5.2.37a 8.4.2021 Funeral of Karen Aker

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Entice: Every human being leaves behind artifacts. The better we live, the more lives we touch, the deeper the treasure of artifacts we leave behind. There are at least two kinds of artifacts we leave behind if we pour our lives into others and live so that others see Jesus in us.

Immaterial Artifacts are the profound memories and emotions left in the hearts and minds of those we love.

We have heard from Dianna regarding the artifactsKaren left in her life and the lives of her children.

Karen left artifacts in the lives of all those who ate meals she served and fundraisers worked at Sr. Citizens.

Her siblings, they have artifacts likely older than any who here remains.

And Karen’s nieces & nephews have their share.

Material artifacts are actual things. Items we can hold in our hand that will forever remind us of the one we loved and lost.

If Karen fixed your sink or put together a desk for you you have that tangible reminder, that artifact of how she touched you.

Here is a material artifact from around our church. (Show the low bench.) I cannot count the number of times I saw Karen locking the front door of the Church-house after worship standing on this very stool. For the rest of my life I will look at that bench and think of her servant's heart.

Engage: We see this in the NT in the example of a Lady named Dorcas, or Tabitha.

Acts 9:36–41 ESV

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Expand: We each largely choose the kind of testimony, legacy—the artifacts we leave behind. Karen chose to touch others with the practical, demonstrable love of God. I would suggest that her most lasting legacy was her choice to follow Jesus, to trust Him in faith, and await her own resurrection in celebrating His.

Explore: When we are in Jesus we find our eternal identity.

Explain: She Was...

A disciple.

Following Jesus.

Fellowshipping with His people.

She Was...

A doer.

Of course Karen knew that good deeds don’t earn us a place in heaven. But for heaven’s sake we should do what we can to make the kingdom of heaven present here and now! And Karen following the example of Tabitha did! Through...

Good Works

Acts of Charity

Concrete contributions.

Shut Down:

So even as we mourn today, we remember a well-lived life and begin the process of cherishing the artifacts she left behind.

In those infant days of the early church, Tabitha was only temporarily restored to life and presented alive to her friends. She had to face death again.

Like Karen she laid down and took her last breath. This time however Tabitha…and Karen too did not wake to   look into the eyes of the fisherman turned apostle. Instead, on awaking, she looked into the eyes of the Savior by whose resurrection her eternal life-and ours-is empowered. She heard her name and met the Master.

So we see her mortal remains which we shall soon return to the elements from which they were formed. And she takes her place in the presence of the Master and awaits our own matriculation.