calling you now to ask for Him for the mercy and grace that were extended to Pat, to be extended to you for the sins in your life?

Karen as we met the other day you mentioned to me how in these later years your mom felt as if she wasn’t good for anything. You encouraged her by reminder her that she was a “Prayer Warrior.” That term is thrown around a lot, but your mom really was. You would pop in to visit with her at times and you would walk into the room and find her audible praying out loud. (Fred Peckler)

When I looked at here bible the other day, I looked on the front dust cover and noticed the words: “The Holy Bible - Read it, Believe it, Obey It.”

The Bible was her sword of the Spirit. Swords are what warriors use and when you look at Psalm 71 in her bible, there was evidence that she really was indeed a “prayer warrior.”

Psalm 71:17-18 says,

Psalm 71:17–18 KJV 1900

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; Until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, And thy power to every one that is to come.

This passages was highlighted in orange and underlined in blue and then in the margins of her bible was her own handwriting that said (Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren).

She prayed for you all. She loved you all. Karen you told me that she was a “true mother.” Someone who love her family.

She loved her family (the grandkids loved making - Forts on the Farm (Pat was known as “Mim” to the grandkids).

She was Easy to talk to (up to date on mariners stats) - One of the Grandkids or Great grandkids said, “Well I am going to go to Mim to find out what’s new with the Mariners).

Faithful in attending sporting events of her family.

Gatherings for (Christmas and Easter) were glorious time filled with food and I was told that she did have quite an enourmous sweet tooth!

She loved sweets huh?

Now we all know that she wasn’t perfect, but her Savior was and so throughout her life and even in her death, she was found leaning upon the Lord.

She trusted in Him. Some of her most oft repeated verses was Prov. 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

The promise in this passage is that that when we stop relying on our own judgment and our own ways, and instead, rely on God and acknowledge our glaring need for Him in all of our decision making, He will direct us. He will make our paths straight.

Pat recognized her glaring need for a Savior and so she acknowledged Him and He made her path straight even though it has lead through the valley of the shadow of death. She doesn’t have to fear any evil because her Savior has always been with her even in death. Death has become a doorway for her and one day He will raise this imperishable body up imperishable.

Pat new she wasn’t perfect, but she knew her Savior was and that has made all the difference in how we grieve her today. We don’t have to grieve as those who have no hope.

In just a few moments we will singing Great Is Thy Faithfulness. I love the line, “Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth. Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.” That is what her Savior has done for her in life and even now in death. And that truth equips all of us who are here today shivering and grieving in the cold “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

If you know the words, join in. If you do not, just close your eyes and listen and talk to the Lord about the relationship you have with Him or want with Him.

Think about words we are about to sing and imagine Pat singing them to her Savior face to face.

A few more verses to ponder before we sing–

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life

1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Karen you said that she was your “Rock.” The reason she was so strong was because of the Rock she leaned upon. Her strength was derived from an external source. Jesus was her Rock. She was just passing on to you what was freely given to here as she leaned upon her Saviors strong everlasting arms.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Song: Great is Thy Faithfulness

Closing: After I close in prayer, as you walk away from this place after placing the flowers on the casket, please contemplate the choice of your farewells… you are either saying goodbye to Pat or you’ll be saying I’ll see you later to Pat.

Another final set of verse that were highlighted in Pat’s bible were

Psalm 73:24–26 (ESV)

24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. (Not even all those sweets!!! 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Pat has gotten what she has always had a craving for. She is present with the Lord today even as we plant her remains and eagerly await it to be raised again!

Pray - May God the Father, who created this body, may God the Son, who with His own precious blood redeemed this body, and God the Holy Spirit, who continually dwelt within this body as a temple and sealed it for the day of redemption, May you, our Triune God, keep these remains to the day of the resurrection of all flesh.

Invited to Cyros for a time of remembering and eating and Sweets.