Dr. Blake George Sinclair May 22, 1962-March 16, 2022

Order of Worship

Welcome & Gathering

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Blake George Sinclair. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow….hope, in death….resurrection.

Obituary

Dr. Sinclair passed away Wednesday, March 16th, 2022, in Tyler. He was born May 22nd, 1962 in Baker, OR to Bill Oliver and Vannah Sinclair. Blake served as a green beret in the US Army and went on to become a dental practitioner after graduating from UT Health School of Dentistry. He lovingly served the dental community in East TX for 28 years. Blake was preceded in death by his sister Kari Sinclair, and his grandparents Pauline and George Alex. He is survived by his loving family including his wife, Heather Sinclair, daughters, Brooke Dreier, Brittany Phillips, and Taylor Sinclair. As well as his sons, Alex Sinclair, Kingston Sinclair, and Haydn Fleming. Also, his parents, Vannah Sinclair and Bill Oliver, brother, Gus Diamond, and 3 beautiful grandchildren, Nash Phillips, Lucy Dreier, and Cooper Dreier. He loved his family, friends, and his dental practice. He was passionate about fitness, and an avid car fanatic.

Pastoral Prayer

O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and of death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you, and that nothing in life or in death will be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Add prayer for family:

Heather

Kids: Brooke, Brittany, Taylor, Alex, Kingston, and Haydn

Grandchildren: Nash, Lucy, and Cooper

Vannah and Bill, brother Gus

Friends and family

Amen.

Will you join me in the Lord’s prayer as you are able:

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US, AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN

Celebration of Life

Paul and Keith?

Special Music: Learning to Fly

Sermon Message

John 14:23–27 NIV

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Pray.

Blake Sinclair

I just want to acknowledge that this is a hard place to be.

Or

It has been an honor to get to know Blake through family and friends this week. I was not sure what to expect coming over the other day with all the emotions and it touched me deeply to be able to hear from you all, kids, Heather, co-workers about this urban legend of a man.

I say urban legend because I heard about snake bites, broken bones, torn biceps, ironman triathlete, jiu-jitsu trained, crazy person, who loved deeply those in his circle and cared generously for those he had the opportunity to serve.

Sarcasm and twisted humor was his love language. Dependable, super-hero.

Accident prone like no other. In 10 minutes the family shared with me the most ridiculous injuries. Falling through ceilings, off retaining walls, he broke a toe in a schlitterban wave pool, bit by a snake while riding his bike to work....that is hard to do.

At work he was known for his gentleness and compassion. Gave away work and services as he felt led to and model for employees a generosity. He was a protector and more than a boss there.

He wasn’t perfect. He practiced his jiu-jitsu on his girls when they were 10 and set barbies on fire. He wasn’t perfect but he got a lot right.

And for all these reasons and of course how this happened…we are left in a gross place. What we loved, someone who shaped and influenced so many was taken. This is where our human loss is palpable.

Peace I leave with you

The text I read from John 14 would have the disciples feeling the beginning of a similar emotion. Jesus is preparing them for his death, resurrection, and departure. He is trying to teach them and prepare them for the mission that Jesus is now passing on to them. In the next few days they would see their leader die and that would be excruciating. Then Jesus knows they will have difficult days ahead as well and Jesus promises Peace….His peace.

Reminder today that God can be trusted in this space. A few observations, from the text:

1. His peace is unlike peace of this world

a. He has conquered death itself and is the resurrection. He has walked through the darkest valley so that in our dark valleys, we know we are not alone. Jesus has the last word…this is the only way that he can say....peace I give to you and it can mean anything really when our hearts are broken.

b. His peace is comprehensive. Not just a rest…but deeper than that. Biblical peace is about a setting things right that are wrong. Rebuilding and restoring. The world promises allusions of peace…but goodness we know anything resembling peace is fleeting and difficult to grasp. God’s peace, even if hard to grasp right now is comprehensive.

God is not in the business of making life all copasetic for everyone… God is in the business of turning this rotten fallen world around. Rebuilding.

C. One of the images of peace in the bible is of a rebuilding of a wall that has been broken. Pieces missing and the wall has lost its integrity. God promises peace which is the setting right and rebuilding. Family: God can and will rebuild what is broken here. It will also be different than it was before. Blake had this ability with a broken arm to keep on wakeboarding so that the events of the day wouldnt be squandered. Maybe he was just use to the injuries. Or maybe he was showing you how to keep on living even while being injured.

2. He is sending the advocate, the Holy Spirit, the testify to our hearts.

But God is not just an outside player in this story. He gives of his Spirit on those days when you just can’t. He promises to join them in the darkness.

3. And he is preparing a place for all of us that are in Christ Jesus. Blake is with the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord.

· Earlier in this text there is the guy named Thomas who begins to challenge Jesus… Wait youre leaving? Let us go with you! Jesus speaks words to Thomas so that we might hear them today… I am the way, the truth, and the life. Blake came to that realization, so even today we can hold onto that piece of hope.

So....Jesus offers them peace in their struggle. That peace is comprehensive, it is tied to his presence

Peace conditioned only by God’s presence with his people. Not on circumstances

“Total well being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence among his people.”

· It’s the peace that even when things are not all alright…we still know he is with us.

This is the steady and reliable truth today.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Commendation

God of us all, your love never ends. When all else fails, you still are God. We pray to you for one another in our need, and for all, anywhere, who mourn with us this day. To those who doubt, give light; to those who are weak, strength; to all who have sinned, mercy; to all who sorrow, your peace. Keep true in us the love with which we hold one another. In all our ways we trust you. And to you, with your Church on earth and in heaven, we offer honor and glory, now and for ever.

Amen.

O God, all that you have given us is yours. As first you gave Blake to us, now we give Blake back to you.

Here the pastor, with others, standing near the coffin or urn, may lay hands on it, continuing:

Receive Blake into the arms of your mercy. Raise Blake up with all your people. Receive us also, and raise us into a new life. Help us so to love and serve you in this world that we may enter into your joy in the world to come. Amen.

This concludes our service today. On behalf of the family, thank you all for being here. I would challenge the room to consider how they might love and support this family down the road. We will be tempted to share our condolences all at once today....

After these words of benediction the family will recess out and then we will be released by the ushers.

Benediction

The peace of God He which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.