Ro's Memorial Service

Thank you, Ben.

Rose family had a memorial service for her shortly after her passing, but I spoke with Marty this past week and they're going to share this service with their family members the link to it. We're recording it as well. So I greatly appreciate you all sharing your heart since it's so clear How Deeply row impacted each one of your lives here today and so many others who couldn't be with us. I wanted to share with you the words of her family as they wrote out her her story for her obituary. I think it kind of helps to put some of the the notes that you guys share and I'm in stories in context they wrote.

Robozzle as we have course know where they use her real name. I don't know if you guys knew that or not Rosalind imbecile. Whatever of course knows there is Roe was born February 19th 1931 to Sallie Mae. And Nicholas Medic in Lithia, Florida, she grew up among Strawberry Fields in Orange Groves with her six siblings, bro graduated from Pinecrest school and eventually move to Dade City, Florida while living with her sister Virginia there in Dade City and caring for her sister Virginia's daughter who had been stricken by pole. Otherwise, she would have been at Junior College. She met the love of her life Harley. They went out to lunch one day in Dade City and met this guy there at the lunch counter and eventually a relationship develop then and they were married on June 16th 1951. Her love with Harley but her passion in life was her three boys Harlan Marty and Joey. I know you guys probably met them and and and known them over the years as you've been friends with ro she participated in helping to raise the boys and and one of the things that Marty told me is that while their father was their official coach and different activities. It was their mother who taught them how to throw a baseball and throw a football and swing a golf club in the neighborhood kids would actually come to their house and roll would be out there pitching fast Balls to the neighborhood kids while they were playing baseball out in the street. I thought that was a pretty great great the story but in addition to loving her kid, she also participated in many activities in the community or she was a longtime member of the Presbyterian Church both in Dade City and when she came here to Tallahassee at covenant and she loved being involved in her church family and was always active in church Act Cities and events in Dade City. She was a part of the the newspaper there. It turns out that Rose in-laws purchased the paper there in Dade City. I'm so she work for the paper as she said. She had different tasks from doing things with ad copy to doing things with writing stories and eventually row and Harley. I came to own that paper and take care of it as well. But eventually they move from Dade City here to Tallahassee in 1969 and dinner time in Tallahassee. She worked at the Tallahassee Democrat. You know, she knew that newspaper business or she started to work there for a bit and then eventually she moved on to real estate where she was able to really enjoy personal relationships with folks all throughout the community and that the family would remark that if you ever went to Tallahassee don't get a taxi cab driver to drive you around just call row because she knows every city street and every nook and cranny and she's been Down every road and so for 35 years even over 35 years. She was a claim sales associate here in town as she won awards as a sales person of the year several times over she loved the beauty of the Rolling Hills and meeting new people as she was selling homes and helping them establish their lives together. She was in trainer there at the real estate firms that she worked with been invested richly in the lives of other sales people that were a part of the different teams that she was involved with one-timer. I think it was her son said hey don't you know, these are going to be your competition, you know what your training and all that and she said, oh don't worry about that and it turned out it was one of the things that she loved most about her job was building into the Next Generation. She was a mentor for her family for nephews and nieces who made their way to FSU is she cared for them as they were far away from home and he won who Metro loved her. She was a southern lady who made anyone feel right at home. She loved growing roses shopping with her sisters raising her family reading her Bible and watching FSU football. She survived by Harlan did Marty and Joey her son's as well as her sister Sally three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. I asked Marty about Rose experience in faith. I said did she grow up in a Christian home? And he said well, you know, her mom encouraged her every now and then to go to church but not not a real strong Christian home. So I said what how did she eventually become a Christian attend these churches while that came from her, you know, she came to know the Lord and developed a passion to serve him and you get to know him in the study the scriptures and as we reflect on Rose life. One encounter in scripture came to mind for me that I share with you as we close our service today. It's an encounter that Jesus had with a woman who had a very close relationship with and I know that he had a cross close relationship with row is well, we find it in John chapter 20 and it marks a moment in which all of human history changes would even the thing that we're experiencing today in death is cast in a very different light and light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and a hope that we could never anticipate or imagined or even dream of it became a reality. There's with John wrote about Mary's encounter with Jesus on that day. It was a few days after his crucifixion. Down the first day of the week John Wright's Mary Magdalene came to the Tomb of Jesus early while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Sushi Ran and went to Simon Peter in the other disciples the one whom Jesus loved and sending them they have taken the Lord out of the Tomb and we do not know where they have laid him. The Peter went out with the other disciples and they were going toward the tomb both of them were running but the other disciple outran Peter and reach the tomb first and stooping to look and he saw the linen cloth lying. They're the ones that Jesus had been wrapped in after his burial, but he did not go in. This time in Peter came following him and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloth lying there and the face cloth we should bet on Jesus's head not lying with the linen closet, but hold it up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who would reach the tomb first also went in and he saw and believed that they did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead been disciples went back to their homes. But Mary has been weeping outside the tomb and as she wept she stopped to look into the tomb and she saw two angels and white sitting where the body of Jesus head Lane one at the head and wanted to feet. They said to her woman. Why are you weeping? She said to them taking away my Lord. I do not know where they have laid him. Having said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her woman. Why are you weeping? Who are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener. She said to him sure if you have carried him away tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away. Then Jesus said to her. Mary it is odd.

