Call To Worship
Worship
Life Everlasting
The Essential Book of Funeral Resources
Object:
(I don't know that you can find better words to open a funeral service than those of the Psalm 23. Take note that I sometimes insert a few lines here and there to make the psalm more personal. The insertions are in brackets.)
The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want. He makes us lie down in green pastures; and leads us beside still waters, restoring our souls.
He leads us in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. And even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [I sometimes insert something like this at this point -- Even though she -- our loved one -- has walked through that valley now] we will fear no evil; for he is with us; his rod and his staff comfort us. [He has been with her -- and is with us now.]
In fact -- he has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies anointed our heads with oil so that our cups overflow. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us [Have followed our loved one] all the days of our lives; and we dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
(On occasion, I follow the use of the Psalm with the following commentary.)
Today: Renewed and soaring like an eagle.
Today: Comforted, fearless, feasting, full, and forever in her Father's house.
Makes you smile. For her at least.
I was reminded recently of the old illustration of the nature of death for the Christian. Imagine Gladys' life for a minute as if it were a candle. The candle is lit and placed in a window. It's dark outside, but the candle has a warm bright glow. It is inviting and comforting to see, and Gladys was like that. She was inviting and comforting. But then, the master of the house comes and lifts the candle to his lips and puts it out.
Some say, "Oh, the light is gone. Why has it been put out? We loved that old light. We needed it."
And all they can see is that the candle no longer burns.
But the Christian; even through tears of sorrow, turns and looks to the horizon and notices that the dawn has begun to break. There, at the edge of our sight, pretty pinks and soft yellows are appearing. And we know that the only reason the master has put out the candle is that the dawn has come.
The dawn has come for Gladys. Goodness and mercy surround her, and she has begun dwelling on the other side of the dawn, in the house of the Lord, forever.
Call To Worship (Psalm 23)
Leader: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want;
People: He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Leader: He leads me beside the waters of rest;
People: He restores my soul.
Leader: He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
People: Yea, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil;
Leader: For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
People: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Leader: Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
People: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
Leader: And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
People: Amen!
The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want. He makes us lie down in green pastures; and leads us beside still waters, restoring our souls.
He leads us in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. And even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [I sometimes insert something like this at this point -- Even though she -- our loved one -- has walked through that valley now] we will fear no evil; for he is with us; his rod and his staff comfort us. [He has been with her -- and is with us now.]
In fact -- he has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies anointed our heads with oil so that our cups overflow. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us [Have followed our loved one] all the days of our lives; and we dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
(On occasion, I follow the use of the Psalm with the following commentary.)
Today: Renewed and soaring like an eagle.
Today: Comforted, fearless, feasting, full, and forever in her Father's house.
Makes you smile. For her at least.
I was reminded recently of the old illustration of the nature of death for the Christian. Imagine Gladys' life for a minute as if it were a candle. The candle is lit and placed in a window. It's dark outside, but the candle has a warm bright glow. It is inviting and comforting to see, and Gladys was like that. She was inviting and comforting. But then, the master of the house comes and lifts the candle to his lips and puts it out.
Some say, "Oh, the light is gone. Why has it been put out? We loved that old light. We needed it."
And all they can see is that the candle no longer burns.
But the Christian; even through tears of sorrow, turns and looks to the horizon and notices that the dawn has begun to break. There, at the edge of our sight, pretty pinks and soft yellows are appearing. And we know that the only reason the master has put out the candle is that the dawn has come.
The dawn has come for Gladys. Goodness and mercy surround her, and she has begun dwelling on the other side of the dawn, in the house of the Lord, forever.
Call To Worship (Psalm 23)
Leader: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want;
People: He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Leader: He leads me beside the waters of rest;
People: He restores my soul.
Leader: He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
People: Yea, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil;
Leader: For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
People: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Leader: Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
People: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
Leader: And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
People: Amen!
