* place for person’s name

Funeral Sermon
John. 14:1-7


14:1* ¶ “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 when 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 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, but by me.
7* If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.”

Another soul has gone onward, forward, upward, heavenward, God ward, homeward. Another soul has gone heavenward to the rooms Jesus has prepared for all who die in Him. Another soul has gone to live eternity with Christ. Another soul has found a new life in the heavenly mansion in the sky. Another soul has found peace and comfort with the good shepherd. Another soul has found the eternal salvation God has planned for all who believe. *________________has gone onward, forward, upward, heavenward, God ward.

For us the living, what of us?? What has the death of our loved one ______________meant to us? Pain yes, sorrow yes, loss yes, grief yes, a sense of emptiness, yes, but in the midst of these negative feeling there is the joy, the belief, the assurance that death doesn't have the final answer for ____________, but God through His Son Jesus Christ says, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God believe also in me. 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? And when 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."

God through Jesus has the final say for __________ and God says that ___________ is now resting in the heavenly mansion in the sky. ___________ is with God. Death for ___________ was a means to a new life, a new peace, a restful existence.

A poem by Helen Steiner Rice says:

"Death is a gateway we all must pass through,
to reach that fair land, where the soul's born anew.
For man's born to die and his sojourn on earth, is a short span of years, beginning with birth,
And like pilgrims we wander, until death takes our hand,
And we start on our journey to God's promised land,
A place where we'll find no suffering, nor tears,
Where time is not counted by days, months or years.
And in that Fair City that God has prepared
Our unending joys to be happily shared
With all of our loved ones who patiently wait,
On death's other side to open the gate."

As we wait on death's other side, we wait with sorrow, with a sense of emptiness, with the knowledge that we too are mortal human beings and one day we will encounter our own death. At the same time, we wait we joy, with the assurance the hope and the power of the resurrection await of us, too, who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Jesus says in this 14th chapter of John: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." In these words, we find the strength and courage to deal with our grief, Christ is with us, tomorrow will be brighter.

A poem by an unknown author says:" I am the way so just follow Me....Though the way be rough and you cannot see.....I am the truth which all men seek....So heed not false prophets, or the words that they speak.....I am the Life and I hold the key....That opens the door to Eternity.....And in this dark world,....I AM THE LIGHT TO THE PROMISED LAND WHERE THERE IS NO NIGHT!!!!'

I believe one way which God softens the grief and sense of loss when a loved dies is to fill our mind's eye with memories, with those still, quiet pictures of the times, the ordinary and the special times each of you have spent with ___________ as you walked with him as you were companions in the joint pilgrimage God gave to you.

There are those memories of spending many hours together to celebrate a special occasion or just the pleasure of enjoying each other's company. *****, ******and ***** you mentioned that ___________ was like a second father doing those things like taking you fishing, to the circus, and other things your own father did not enjoy. Cherish those moments, because they were filled with a special love which many people will never experience in a live time.

__________was the kind of man who enjoyed visiting with people and always had the coffee pot on at home to welcome a stranger into his midst. He cooked and kept house for his sister who was confined to a wheelchair, but he always had time for a stranger or visitor. *** you told me a story yesterday about a couple who came from Minnesota to buy a corn picker and tractor which ___________ had advertised in the paper. The couple answered the ad and came to Iowa to see the equipment. ___________ invited them in for dinner and from that meeting, these people became friends with ___________ and ****and they wrote letters and kept in touch for many years. The couple called you learning about ___________'s death and told you they had kept those letters all these years as a sign of the friendship that was begun that day when they came to look at a corn picker, but found a friend, ___________.

Helen Steiner Rice has a poem entitled "The Gift of Friendship" saying:

"FRIENDSHIP is a PRICELESS GIFT
that cannot be bought or sold,
But its value is far greater
than a mountain made of gold---
For gold is cold and lifeless,
it can neither see nor hear,
And in the time of trouble
it is powerless to cheer---
It has no ears to listen,
no heart to understand,
It cannot bring you comfort
or reach out a helping hand--
So when you ask God for a GIFT,
be thankful if HE sends
Not diamonds, pearls or riches
but the love of real true friends."

