AS WE GATHER
Today we gather in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to remember the life of Dottie Bella 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, 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 he or she has won the victory! Our struggle with sin and death, pain and sorrow continues, but Jesus’ victory is complete! Our sense of loss can be overwhelming, but His victory is won!
Opening Song “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
Text & Music: Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993); 1938 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (Admin. by CURB | Word Music Publishing)
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on help me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Thru the storm, thru the night,
Lead me on to the light,
Take my hand, precious Lord,
lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near;
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall;
Take my hand, precious Lord,
lead me home.
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near
And the day is almost gone,
At the river I stand;
Guide my feet, holy my hand,
Take my hand, precious Lord;
Lead me home.
CALLING ON GOD Psalm 23
Leader: In the name of the Father, the † Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Leader: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
People: He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
Leader: he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
People: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Leader: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
People: Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Leader: Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray. O God of grace and mercy, we give thanks for Your loving-kindness shown to Dottie 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.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Job 19:25-27
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
EPISTLE READING Romans 8:31-35, 37-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
SONG OF COMFORT “Just As I Am”
Charlotte Elliott; William Batchelder Bradbury; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
Just as I am without one plea
But that Thy Blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God I come I come
Just as I am and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee Whose Blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God I come I come
Just as I am though tossed about
With many a conflict many a doubt
Fightings and fears within without
O Lamb of God I come I come
Just as I am poor wretched blind
Sight riches healing of the mind
Yea all I need in Thee to find
O Lamb of God I come I come
Just as I am Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve
Because Thy Promise I believe
O Lamb of God I come I come
WORDS OF COMFORT
Pastor Lucke
PRAYER
Leader: Father in heaven, give to the friends of Dottie 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 Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Receive our thanks for Dottie 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.
Leader: 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
ALL: 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.
CLOSING SONG “How Great Thou Art”
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds, Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r thru’out, The universe displayed
Chorus: Then sings my soul, My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
Then sings my soul, My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
When through the woods, And forest glades I wander
And hear the birds, Sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down, From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, And feel the gentle breeze
Chorus