Funeral: Faithful to the End
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Mrs. Lorena Barrow
Prelude
*Seating of the Family
*Call to Worship Rev. Hank Wilson
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
*Hymn Mrs. Kathy Usry
I’ll Fly Away
Invocation
O Merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the life; in whom whoever believes, shall live, though they die; and whoever lives, and believes in him, shall not die eternally; who also has taught us, by his holy Apostle Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for those who sleep in him; We humbly ask you, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in your sight; and receive that blessing, which your well loved Son shall then pronounce to all who love and fear you, saying, Come, you blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we ask you, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ our Mediator and Redeemer. AMEN.
Scripture Reading Rev. Hank Wilson
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. AMEN.
Word of the Lord Rev. Hank Wilson
Faithful to the End
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.
Homily
Homily
Go Rest High on the Mountain
I hope that this funeral causes us all to reflect upon our own mortality
How does someone, Like Lorena, endure what they did in this life and still smile?
She loved life, hobbies, and people
Why? What was her source of encouragement?
Vince Gil
Paul is encouraging Timothy to endure and keep the faith
This life is a fight
Between the living and the dead
Due to the fact that the world will turn from God
Paul was able to endure and keep the faith
A Christians faith is a gift from God
Paul is handing down the baton to the next generation
This faith becomes a source of strength for life
death is a reality
We can endure because of faith in God
Paul is preparing for the future glory
Paul’s faith endured to the end
Illus:
His reward awaits him shortly
Paul’s suffering
Shipwrecked, imprisoned, stoned, beaten, chastised by his church, brought before governors and rulers
Paul knew his impact on the kingdom of God
He knew that the eternal life was waiting him when this life was over
Lorena’s suffering
8 varieties of cancer, 11 total battles with cancer, given 10 hours to live in late 60’s, brief experience with death twice, etc . . .
Yet, she loved smiled every Sunday when she came to church
She loved dogs, embroidery, guitar, painting, dogs, and the most unlovable of all - people
she enjoyed life, even though the quality is questionable to many of us?
This was because she is a child of God
She like Paul ca say:
“ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
All because Jesus Christ is her Lord, and because of her love of the true God
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
App: Let us ponder our own life! What is our source of strength for getting through this life?
Is your source Jesus Christ who transforms pain and misery of this life into a smile and joy?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Word of the Lord Rev. Hank Wilson
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
*Benediction
Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. AMEN.
*Recession of Family