Memorial or Clarence L. (CL) Brady

Call To Worship

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13:1–7 NIV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Meditation

Fighter pilots have a way of living to the fullest

Last summer I had the privilege of riding in the back of an F16...

Exhausted by the end...

There’s a certain mettle…perseverance of spirit…a love of life that I think most fighter pilots possess.

That was certainly true of Brady

Fighter pilot, Science Teacher, world traveller

Husband to Jean for 72 years

Father of Susan, Mark and Michael

Grandfather to Harper, Caden, and Meagan

Whether it was as a fighter pilot, a teacher, or as an adventurer on one of many trips with family, he was a man who loved life.

He loved life so much that he was even willing to sacrifice his own in service to our nation.

Yet, his love for life was marked with a kind and giving spirit.

I can’t think of a better description of the love that Brady showed than that of 1 Cor 13:7.

1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

My impression is that Brady was a man who often had a smile on his face despite challenges.

That he persevered through challenges to make his world better

To make the lives of his students better

To make his family, this world, and our community better.

Through the tears, friends, allow these words of comfort from Jesus...

John 14:1–3 NIV

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

On May 16, 2022, Christ came back to bring Brady home.

As we grieve, though, may we all remember that there will come a day when you are reunited with your husband, father, grandfather and friend.

It will be an eternity without tears or illness.

It will be perfect.

Everything you loved about Brady survives into eternity.

One day, your love for him, and his love for you, will be made perfect when Christ returns.

Until then, remember him at his best, for that is the Brady that lives on.

Let Us Pray