In PDF format: 05-25-2019 – Brenda Schmisseur Life Celebration
Brenda Schmisseur
Celebration of Life
AS WE GATHER
Today we gather in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to remember the life of Brenda Schmisseur, and to proclaim the victory of Jesus Christ who has been raised from the dead. Both the Old and the New Testaments of the Holy Bible speak powerfully of the resurrection of the dead. Isaiah, Hosea, and Paul all remind us, “’Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Such is the wonder of the Christian faith. When a Christian loved one is taken from us in death, we have the assurance that she has won the victory! Our struggle with sin and death, pain and sorrow continue, but his victory is complete! Our sense of loss can be overwhelming, but his victory is won!
Stand (as you are able)
OPENING HYMN: Amazing Grace “Green Book” 448
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has bought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me;
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray. O God of grace and mercy, we give thanks for Your loving-kindness shown to Brenda and to all Your servants who, having finished their course in faith, now rest from their labors. Grant that we also may be faithful unto death and receive the crown of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
Sit
SPECIAL MUSIC: “Hosanna Chorus”
Played by Tom and Ellen Demerest
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Stand (as you are able)
GOSPEL MATTHEW 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Pastor: This is the Gospel of our Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
Sit
SPECIAL MUSIC “In Christ Alone”
Played by Tom and Ellen Demerest
Stand (as you are able)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
Pastor: Let us pray to the Lord, our God and Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
Pastor: Almighty God, You have knit Your chosen people together into one communion in the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Give to Your whole Church in heaven and on earth Your light and Your peace. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Pastor: Give to the family of Brenda and to all who mourn comfort in their grief and a sure confidence in Your loving care that, casting all their sorrow on You, they may know the consolation of Your love. Lord, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Pastor: Receive our thanks for Brenda and for all the blessings You bestowed on her in this earthly life. Bring us at last to our heavenly home that with her we may see You face to face in the joys of paradise. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Pastor: O God of all grace, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to bring life and immortality to life. We give You thanks that by His death He destroyed the power of death and by His resurrection He opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Strengthen us in the confidence that because He lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life nor things present nor things to come will be able to separate us from Your love, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
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 forever and ever. Amen.
BENEDICTION
HYMN: Blessed Assurance “Red Book” 16
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Brenda Mae Schmisseur passed away peacefully in her Corvallis home on March 20, 2019.
Born in Oaktown, Indiana, Brenda graduated from North Knox High School in nearby Bicknell, Indiana. Following high school graduation, Brenda moved to West Lafayette, Indiana where she worked a variety of jobs over the course of several years including secretary for the Northwest Methodist Conference Office, office supervisor at Purdue University, and airlines reservation agent for Irvings Travel.
While in West Lafayette, she met her future husband and lifelong partner, Wilson “Ed” Schmisseur. Brenda and Ed married February 22, 1969 and later moved to Corvallis in 1971 when Ed accepted a faculty position at Oregon State University.
While in Corvallis, Brenda worked as an instructional media aide at Crescent Valley High School, day care teacher at Zion Lutheran School, and librarian assistant at Cheldelin Middle and Corvallis High Schools.
Following her retirement from the Corvallis School District in 1993, Brenda turned her attention full-time to buying and selling antiques. Together, Brenda and Ed ran their antique business, Barton DeLoach Antiques, out of a shop adjacent to their Corvallis home. Brenda loved few things more than attending antique shows and shopping local antique stores to buy items for the home and shop. Customers who visited Barton DeLoach Antiques were greeted by Brenda’s jovial, yet matter-of-fact personality and came to expect entertaining conversation when she was around.
Competing with her love for antiques and shopping was Brenda’s passion for a beautiful landscape. The Schmisseurs’ Corvallis home was something you’d expect to see in Sunset magazine – meticulously maintained, with a wide range of blooming shrubs, plants and flowers. Brenda was constantly experimenting with new varieties and arranging, then re-arranging plantings to suit her vision of the perfect English garden. She took great pride in, and very much enjoyed, sharing the beautiful backyard garden, water fountains and beloved antique shop with friends and visitors.
Brenda had a strong faith in God and for many years was a devoted member of Zion Lutheran Church. Brenda and Ed served as youth group directors at Zion throughout their daughters, Amy and Angie’s, middle and high school years.
As Brendas’ health, and that of Ed’s, began to wane, visits from her beloved daughters, and particularly her granddaughters, brought her tremendous comfort and joy in the last few years of her life.
Brenda was preceded in death by her husband, Wilson Edward “Ed” Schmisseur; and parents, Melbourne A. Rigsby and Mervin E. Holcomb.
She is survived by sisters, Jean Phyllis Stevens of Evansville, Indiana and Linda Ann Jackson of Olympia, Washington; daughters, Amy Jo Grizzel of Ephrata, Washington and Angie Dee Schmisseur of Portland, Oregon; sons-in-law, Jeff Grizzel and Scott Radetich; and granddaughters, Campbell and Harper Grizzel.
Thank you for attending this memorial service to celebrate Brenda’s life.
All are invited to greet Brenda’s family and for a reception in the Fellowship Hall.
