Patricia Stroman (March 17, 1933 - June 3, 2025) 6.18.25 John 14

Welcome & Gathering

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.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Patricia Stroman. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow….hope, in death….resurrection.

Pray

When we all get to heaven - Alan Jackson

Psalm 23 - Bryan Moore

Pastoral Prayer - Bryan Moore

Song/slideshow: I Cross my heart (Bryan)

Celebration of Life

Wayne Stroman, Son

Carly Moore, Great Grandaughter

New Testament and Scripture

John 14:1–6 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Pray.

Patti Stroman

I am honored by the invitation of my friend and colleague, Bryan to be a part of today and the trust of the Moores. It has been a blessing to get to know Patti on a deeper level.

She was known as the donut lady at FMC to her sunday school class.

Patti and Arlyn were longtime committed members of our church. Serving in different capacities.

She brought life into the world and life into the room. Bryan shared a couple of stories that tell this well. Patty and her sister together were a troubled combination if you were hoping for peace and quiet. During a family celebration of life service they got the giggles about something and couldnt stop the whole time. I can just imagine the pastor thinking there was something he said or something on his face….

Or when Bryan was just coming back to church during college and Patty spilled coffee everywhere...what she meant to say was “I am such a klutz” what she said is I am such a ________ innapropriate word.”

She was known as “Preacher” to kids and grandkids because when she wanted to instil something she was going to.

She continued the tradition of the family reunion that has been going on for 65 years or more. Praise God she got to attend one more.

Patty was an encourager. Cultivating, bringing forward dreams and gifts in kids and definitely grandkids. These two things remind me of Hebrews 10:24-25

Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Today is difficult….no matter the circumstances but also because of the extent to which Judy lived this way.

Peace I leave with you

The text I read from John 14 would have the disciples feeling the beginning of a similar emotion. Jesus is preparing them for his death, resurrection, and departure. He is trying to teach them and prepare them for the mission that Jesus is now passing on to them. In the next few days they would see their leader die and that would be excruciating. Then Jesus knows they will have difficult days ahead as well and Jesus promises Peace later in chapter 14….His peace.

Reminder today that God can be trusted in this space. A few observations, from the text:

1. His peace is unlike peace of this world

a. He has conquered death itself and is the resurrection. He has walked through the darkest valley so that in our dark valleys, we know we are not alone. Jesus has the last word…this is the only way that he can say....peace I give to you and it can mean anything really when our hearts are broken.

b. His peace is comprehensive. Not just a rest…but deeper than that. Biblical peace is about a setting things right that are wrong. Rebuilding and restoring. The world promises allusions of peace…but goodness we know anything resembling peace is fleeting and difficult to grasp. God’s peace, even if hard to grasp right now is comprehensive.

God is not in the business of making life all copasetic for everyone… God is in the business of turning this rotten fallen world around. Rebuilding.

C. One of the images of peace in the bible is of a rebuilding of a wall that has been broken. Pieces missing and the wall has lost its integrity. God promises peace which is the setting right and rebuilding. Family: God can and will rebuild what is broken here.

2. He is sending the advocate, the Holy Spirit, to testify to our hearts.

But God is not just an outside player in this story. He gives of his Spirit on those days when you just can’t. He promises to join them in the darkness.

3. And he is preparing a place for all of us that are in Christ Jesus. Patti is with the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord.

· Earlier in this text there is the guy named Thomas who begins to challenge Jesus… Wait youre leaving? Let us go with you! Jesus speaks words to Thomas so that we might hear them today… I am the way, the truth, and the life. Patti came to that realization, so even today we can hold onto that hope.

So....Jesus offers them peace in their struggle. That peace is comprehensive, it is tied to his presence

Peace conditioned only by God’s presence with his people. Not on circumstances

“Total well being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence among his people.”

· It’s the peace that even when things are not all alright…we still know he is with us.

This is the steady and reliable truth today.

Patty because she was born on St. Patty’s day

Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.

For Patty: Fully with Christ today. Praise God.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

How Great Thou Art

Benediction - Bryan