Sermon Tone Analysis

Invocation

This is the day the Lord has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it, even in the midst of our sorrow and questions and grief, because our God promised long ago to always meet us not only in our joys but also in our deepest pains.

I want to welcome everyone here tonight - those of you here in person at Christ Journey Church in Coral Gables, FL, along with those joining us online from around the country, including friends and family from Chicago, Indiana, Oklahoma, Navy shipmates from around the world.

I want to being by setting the expectations for this evening: at various points during this evening, you might feel sad, you might feel confused, you might feel joyful - you might want to laugh, you might want to cry - whatever you feel like you need to do, I want you to feel free to to feel whatever you need to feel.

Tonight, this space is yours - whether in person or online - this space and this time is yours.

It’s a safe space without judgment or shame, so please live into this space and feel free to be yourself.

May God’s Spirit meet us in this space here or wherever you may be joining us, and touch our hearts with his hand of peace and love.

Prayer 1

Will you please pray with me?

Lord, we invite your Spirit of peace to fill this place.

May your love warms our hearts and comfort our spirit.

Lord, we ask you to remove whatever doesn’t belong here - fear, worry, doubt - and instead, bring us your joy, hope, and truth!

Lord, we need you, fall fresh on us now,

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as we make this prayer in the holy name of your son, Jesus Christ!

Amen!

Scripture 1 - Psalm 34:1-18

1 I will praise the Lord at all times.

I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the Lord;

let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.

He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,

for those who fear him will have all they need.

10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,

but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.

12 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?

13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!

14 Turn away from evil and do good.

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Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;

his ears are open to their cries for help.

16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;

he will erase their memory from the earth.

17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.

He rescues them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Now, I’d like to turn your attention to the screens...

Jim’s Video 1

At this time, on behalf of Jim’s family, I would like to invite you to stand as we enter into a time of worship through song.

Please feel free to sing, if you would like, or reflect on the words of the next three songs...

Worship Video 1 - So Will I

Worship Video 2 - Build My Life

Worship Video 3 - King of Kings

At this time, I’d like to invite Jim’s youngest sister, Julie Pena, to share a few words...

Slice of Life 1 - Julie Pena - will introduce Joie Slice of Life 2 - Joie Correa

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At this time, I’d like to welcome Jim’s niece, Kaitlin Pena, to share a poem that she wrote in her uncle’s honor.

Slice of Life 3 - Katlin Pena - poem reading

I’d like to invite Jim’s nieces, Krisalyn and Tiffany Pena, to share a few words in honor of their uncle...

Slice of Life 4 - Krisalyn and Tiffany Pena

At this time, I’d like to welcome one of Jim’s sons, George MacDonald, to share a few thoughts about his father...

Slice of Life 5 - Son, George MacDonald

And last, but not least, I would like to welcome Jim’s daughter, Jennie Tew, to share a few words about her dad

Slice of Life 6 - Daughter, Jennie Tew

Please direct your attention to the screens for a video in honor of Jim’s life and legacy...

Jim’s Video 2

Scripture 2 - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

He comforts us in all our

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troubles so that we can comfort others.

When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Prayer 2

Will you please pray with me?

Lord, you are the living God among us, providing life for us now and forever through your son, Jesus Christ.

Father, we thank you for giving us Jim’s life, a man in many ways larger than life and called to lead and defend the very freedom that allows us to gather and worship you without the fear of harm.

Lord, what a gift you gave to all of us in Jim.

As his family, friends, and colleagues, he touched all of our lives with love, humor, and strength.

Lord, please help us work through our questions of doubt, anger, and sorrow for why Jim’s life ended so soon.

We need understanding coupled with the kind of peace that only you provide.

At times, this grief even seems too much to bear, but your love bears all things, so Lord help us bear this.

The kind of love you provide to us “never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:7, NLT).

We need your love now to help us endure through this tough dark night.

Lord, draw us to you and help us.

We make this prayer in the holy name of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen!

Message

I heard through the grapevine that Jim enjoyed a good M&M McFlurry.

I want you to close your eyes for a moment and imagine sharing your favorite McFlurry with Jim, hearing his laugh, seeing his smile, talking about the Bears, sharing a Navy story, catching geese by the lake...

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I want you to close your eyes and imagine tasting that sweet McFlurry with Jim and enjoying the sweetness of the moment.

Do you have that moment with Jim? Perhaps it was in childhood?

Perhaps it was just a few months ago?

I want you to take a mental snapshot of that moment, and freeze frame it.

Gaze upon his smile, listen to his laugh, and feel the tenderness of that moment shared between the two of you.

I want you to hold onto that moment and keep it tucked close to your heart.