Makayla Brewster Funeral

WELCOME

We are gathered today to pay our final tribute of respect to that which was mortal of our deceased loved one and friend Makayla Lynn Brewster.

As we begin we are going to listen to a few of Makayla’s favorite songs. These songs are not typical of funerals but Makayla was not typical. As you listen to these songs and watch the slides take time to remember Makayla full of life and enjoying some of her music.

Songs

It is not hard to imagine Makayla full of life when as we listen to these songs yet it also drives home the fact that Makayla is no longer with us.

Every funeral is difficult but when we gather to say goodbye to someone that was so young it seems as if any word of comfort will fall short. In fact any words that I can share at this point may seem hallow at best.

That is why it is important to understand that funerals are not a time to come together to receive answers but to mourn our loss and celebrate a life lived well.

We come together to support one another in loss and we come together to allow God to help us as we begin the process of saying good bye.

To you members of the family who mourn your loss, we especially offer our deep and sincere sympathy. May we share with you the comfort afforded by God’s Word for such a time as this:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 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? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come” (John 14:1-3).

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26).

InvocatIon

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we come to you in this time of sorrow, realizing our utter dependence upon You. We know You do love us and can turn even the shadow of death into the light of morning. Help us now to wait before You with reverent and submissive hearts. You are our Refuge and Strength, O God—a very present Help in time of trouble.

Grant unto us Your abundant mercy. May those who mourn today find comfort and healing balm in Your sustaining grace. We humbly bring these petitions in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

READING OF OBITUARY

OPEN SHARE :

Reading Brianna Card

Memories of Pastor Stefanie Harris:

Beautifully unique! Those are the words that come to mind when I think about MaKayla. The sweet shy little girl and her mom walked through our church doors one Wednesday night several years ago. She didn’t talk much unless she brought her friend Bella with her. One EPIC Friends they were utterly disgusted saying they had the worst day at school. I asked why ,and it was because they had to watch the puberty video that day. I know I had a good laugh at their horror while she made one of her faces at Bella. I will never forget all her little quirky faces or her enchanting smile.

I will also never forget the day she publicly announced her love for Christ. She blessed me, by allowing me to baptize her. She was one of the very first children I ever baptized. I will never forget, blubbering through each and every baptism that day. A day I will forever rejoice over.

MESSAGE:

In talking with Makayla’s parents some of the words that they used to describe her were Witty, Big hearted, a leader, athletic, she loved playing sports and teaching others as Bri’s story demonstrated. She was quirky, sweet, loved animal, and had a smile that would not only light up a room but brighten the lives of those in the room.

She was Crafty as well Anthony put it this way there were many times where her room looked like a hobby lobby exploded in it. She loved to create and I am sure gave away some of those creations to people that were special to her or maybe just needed something to brighten their day.

All wonderful words and memories to describe anyone but not only could you use these words to describer her but you could know these words to be true by the way she lived her life.

Makayla made and impact on those that she was close to.

Her mom told me that many times when she would go through Makayla’s phone she we see text from friends who were struggling only to see Makayla responding in a loving and encouraging way.

Dad shared how she just loved people as they were. Her Grandma for example. As she struggled toward the end of her life and was not really herself Makayla did not hesitate to show love. She understood that her Nana was not herself and still deserved love.

Whenever I would see her I was always impressed by how genuine she seemed. Even though a little shy with me as she did not know me that well she was always kind and polite and seemed to genuinely love Jesus, her family and friends she exiplifind the Scripture 1 John 3: 18

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions

Makayla’s life was one that made a difference so while we may struggle with understanding and even say that her life was cut short it is important to take a lesson from her to make sure we live life well.

Not one of us is promised tomorrow. That is why it is so important to live in ways that matter today. So that when our day comes we can be assured that we will have left a legacy for others to follow.

There is so much to celebrate about Makaylas life…Which also means there is a lot to mourn at her loss as well.

We live in a society that is uncomfortable with mourning. In fact some believe that to mourn those that we loved is a sign of unbelief…yet all through out the Bible we see that wherever their is a funeral people mourned…The mourners were never told not to mourn they were not told to think on only the happy times…they were allowed to mourn.

In fact mourning is essential to life and to recovery.

Matthew 5:4

4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Today while we celebrate a life lived well…It is important that you and I take time to process what we have lost. That time will look different for everyone…for some they will be able to process a little more quickly than others.

But for some the mourning may take years or even a lifetime….There is no time line for grief…and it is important that we all allow everyone to move at their own pace so that they can find the peace that seems to be fleeting in this moment.

How do we move forward in the process you may ask? I would like to offer just a few suggestions.

Do not fixate on the why?

At some point we will all ask the question why has this happened.

We think that if we could just know why our loved one died so unexpectedly things would make sense. Yet one thing I know is that no matter how much we know about the why our mind still struggles to make sense. Partly becuase especially in this case there is not suitable answer for why Makayla has died.

This has lead to a trauma of sorts in our mind. A wound. And our mind is continually trying to look for ways to make things better to save Makayla but it always comes back to reality. We cannot bring her back. There was also likely nothing you could have done to change what happened and probably most important there is nothing that you have done to make this happen.

Sometimes things just don’t make sense no matter how many times we go through it in our minds. This may be hard to accept and it is part of the healing process but simply put there is no right answer in times like these.

This leads to another step in getting through this trauma.

Surround yourself with people that will let you grieve.

We are social beings. No matter how introverted you no matter how hurt you may feel the way to healing is not in isolation. In fact isolation is a sure fire way to stunt your healing process. When we isolate we trap ourselves into what I call the loop of doom.

We repeat negative and destructive self talk until we convince ourselves we can never be happy again. With no one to mourn and remember the good things about Makayla we will only see our grief instead of the beauty of the life we are in and how it was made better by those who have died before us.

When this happens we tarnish the memory of a life lived well instead of carry on what we have learned from that life.

Whether it is a few friends you trust or a grief sharing group or a local Church surround yourself with people that love and support you. Not people that reenforce hopelessness but help you over the rough spots you will encounter with love and respect.

Give yourself permission to move forward.

In moving forward we are not forgetting the one that has died but we are HONORING them. We will never lose the memories of Makayla as long as we live as fruitful and happy as we can in this life.

Lastly Let God bring you peace in your darkest moments.

James 4:8. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you….

God has not left you in your grief…He is with you willing to bring comfort as you develop a closer relationship with Him. It is in this that we have a promise of reconciliation with out loved ones at the ressurection of the world.

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Pe 5:10).

CLOSING PRAYER

Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of comfort:

Deal graciously, we pray with all of us who mourn, especially the family of Makayla and those friends closet to her that will feel the harshest sting of Makala’s death. Help us to cast all our cares on you that we may know the consolation of you love.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray for comfort.

Amen.

DISMISSAL