Not only did ___________ like to be around people, but he also liked to go fishing, alone or with someone. He would take ***, ****and *** whenever there was a chance to steal a few minutes away from work to go and enjoy the pleasure of dropping a line in the water, being surrounded by God's nature, waiting for the fish to bite.

A poem, author unknown, says this about a fisherman:

"WHAT IS A FISHERMAN???

In a fast-paced world that is wrapped up on frenzy and haste, a fisherman knows how to relax....He knows the joy of solitude.....He knows the tonic of silence....He's a fisherman....A fisherman is an optimist.....He knows the big one is always out there waiting....His eyes are more tranquil than the eyes of other men.......His mind is more at ease.....In a busy world he has time for things.....Time for things like sunsets and afternoon rainbows after a sudden shower.....Fishing is the silent sport......It refreshes the soul.....A fisherman is a loner.....No teammates, no coach, no cheering section.....He charts his own course, plays his own game......He wins by himself....He looses by himself.....Fishing is a one-man sport."

May God bless those memories which come into your mind's eye as you think of those times you spent with ___________. As we gather here today, one memory we all hold is the many times ___________ would usher at some else's funeral. He knew most people, as he lived all of his live in the same place, so as people would gather for a funeral, he would make them feel welcome, at home, as they would pay their last respects to a loved, a friend, a companion on the walk of life. As we gather to pay our last respect to ___________, his journey completed in the arms of the Heavenly Father, in the rooms God has prepared for each one who believes, that assurance, that conviction in the power of the resurrection can make us feel at peace, at home, welcomed here in God's house.

A closing poem by Ben burroughs says:" When someone you hold very dear.....departs and leaves you blue....and you're engulfed by floods of tears....here's what you ought to do......think of the many happy times.....God let you call your own.....and do not think of how it is......now that you are alone....For after all is said and done....what good are endless tears....when memories can dry your eyes.....with thoughts of happy years.....you cannot gain, you'll only loose.....by wearing sorrow's veil.....so lift your eyes and force a smile.....and you will never fail....and that is why I say.....Let memories of God-given times......drive all your blues away."

Jesus said,"Let not you hearts be troubled, believe in God believe also in me...In my father's house are many rooms.........

amen

---

* ________ person's name


Psalm 23

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou annointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

You have walked through that valley of the shadow of death these last few days. You have walked through that valley, as _______ struggled with her failing health in the last days, weeks, months and years. It has been a long slow walk through that valley of the shadow of death, a walk which has been difficult for all to endure. The emotions of the family have been frayed with the constant tension of the shadow of death looming on the horizon.

_______ fought death, she fought death with a spirit that knew life was more than this clay, fragile body. Life for _______ was more than her body failing her, life for _______ was a spirit of determination to keep alive for her family the relationships she long cherished, those of her children, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Through her fight, she knew her spirit would emerge victorious and it would escape the bonds of her body and rest for eternity. That was the spirit which we all admired. The spirit which would not give up. That spirit which surprised the doctors with its determination and courage has now been released, but not lost. That spirit has now been released, but it is still around, still affecting our lives and souls.

Frederick Knowles wrote a poem entitled "The Tenant" which speaks of the kind of spirit _______ had. It says:

"This body is my house----it is not I;
therein I sojourn till, in some fair sky,
I lease a fairer dwelling, built to last
Till all the carpentry of time is past;
When from my high place viewing this lone star;
What shall I care where these poor timbers are???

What though the crumbling walls turn dust and loam,
I shall have left them for a larger home.
What though the rafters break, the stanchions rot,
When death has dwindled to a glimmering spot!!!
Then thou, clay cottage, fallest, I'll immerse
My long-cramped spirit in the universe.
Through uncorrupted silence of space
I shall yearn upward to the leaning face.
The ancient heavens will roll aside for me,
As Moses monarched the dividing sea.
This body is my house----it is not I.
Triumphant in this faith I live, and die."

