Funeral for Alfred Jacquette

A Service Of Death And Resurrection for Alfred Jacquette

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable...

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever,”

On behalf of Mr Alfred’s children, Melanie, Marcia, and Alfred I welcome you all to his home church.

My name is...

Rising, Christ restored our life.

Christ will come again in glory.

As in baptism Alfred put on Christ,

So in Christ may Alfred be clothed with glory.

Here and now, dear friends, we are God's children.

What we shall be has not yet been revealed;

But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him,

For we shall see him as he is.

Those who have this hope purify themselves

As Christ is pure.

Hymn

Opening Prayer

Lord we gather in your presence today, we gather to remember our brother, father, and friend; we also gather to make a declaration. Our presence in this place is a testimony of his faith and our hope. Faith and hope in a life after death promised to all those who live this life for you. Lord give us a sense of your presence with us here today as we share - mourning the loss of life with Mr Alfred, the things left undone and unsaid; Be with us as we remember all the life we shared with him - the good times, the funny times, the time gave himself to us; and be with us as we celebrate a resurrection to the new life that Mr Alfred is now living as one of your children who trusted in your promise - today you will be with me in paradise.

AMEN

Old Testament Lesson:

Isaiah 40:28–31 NIV

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Witness

Friends and Family

William Alfred Jacquette, Sr., passed away on March 5, 2017, at his home in Sudlersville, MD, at the age of 99. He was born September 16, 1917, in Krum (Denton County) Texas. He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Jane Elizabeth (Headlee) Jacquette and is survived by his devoted second wife, Chantra "Ying" Jacquette.

He is also survived by his three sons and three daughters: Bill (Joy) Jacquette , Judy (Ted) Patnaude, Nancy Chambers, Wally Jacquette, Walt (Marti) Jacquette and Sabie Carey.

In addition he is survived by 14 grandchildren: Bill (Cindy), Andrew (Robin), and Michael (Caroline) Jacquette; David (Brenda) Patnaude and Suzanne (Randy) Vel; Jason Chambers; Matthew (Sally), Joe and Dan Jacquette; Tim (Crystal) and Lindsay Jacquette; Willis (Michaela) Brennan and Katie and Margo Carey. There are also 16 great grandchildren and one great, great grandson.

He was a Texan at heart. Loving farming, animals and the great outdoors. After graduating from North Texas State University, he married Jane in 1940. Always ready for new adventures, Alfred and Jane went by train to Washington DC where he worked for the U.S. Census Bureau. A little over a year later with one son in tow they moved to Annapolis, MD to work for the Naval Research Station where he picked up the nickname "Tex." After 4 years there, they wanted to see more of the U.S. and with 2 young children moved to Wyoming to work for the Bureau of Mines. Texas kept calling them back and they returned to Texas to Jane's hometown where the next 2 children were born.

Emmerson Cotton

They soon realized that the greatest opportunity for success was in the Washington, D.C./Annapolis, MD area. They returned to Annapolis and he spent the balance of his career there -- working for the Naval Research Station again and then the Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, MD and Washington, D.C. He retired in 1980 after 35 years of government service.

Eulogy

In retirement, Alfred took up flying and earned his pilot's license and bought his own plane. He and Jane flew around the country attending Flying Farmers conventions from Oshkosh WI to Lake Winnepesaukee, NH. Alfred was also very active in the Sudlersville Lions Club and received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. The award represents outstanding and dedicated service to the community and Lions International. He was also active in the Sudlersville Ruritans.

Several years after Jane passed away in 1998, he met Ying and travelled to her native Thailand, spending a month there to get to know her family and culture. Alfred and Ying married in 2007 and made their home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Sudlersville thoroughly enjoying the rural lifestyle and farming community. Friends, neighbors and family looked forward each year to the strawberry and blueberry harvests at the Jacquettes.

Kenny Hickman

They were equally supportive of each other -- Alfred taking her to driving school, tutoring in English and helping her prepare for her Nursing exam in the U.S. and Ying taking care of Alfred. She was able to re-establish her credentials as a Surgical Nurse and worked in Baltimore and at Chestertown Hospital.

Hymn

In the garden #314

New Testament Lesson

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Gospel Lesson

Please stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel

John 14:1–4 NIV

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

(ESV)

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

John 14:18–19 NIV

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

(ESV)

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

John 14:25–27 NIV

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(ESV)

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

In the garden #314

Message

Introduction

We are here to celebrate the life of Alfred Jacquette, to encourage his family and friends, and to spend some time with God.

You know that Mr Alfred was a blessing. But did you know that he was a gift from God to you.

