Funeral Phylis Gondrella

Welcome and Prayer

Offer gratitude on behalf of Gondrella Family for being here

Offer my personal sympathy to Gondrella Family

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 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 your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Prayer for comfort

Offer a Time of Sharing

Psalm 91:1–2 NLT

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

We met the Gondrella Family when we were doing church in a movie theater. They immediately became very active. When we began River Church they remained active. Phylis loved to cook and garden. She served in many ways.

As she has fought her battle against cancer, we prayed for her and with her. We went to her first Chemo graduation… one of our church members shaved his head when she lost her hair and changed his company shirts to pink…

Obit

Phylis Sutherland Gondrella peacefully entered into eternal rest surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the age of 62. Beloved wife of 43 years to Joel Gondrella. Daughter of Philip Sutherland and the late Florence "Flo" Sutherland. Loving and devoted mother of Joleen Gondrella Walls (Seth) and Amy Gondrella. She is survived by her four beautiful grandchildren, Elizabeth Walls, Kayla Walls, Blake Walls and Luke Bozeman. She is also survived by 5 sisters, 2 brothers and a host of nieces and nephews. She was born in New Orleans, LA, resided in Marrero, LA and presently in Gretna, LA. Phylis was a member of River Church and Celebration Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to any cancer research of your choice in memory of Phylis.

Allow Family to share memories

Message from John 14

As we gather today to say goodbye and to celebrate Phylis Gondrella, I know you are all dealing with great sadness. Even though we know she is not suffering because she won her fight, we will all miss her… and that’s ok.

Jesus makes some wonderful promises in

John 14:1–6 NLT

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Jesus makes several promises in this passage that should comfort us and even challenge us today.

1. As Christians we do not have to fear death.

John 14:1 NLT

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

Jesus says that we can trust him with our lives and we can certainly trust him with eternity.

Most of us become troubled because we don’t know what happens when we die, but Jesus takes the fear out of death.

Jesus defeated death and he is preparing a place for us in heaven.

John 14:2 NLT

2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

Father in Law – friend died on the table and it was a while before they were able to bring him back. While he was out, he saw heaven. He told my father in law, that he could not imagine how any Christian would possibly be afraid to die because heaven was such a beautiful place. He was no longer afraid to die. He said that while he was there, he felt totally loved and fulfilled

Most of us become troubled because we see death as the end of life instead of the beginning.

Paul tell us that

2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV

8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:1–2 NLT

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.

2 CO

Phylis’ life is not over, her address has changed. She has moved into a house in heaven that Jesus himself prepared for her.

ILL – Billy Graham quoted DL Moody - “One day you might hear that I have died. Nothing could be further from the truth because in that moment, I will be more alive than ever before.

Phylis life is not over, it’s really just begun.

2. Jesus prepares a place for his followers.

John 14:2–3 NLT

2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

What kind of place has Jesus prepared?

Revelation 21:4 NLT

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.”

Rev

She is in a place where there are no pharmacies, no chemo, no pain nor sorrow...

Heaven is the most beautiful place the mind of God can think of and the hand of God can create.

3. Jesus comes and personally receives us.

John 14:3 NLT

3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

When Phylis took her last breath here on earth, her next breath was the fresh air of heaven. She was face to face with Jesus who came to get her personally. She did not wander around… look through a long tunnel. Jesus said he would come and get her.

Phylis is experiencing something the rest of us can only imagine.

4. There is only one way to heaven - through Jesus

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

It doesn’t matter what denomination of Christian… you must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to go to heaven.

When someone we know and love transitions to heaven it make us think, what would it be like if it were me? You may be here today, asking yourself what would happen if it were you leaving this world.

Story of the son

1 John 5:12–13 NLT

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

1 John

If you have the Son… Phylis is on your future. story of David

How can you get the son?

Realize that God loves you and created you for a purpose.

Realize that your son separates you from God. ,

Ask Jesus to be your personal Savior and Lord.

Romans 10:13 NLT

13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Revelation 3:20 NLT

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Prayer of Salvation

Dear God, I know that my sin has separated me from you. Thank you that Jesus died on my place. I ask Jesus to forgive my sin and come into my life. Please begin to direct my life. Thank you for giving me eternal life, in Jesus name amen.

Close

Thank everyone for coming

Close in prayer