Graveside Service Marilyn Bundy

On behalf of the family, I want to thank you for joining us here today at the graveside of Marilyn Bundy.

It is from the Word of God that we find hope and peace today.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NLT

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

The truth in these words remind us that although Marilyn has passed from this life, we can know that the Lord will one day raise her again to meet Him in the air. These words give us hope that Christ has defeated death. We are told that even though death has been defeated, our earthly bodies must die before we can live for eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:50–54 NLT

What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.

In times of loss and grief we can comfort ourselves with this truth: our bodies will be transformed into bodies that will never die. Death has been swallowed up in victory. We thank God that Marilyn is experiencing the wonderful presence of the Lord right now, and we thank God, if Jesus is our Lord, that we too will experience that presence one day.

Marilyn, has finished this earthly life with many friends and family standing here to affirm her efforts of love and kindness. But as we stand here this day, Marilyn has gone before us, her spirit has already ascended and she has already experienced the very presence of God.

So what lies before us now is but the earthly tabernacle, the house in which she lived among us for a time. Tenderly and reverently we commit that house to the grave. The body returns to earth from which it came; earth to earth ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Her spirit returns to God who gave it, waiting for the day when both spirit and body shall again be united at the coming of our Lord.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father into your hands we commit Marilyn. We anxiously anticipate the return of your dear Son. On that day, we know, the grave will give up the body to be rejoined with the spirit.

Until that wonderful day we also commit into your merciful hands the family and friends of Marilyn, and ask your rich blessings upon them, make alive the hope that is available to all those who call upon Your Name.

Bless them with your presence, for in your presence is fullness of joy and life everlasting. Bless them with Your sweet Spirit, because You have said where Your Spirit is there is freedom.

Let each of them discover as they experience this loss, that they can experience from You “a peace that passes all understanding”

Go with us today, refresh each us in mind and soul by the power of your Holy Spirit.

In the Name of Jesus we pray, AMEN.