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

We have and will continue to journey through the valley of the shadow of death we find we are not alone, but Christ, the good shepherd is with us. As we walk through the valley of grief and loneliness, of sorrow and pain, of bewilderment and heartache, as we walk through the valley with our questions about death and suffering, we find we are not alone, for Christ walks with us, upholding us, guiding us, giving us the courage, the peace, the strength to walk. There is a lot about this journey through the valley of the shadow which we cannot understand or comprehend. We walk at times as if in a cloud or mist seeing only what is in front of us, but not seeing beyond. Because this journey is difficult, Christ, the good shepherd, walks with us and upholds us and guides us. He asks us to turn to Him as our source of strength. He asks that we place our burdens upon him as we heard Him say in Matthew's gospel earlier. He asks that we come to Him with our cares and He will give us comfort and rest.

Helen Steiner Rice says: "Whenever I am troubled and lost in deep despair......I bundle all my troubles up...and go to God in prayer....I tell him I am heartsick....and lost and lonely, too,...That my mind is deeply burdened....And I don't know what to do...But I now he stilled the tempest...and calmed the angry sea....And I humbly ask if in His love...He'll do the same for me...And the I just keep quiet....And think only thoughts of peace...and if I abide in stillness....My restless murmuring cease."

In the silence and stillness of the good shepherd, Christ our Lord, the loneliness of death, will cease. For in that stillness, Christ brings the relationship you had with _______, into the consciousness of your mind. For death does not end a relationship, but it is carried on I believe through that quiet peace and assurance of Christ. _______'s spirit is mingled with your's as the comfort and peace of Christ and the promise of eternity keeps strong the relationship which you developed with _______, your mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

I admire the relationship you children had with your mother. She raised you with a spirit of togetherness and you remained together as a family. Though some of you were miles apart, you never drifted a part. She was the cement which held the family unit together. Her busy hands reached out to you as you were growing up with the many tasks of a mother, peeling all those potatoes, even the little ones, while still tending the needs of all the children. As you grew, those hands reached out as she kept up with all the activities of a sprawling family. The family celebrations which brought all of you together saw her hands working in the kitchen making all that chicken everyone liked to eat. Then her hands reached out to all the generations as she would make out birthday cards and send them out along with anniversary cards to each generation. She had a knack of being able to remember all those dates of each member of her family. Those hands which touched her flowers with her tender loving care will be remembered in the Easter Lillie which stands here today.

A poet says this about hands: "The hands that washed the dishes.....and the hands that scrubbed the floor, are hands that we all cherish...they're the hands that I adored....the hands that sewed the buttons....and the hands that washed the clothes...are the hands that had more beauty.......than a red and blushing rose.....and the hands which soothed my tired brow.....and lead me to the light.....are the hands that mean the world to me......for they are always right.....that is why I found more beauty....and more love and tenderness.....in the hands of my dear mother, grandmother and friend.....for they were the hands that God did bless."


_______ loved her family. You as family members were special to her. She was the magnet which drew her family together and I believe her spirit in each of you will continue to draw you together even though her physical presence will no longer be felt. For the love she had for each of you will continue to be shared with each other in the years ahead. You will not forget your home, the ties you had with each other and with _______.

A poem says: "Up the road you will see a home.....built of love and hope and cheer....it's been radiant and beautiful...for many and many a year....you ask, how can a home be built....of the things of which I tell...well lend an and I'll relate....the story we know so well....for that house, dear friends, is entwined with love....because of the folks which lived inside......they dwelt there in a peaceful way....to the home they were closely tied.....it was built of hope....for 'twas hope that made....the dream of it come true....and the walls inside beamed with tender cheer....and teardrops were oh so few.....that's why I say it was built of love ......and of hope and tender cheer........"


Christ will continue to be with you as you mourn with the power and spirit of the resurrection and the certainty of a heavenly home for our loved one _______.

A closing poem by Ben Burroughs says:" When someone you hold very dear.....departs and leaves you blue....and you're engulfed by floods of tears....here's what you ought to do......think of the many happy times.....God let you call your own.....and do not think of how it is......now that you are alone....For after all is said and done....what good are endless tears....when memories can dry your eyes.....with thoughts of happy years.....you cannot gain, you'll only loose.....by wearing sorrow's veil.....so lift your eyes and force a smile.....and you will never fail....and that is why I say.....Let memories of God-given times......drive all your blues away."

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou annointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

amen