She turned and said in Aramaic rabboni, which means teacher. Jesus said to her do not cling to me for I have not yet ascended to the father, but go to my brothers and say to them, sending to my father and your father to my God and your God Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples. I have seen the Lord and if he had said these things to her.

me to stand at the grave in a sense and we look through tears as we've lost one that we love deeply and dearly. It's an overwhelming and confusing and difficult moment. Can only imagine that the emotions that we feel in the loss of a loved one as we stand and reflect upon their life and the impact that they've had on us very similar to hers on that day. Through the tears in her grief on that day. She could not even recognize when Jesus approached her. She thought him to be someone else. The events that took place there at that tomb change the shape of human history and they changed the way in which we as Believers see death. Jesus Christ was crucified for Mary sins as he was crucified for the sins of those who have put their faith on him Facebook wrath of God in their place because God is a holy God and we are sinful people and yet on the third day that same God raised Jesus from the dead and is so doing unequivocally down to seal of approval on the claim of Jesus that we read earlier today in our service when Jesus preparing his disciples for his impending death said to them. I'm going to prepare a place for you and where I go. I will take you to be with me. Thomas asked Lord, how can we go to that place? Jesus was referring to his death and Jesus response was I am the way to that very place. I am the truth and I am the wife. No one comes to God the Father except through me. Here in the resurrection of Jesus Christ God's seal of approval on the claims of Jesus his work on the cross to die for our sin raising him until wife again is an unequivocal stamp on in witness that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Heaven and Earth. I am the resurrection and the life Jesus told them he who believes in me though. He die will live and whoever lives and Believes In Me will never die. Jesus Christ is the one who brings about the Hope even in the face of death. To the scriptures God's word tells us clearly do not mourn as those who do not have hope. But look to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the first fruits of what God intends. Little bit later in the scriptures were told plainly that when a Believer dies though. They are absent in the body. They are present with the Lord immediately. They are welcomed into the presence of the Lord that place the teeth prepared for them. One day when Christ returns, they're very bodies will be Resurrected. But this is the truth in the Assurance in the hope that the scripture offers to us even on a day like this. My picture Mary there at the tomb taking to find Jesus and to see him to care for him. Even in his death her surprise and his resurrected life i c r o o s I think about the relationship with the Lord that she pursued over the course of her life. And Dave as well as here in Tallahassee as you study the scriptures with her at home and visited others to invite them to the fellowship of of this church family simply to a church but to a relationship with this very one Jesus Christ. It was her Lord and her savior. I can only imagine now ISRO stands in those heavenly course in and sees things as they are so often we see through a glass dimly is the Apostle Paul says in this life, but now she sees face-to-face and know Jesus had to tell Mary that they don't cling to me for I have not yet returned to the father. I can only imagine that roof cleaning to Jesus has been welcomed into his rest and do a relationship with him that will endure forever more. What a Wonderful Grace that God has given to us as Believers, but even in the face of death itself, we need not fear because Jesus who died for our sins who reconciled us to God the father as we put our faith and trust in him and not ourselves as welcomed us into his presence for all eternity What's closed with a word of prayer today as we commend our dear sister row into the hands of the Lord? Let us pray. You oh Lord are our God. You are the creator of the heavens and the Earth. You made us in your image and by your spirit you have given life to our mortal bodies and death. We returned to you to give an account for our lives. The scripture teaches us that it is appointed for man to die once and after that to face judgment. Your word promises us that for those who are in Christ Jesus. There is no condemnation on that day because through Christ you have set us free from the law of sin and death. On this day O Lord, we have celebrated the life of our dear sister row, and we have grieved her death. We give you thanks dear God for all that she meant to us and we give you thanks for all that. She will continue to mean to us and we look forward to the day in which we will see her again. You've told us oh Lord that everyone who looks to the son and believes in him shall have eternal life and you will raise them up at the last day. In faith Rowe entrusted her life to your hands and by that same faith we commend her to you today. if your hands, oh Lord, we can mend our dear friend Ro a mother a wife a grandmother a great-grandmother a dear friend in the sure and certain hope But even as she lives with you today and spirit on the last day when you return to judge the living and the dead you will raise her up together with all those who have died in Christ and do we turn our glory and the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit we pray amen. Now May the peace of Christ be with you today as you stay here at the at the sanctuary to pray and remember your friend as you go throughout the day and think of her impact on your life May the peace of Christ be with you and May the peace of Christ be with you tomorrow as the events of this past month come to a close and the reality of Rose death sets in the Peace of Christ be with you to comfort and console you and May the peace of Christ be with you in the days ahead. As you learn to live apart from this one that you love so dearly for the Peace of Christ be your strength and your guide and may Christ himself be your peace for it is in his name. We pray in the name of the only one who has conquered sin and death who is rose again from the grave and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty and whose Spirit alone our souls and Rose Soul finds true Rest In The Name of Jesus the Christ we pray amen. Thank you so much for joining us today the family extended their thanks for your memories. We look forward to them enjoying getting to hear those things and we'll pray for them. I encourage you to do that in the days ahead. Thanks for joining us will see you guys tomorrow.