Sermon Tone Analysis

Obituary

Teresa “Terry” Bryant of Niles passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. in her residence.

She was 62.

Terry was born in Alexandria, VA on December 5, 1957, the daughter of the late Ronnie and Eunice Welling Watkins-Palmer.

She was a 1976 graduate of Warren JFK High School.

Terry was employed with home healthcare for a time but spent most of her life as a loving homemaker.

She was a member of Niles Christian Assembly and spent time enjoying church events.

Terry also enjoyed reading and creating beautiful crafts.

Her most precious moments were spent at family gatherings and she especially cherished her grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her lifelong companion, Ted Bryant; a daughter, Michelle (Ed) Kundel of Howland; a sister, Brenda Crocker of Niles; 2 brothers, Kenneth (Karen) Watkins of Howland and Junior (Faith) Palmer of Howland; 4 step-sisters, Joanna (Ron) Bowman, Angie Moore, Chris (Greg) Floyd and Irene (Keith) Leedy; and 2 grandchildren, Dorian (Makenna) Kundel and Kaden Kundel.

Terry was preceded in death by her father Ronnie (Mary Ann) Palmer and mother Eunice (Paul) Crocker; a brother Steven Watkins and a sister-in-law Patricia Watkins.

Amazing Grace

This song is one that is sung and played many times on days like today.

The origins of this hymn are telling.

Throughout his life John Newton suffered many different trials and snares, his mother died when he was 6, he was abanadoned by his crew in West Africa, forced to be a servant on a slave traders ship, some years later he would captain a slave ship, only to leave that profession after becoming vilolently ill.

Then ordained into the Anglican church Newton became a popular preacher and hymn writer, with Amazing Grace arguably being his most famous.

Newtons life was a journey to a faith that informed all that he did.

In the end he faught against the slave trade along side Willam Wilberfource.

Surely this is a testament to what Amazing grace really is.

Terry lived in the Amazing Grace of our savior.

She had a relationship with the Great Shepherd.

We are going through a dark valley today.We all have questions, we are sad, we are wondering why.

We are even a bit mad at God. It’s easy to say we want to celebrate the life of Hal, it’s easy to give lip service to the fact that we know where he is, and we do.

Hal is with the Lord.

Scripture makes that clear to us.

IF you have a relationship with Jesus.

I love what Paul says.2 Corinthians 4:16–5:8 (HCSB) — 16 Therefore we do not give up.

Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.

17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 1 For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. 2 Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven, 3 since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

5 And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.