Funeral for Ed Mason
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Prelude - Mary Amstutz (on piano - playing hymns 15 minutes prior)
Casting Crowns Song - Scars in Heaven (*note--after we are seated, the family wants the song "Scars in Heaven" by Casting Crowns played; they understand that this cannot be played on the livestream due to copyright)
Welcome, Scripture, and Prayer - Rick
That was the song “Scars in Heaven” by Casting Crowns, a very fitting way to begin this celebration of life service for Ed Mason.
So on behalf of their family, we would like to welcome you to this celebration of life service for Ed Mason. We want to honor Ed and his memory and legacy.
and as we do so, it’s certainly ok and appropriate to grieve over his loss, to be sad, because the Bible says death is an enemy. We were not originally created to die—death is only a part of human experience because of the existence of sin in the world. We should take time to do that. Jesus grieved over his friend Lazarus’ death even though he was about to raise him from the dead.
and then it’s also very fitting to glorify Jesus Christ, His Lord and Savior.
I believe Ed was a humble, gentle, compassionate man, who left a legacy of leadership for his family, friends, the church, and his community, and it is an honor to be a part of this.
As we begin today, I want to read a couple of verses.
This first one is from 2 Timothy 4:7-8—the Apostle Paul is writing this as he is nearing the end of his life. and He says this… (in your bulletin)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Thankfully those words describe not only the Apostle Paul—but also Ed and his life. He has fought the good fight; he has finished the race; he has kept the faith.
and now those of us grieving over his loss—we grieve but with hope.
we have hope because Ed’s hope was and is Jesus Christ.
and now, Ed is experiencing life face to face with Jesus Christ.
He is experiencing what Job said in the Old Testament: (also in your bulletin)
25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Ed is experiencing Jesus face to face.
I want to invite Neil Potter forward while I pray...
Would you pray with me?
—praying to grieve well
—helping the family, to comfort them
—thanks for the hope and legacy we have with Ed
—comfort the family with this we pray..
Special Music - Neil Potter "What a Day That Will Be"
Family Memories - Tim Hays (Son-in-law)
Congregational Singing - "When We All Get to Heaven"
Message - Rick
I want to talk briefly about Ed’s life, his legacy, and how it challenges us. I want to mention 3 highlights of Ed’s legacy.
Legacy of servant leadership (servant leadership in organizations, family, etc.)
in looking at all the different organizations Ed was a part of and led in, it’s impressive. Karen gave me a description of some of those—let me read it—this was in a description when he was a candidate to be on the Board of Directors for Pro-Fed Credit Union.
“Mr. Mason is retired from his position as the human resources manager at Micro-Precision Textron in Berne, where he was employed for 21 years. Mr. Mason held audit staff positions at Central Soya and served as an officer of Dunbar Furniture in Berne. He has been a past board member of the Wabash Valley Golf Club, United Way of Adams County, and Junior Achievement at South Adams. Mr. Mason is a member and past treasurer at First Missionary Church and a past district treasurer for the Missionary Church Association. He has served on ProFed’s board for the past 20 years and currently serves as its treasurer.”
That is an impressive list covering his jobs, volunteer organizations, and the local church.
It’s a challenge to all of us to be involved in our companies, communities, and churches for the good—we need good leadership more than ever. We often complain about leaders, but are we willing to step up and lead in a way that honors Jesus Christ.
and I think he led in way that honored our Jesus Christ.
25 Jesus called his disciples together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
servant leadership matters. Do we step up to lead or are we passive? Do you and I lead out of a heart to serve like Jesus and honor Him?
legacy of leading his family—both his spiritual church family and his biological family
Karen mentioned they have been involved in missionary churches their whole lives.
Ed and Karen met at First Missionary Church - in FW that is—when Ed was going to International Business College. Karen says that he and his friends came to Sunday night church there to check out the girls. :)
so they were involved at First Missionary Church in FW; they were involved in a local Missionary Church in the Cleveland area for 3 years while living there, and of course at this First Missionary Church in Berne. as well as district opportunities for the Missionary Church.
they were married here in 1960 not long after this building was built (perhaps you are the 3 or 4th wedding ever in this building?) ; both their daughters were married here.
The local church mattered. and it matters to Jesus
Jesus made this promise about the local church—Matthew 16:18
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Paul says this about the local church—
10 His (God’s) intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
along with that legacy of leading his spiritual family—he led his biological family.
Karen mentioned that Ed was so proud of his daughters and the men they chose as husbands and became his son-in-laws. They were like sons to Ed.
Karen gave me a nice quote on fathers and daughters—”Young girls depend on their fathers for security and emotional support. A father shows his daughter what a good relationship with a man is like If a father is loving and gentle, his daughter will look for those qualities in men when she’s old enough to begin dating. If a father is strong and valiant, she will relate closely to men of the same character.”
Ed prayed for his kids, their spouses, grandkids, great-grandkids by name
what legacy for Jesus are you leaving for your church family and your biological family?
so legacy of servant leadership
legacy of leading and serving his spiritual and biological family-
legacy of longing for Jesus and His return (book of Revelation) and the hope you and I can have in him
I love being able to look through a Bible of one our long time Christians here at First Missionary, and Ed’s Bible was marked up some—but especially the book of Revelation. Every single verse was underlined with notes—and comments, and he said he studied it in 1965.
