4.8.35a 7.12.2021 Funeral of Terry Leathers

Order of Service Funeral of Terry Leathers 7.12.2021

Amazing Grace

Invocation/Welcome

Today we come to this hallowed ground to say our final farewell to Terry Eugene Leathers. In the opening verses of scripture we are told that God Himself formed the first man in His own image and breathed into him the breath of life. From the moment of our birth each of us is given by God the opportunity to maximize the gift of life He has given; until we are required to give account to Him. Furthermore we gather here today because of the Biblical hope of resurrected life in Jesus Christ.

Almighty God, We thank you for the gift of life and the opportunity to serve you.

We come before you today in this place to return to the elements the now still form Terry Leathers.

Our community mourns with his family. We ask you to bless and comfort his children.

We ask you to look favorably upon his friends, loved ones, family, acquaintances and colleagues Whose pilgrimage continues.

May your people provide the physical arms of comfort…

May your Word provide guidance today and for the future…

May your Holy Spirit bring your presence among those who mourn

In the name of Jesus, in whom the promise of resurrection is extended to those who believe;

AMEN

Go Rest High Upon the Mountain

Jealous of the Angels

Message

At this difficult time as we face mortality itself and wonder about the future I wish to share with you the comforting reassuring words of Jesus.

John 14:1–6 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.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus reminded His followers then and continues to reassure us by presenting us Himself not just to comfort us during our mourning but to make our own

resurrection possible. Through His…

Promise for us.

Preparation for us.

Provision for us.

Way

Truth

Life

Eternal life is not a mystery. It is the promise of an eternal relationship with Jesus through whose Spirit we may find comfort today.

Benediction

Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to take out of this world our departed brother, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. And we look for the general resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge the world the earth and the sea shall give up their dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed and made like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Would you pray with Me:

Father…We humbly ask your blessing today upon this family. We petition you through the Holy Spirit to comfort Terry's friends with memories of time well-spent.

We ask that you would give strength and wisdom to his children who must carry on from today without his guidance. We thank you for your strength and compassion and love. May each person present this day be touched by your presence with us in the valley of the shadow of death…

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24–25 ESV)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow