In PDF format: In Memory of Doug & Dottie Ferral
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
March 10, 2021
AS WE GATHER: Today we gather in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to remember the life of a mother and son—Dottie Ferral and Doug Ferral, 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 he or she has won the victory! Our struggle with sin and death, pain and sorrow continues, but his victory is complete! Our sense of loss can be overwhelming, but his victory is won!
OPENING SONG: “Amazing Grace” LBW 448
Text: John Newton, 1725-1807, Tune: W. Walker, Southern Harmony 1835 © 1978 published by Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia
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 brought 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.
CALLING ON GOD PSALM 91
Pastor: In the name of the Father, the † Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
People: will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Pastor: I will say of the Lord,
People: “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Pastor: Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
People: and from the deadly pestilence.
Pastor: He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge;
People: his faithfulness will b your shield and rampart.
Pastor: You will not fear the terror of night,
People: Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Pastor: nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
People: nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Pastor: A thousand may fall at your side, then thousand at your right hand,
People: But it will not come near you.
Pastor: You will only observe with your eyes
People: and see the punishment of the wicked.
Pastor: If you make the Most High your dwelling—
People: even the Lord, who is my refuge—
Pastor: then no harm will befall you,
People: no disaster will come hear your tent.
Pastor: For he will command his angels concerning you
People: to guard you in all your ways;
Pastor: they will lift you up in their hands,
People: so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Pastor: Let us pray. O God of grace and mercy, we give thanks for Your loving-kindness shown to Dottie and Doug 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.
DOTTIE AND DOUG’S LIFE IN PICTURES (Music)
OLD TESTAMENT: Job 19: 23-27
“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!”
GOSPEL: Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[g] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
SONG OF COMFORT: “On Eagles’ Wings” TOSB 155
Words & Music by Michael Joncas © 1971 by William J. Gaither, The Fellowship Publication, Edina, MN
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
who abide in His shadow for life
Say to the Lord,
“My refuge, my Rock in whom I trust.
And He will raise you up on eagle wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
and famine will bring you no fear
under His wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield
And He will raise you up on eagle wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
You need not fear the terror of the night,
not the arrow that flies by day,
though thousands fall about you,
near you it shall not come.
And He will raise you up on eagle wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
For to His angels He’s given a command
to guard you in all of your ways;
upon their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
And He will raise you up on eagle wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
WORDS OF COMFORT Pastor Lucke
Pastor: Heavenly Father, give to the family of Dottie, Doug 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: Give courage and faith to the bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the assurance of a holy and certain hope and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love who have departed in the faith. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Receive our thanks for Dottie and Doug and for all the blessings You bestowed on them in this earthly life. Bring us at last to our heavenly home that with him 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.
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 HYMN: “Eternal Father Strong to Save” Navy Hymn
Text: William Whiting, 1825-1878, alt. Tune: John B. Dykes, 1823-1876 © Public Domain
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm has bound the restless wave,
Who bade the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Savior, whose almighty word
The winds and waves submissive heard,
Who walked upon the foaming deep,
And calm amid the storm didst sleep:
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Holy Spirit, who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace:
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and pow’r,
All trav’lers guard in danger’s hour
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to thee
Glad hymns and praise from land and sea.
If you would like to make a donation in memory of Dottie or Doug:
Dottie
- The Philomath Food Bank
- Friends of the Family
Doug
- Atlanta Cancer Care Foundation