His love for music

His love for creating

His love for sharing

It’s how he was wired, how he was created by God.

But all this was great about him… but it wasn’t what made him a great man.

What made him great was that he understood what gave the way he was wired significance, impact,

1 Corinthians 13:1–13 NIV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:1–13 NIV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This passage was written to the church to help them understand that yes each person was different, each person was created by God, each person was given different talents, skills, spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personalities, experiences…what we here call our SHAPE… but we are all shaped for the same purpose… to be an expression of God’s love.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

We got to experience God’s love through the way Mr Alfred made a song unique… took a piece of metal and gave it purpose… remembered the life of people long departed

When he shared that with us, he was sharing who God made him to be; and we knew he was sharing it with God’s purpose.. love.

He wasn’t a great man… he was living for a great God… that’s what made him special.

You may want to know that your SHAPE is in alignment with God’s purpose just as he did...

John 3:16–17 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

This gives our life purpose… Knowing this, living our life as a response to God’s love, letting him direct our steps and following him it what transforms what we are good at, to an expression of worship. This gives our lives eternal impact.

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

And I expect that Jesus was waiting for him, and the first thing he said was, “Well done Alfred! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Pray with me

Song

Precious Lord Take my Hand #474

Prayers & Commendation

Prayers & Commendation

God of us all, your love never ends.

When all else fails, you still are God.

We pray to you for one another in our need,

and for all, anywhere, who mourn with us this day.

To those who doubt, give light;

to those who are weak, strength;

to all who have sinned, mercy;

to all who sorrow, your peace.

Keep true in us

the love with which we hold one another.

In all our ways we trust you.

And to you,

with your Church on earth and in heaven,

we offer honor and glory, now and for ever.

------

O God, all that you have given us is yours.

As first you gave Alfred,

now we give Hearson back to you.

Receive Alfred into the arms of your mercy.

Raise Alfred up with all your people.

Receive us also, and raise us into a new life.

Help us so to love and serve you in this world

that we may enter into your joy in the world to come. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

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 trespasses, As we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,

The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

Here I Am Lord

Dismissal

Life is much more than an accident.

Where ever you go, believe God needs you there.

Now may the Father

Where ever you are, trust God has put you there.

He has a purpose for you being there -

Christ, to be alive in you,

to do something through you, no matter where you are.

Believe this and go in His grace and His love and His power.

Amen.

Now may the Father

from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

according to the riches of God's glory,

grant you to be strengthened with might

through God's Spirit in your inner being,

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

may be able to comprehend with all the saints

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Amen.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE:

In the midst of life, we are in death; from whom can we seek help?

Our help is in the name of the Lord

who made heaven and earth.

(, ALT.)

Listen, I will tell you a mystery!

We will not all die, but we will all be changed.

For this perishable body must put on imperishability,

and this mortal body must put on immortality.

Then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

But thanks be to God,

who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(, , 55, 57)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;

my body also dwells secure.

You, [Lord,] show me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy,

in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

(, , UMH 748)

PRAYER:

Let us pray.

O God, you have ordered this wonderful world

and know all things in earth and in heaven.

Give us such faith that by day and by night,

at all times and in all places,

we may without fear commit ourselves

and those dear to us

to your never failing love,

in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

9:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled and unfading,

kept in heaven for you.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you suffer trials

so that the genuineness of your faith may prove itself worthy

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Without having seen him, yet you love him;

though you do not now see him,

you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.

As the harvest of your faith you reap the salvation of your souls.

SCRIPTURE READING

Jesus said: "Very truly, I tell you,

unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains just a single grain;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Those who love their life lose it,

and those who hate their life in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me must follow me,

and where I am, there will my servant be also.

Whoever serves me, the Father will honor."

COMMITTAL:

Almighty God,

into your hands we commend your son/daughter #Name,

in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This body we commit to the ground

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

PRAYER:

Eternal God, you have shared with us the life of Alfred.

Before he/she was ours, he/she is yours.

For all that Alfred has given us to make us what we are,

for that of him/her which lives and grows in each of us,

and for his/her life that in your love will never end,

we give you thanks.

As now we offer Alfred back into your arms,

comfort us in our loneliness,

strengthen us in our weakness,

and give us courage to face the future unafraid.

Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another,

make us faithful to serve one another,

and give us to know that peace and joy which is eternal life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer:

BENEDICTION:

Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling,

and to make you stand without blemish

in the presence of God's glory with rejoicing,

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

be glory, majesty, power, and authority,

before all time and now and forever. Amen