Now, I know Revelation is a little bit of controversial book—it’s fascinating, hard to understand. But the whole point of Revelation —is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, coming back to defeat all evil, to defeat Satan, all rebellion, to end sin, and death forever, and set up his kingdom for all eternity. It’s actually written to Christians, to churches that are suffering, so it is a timely message to stay faithful to Jesus despite suffering.
so I bring up a challenge for you—are you and I ready for Jesus’ return?
whether He comes back first
or we die and stand before the judgment seat of God
we all have to ask that question—are we ready
Scripture is very clear that we will all stand before the judgment seat of God
27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
so you and I will—and what will prepare us to stand before God?
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
e. how do you and I get ready—it’s simple—yet we make it so hard.
#1: Scripture is clear from the very first book of the bible—that there is a God who exists, who made and loves us and wants us to live in perfect relationship with Him—but under His rule.
#2: Scripture is also clear that it didn’t take long for us, starting with Adam and Eve, to rebel against God. Instead of saying “God you know best; we live as if we are in control; as if we know best.”
and because of that—that’s sin—we introduced judgment and consequences into the world. everything is broken now—our relationship with God, others, ourselves, with nature.
23 For the wages of sin is death—we deserve death forever not just physically but spiritually.
Hell is described as a place in Revelation 20:14-15
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
that’s what we deserve...
but that’s not the end of the story...
though we have all sinned and fall short of his glory—and deserve death, including eternity in hell...
the good news is...
God sent His Son Jesus Christ on a rescue plan to save us.
Jesus has always existed—fully God—but because He loves us — He entered our world as a baby, grew up as a man, never sinned.
and his mission was to come and die for our sins on the cross.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus Christ lived the life you and I couldn't—it was perfect, and He died the death you and I deserved for our sins before a holy God.
He didn’t deserve it—but HE took the punishment on him for our sins in our place.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
and he didn’t stay dead—Easter is coming—and at Easter we celebrate that Jesus rose bodily, physically from the grave—proving that Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil.
Jesus is king.
17 Jesus says to John the Apostle - “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
so you and I have a choice—to be ready to meet Him...
either we will be the king of our lives—or Jesus will be. which one is it?
Ed made the choice early on for Jesus to be His king—and even though he wasn’t perfect—he left a legacy for Jesus in the organizations he served in and led, his family, and his church family.
Jesus made all the difference in His life
if you are here and have not surrendered to Jesus—it’s very simple.
step 1: you have to admit you are a sinner before a holy awesome and loving God. You have to admit you have made a mess of your life before God. Tell Him (that’s the hardest part)
step 2. believe, or trust that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. He lived for you, died for you, achieved your salvation before God.
Ed had Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
it’s grace not works. we can’t earn it
Step 3: surrender your life to Jesus....He is Lord, not Rick, not me, not anything else, but Jesus.
Ed did that, and it made all the difference...you do that-your sins are forgiven. you are made new before God.
you get to enjoy God forever and ever — now and in heaven. It changes everything about you.
let’s pray...
—salvation prayer?
—legacy prayer?
thank you that we shall behold you...
Special Music - Neil Potter "We Shall Behold Him"
Benediction - Rick
I want to close by reading Revelation 21:1-5
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Let’s pray.
This concludes our service.
Some final instructions:
after the service we are headed to MRE cemetery. Anyone is welcome to join us. or we might have it here...
following that, you are invited for lunch here in the gym at First Missionary Church. Park in the back and come in the gym entrance door 6.
For dismissal, I want to invite the funeral staff; they will lead the family out first. Once the family has left, you are free to be dismissed.
Thanks for coming
Postlude - Mary Amstutz
Committal Service
Just a few reminders as we bury Ed’s remains this afternoon (his inurnment:
First, we are reminded that death is an enemy. We were not created to die. When God made Adam and Eve—He made us as humans to live with Him forever. And He gave them one condition—you may eat from every tree except one, and when you eat from that tree, you will die. So Adam and Eve, when tempted by Satan, ate from the tree. And that introduced death into our world—both physical death and spiritual death—where without Jesus—we would be separated from God forever. So part of the reason we are here today at a cemetery is it goes back to Genesis 1-2. Death exists because sin exists. So it is very appropriate to grieve today and tomorrow and in the future—we were not originally made to die or experience death.
2. Second, there is good news—Scripture says we do not grieve as though we have no know. We have lots of hope—a certainty from God’s Word. We know that Ed is not here. We simply have his ashes from his physical body. His soul, when he died when to be with Jesus Christ. We know this because Jesus Christ paid his penalty for sin on the cross, gladly taking it on himself and saying “It is Finished” on the cross. And Ed placed his faith and trust in Jesus Christ from an early age.
Philippians 1:21-23
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
So Ed is experiencing gain in Christ.
3. Thirdly, we know at some point in the future, when Jesus Christ renews and restores all things, including the entire universe—Ed along with all Christians will get a resurrection body. A body that will never grow old, get sick, get cancer, or die again. Jesus Christ, when he rose bodily from the grave—gave us a picture of what that body will be like.
a. 1 Corinthians 15:42-43 The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
4. Finally, for those of us who know Jesus Christ, today is more of a “see ya later…” than a goodbye. For we know that when we die, we will also see Jesus and those who are with Him for eternity in heaven.
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Let’s pray
Father, we thank you for the time that you gave Ed on this earth, and the tremendous blessing and leader he was to his family, church, and community and the organizations he served. We thank you for him. At the same time, we also miss him, and grieve.
So I pray that you would comfort this dear family and friends who miss and love Ed. Walk with them day by day, Embrace them; wrap your arms around them.
But we are reminded we have tremendous hope—b/c of Jesus, He lives, and we will one day see him again.
So Father, we commit Ed’s remains to the ground, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, knowing that Ed is not here, he is with you, and one day you will raise and give him a new resurrection body when you renew all of creation. Thank you again Father for the tremendous hope we have in Christ.
