Manuscript for the Graveside Service for Clarence Krause - November 28, 2020

Below please find the manuscript for the graveside service for Clarence Krause, Sr. 

May the Lord strengthen and comfort his family.  God bless them all.

In Christ,

Roy

Committal Service for Clarence Dean Krause, Sr.

Call to Worship:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. (2nd Corinthians 1:3-5)

Greeting:

We have gathered here this afternoon to praise God for the life of Clarence Dean Krause, Sr. and to mourn our loss with one another, to comfort each other in our moment of grief; to celebrate Clarence's life and all that he meant to all that loved him; to celebrate God's love for Clarence, and His love for each of us;

And to commend Clarence to God's everlasting love and care.

Opening Prayer:

Let us please pray:

Father of all mercies and God of all consolation, You pursue us with untiring love and dispel the shadow of death with the bright dawn of life. Give courage to this family in this their time of loss and sorrow.

Secure in Your refuge and strength, O Lord, reassure them of Your continuing love and lift them from the depths of grief into the peace and light of Your presence.

Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by dying has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life. Your Holy Spirit, is our comforter, You speak for us in groans too deep for words. Come alongside Your people, remind them of Your eternal presence and give them Your comfort and strength.  Amen.

Let us hear now this excerpt from the 3rd Chapter of Ecclesiastes:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Message:

When I spoke briefly on the phone with Becky the other day she told me that Clarence was a simple man, that he loved his family, he loved animals, and that he loved to dance.  She said that his was indeed a happy life.

She also sent to me a link to a video memorial for Clarence and I saw a man who looked to have indeed lived a very happy and loving life.  A man who served his country, and who loved his family.  Last night you all met and shared stories and memories and that I'm certain... was a precious time, a sacred time.  While at the visitation last night I saw the oh so precious photo of Clarence and his twin brother Clifford with their mother, such a great photo... what an absolute treasure.  Our loved ones are truly treasures in our lives and our hearts.

But, our loved ones pass from our lives far too quickly, time seems to race by us all and before we realize it our loved ones have gone on to be with their loved ones.  A never ending chain of love and influences passed from generation to generation.  A chain with nearly a life of it's own... for you see as long as we hold dearly to our loved ones memories, all those precious and sacred stories and events, as long as we allow their wisdom to mold our lives, as long as we remember... we are never truly parted.  And we know in our hearts that this physical parting that we experience today... is only temporary, for someday you each will see your loved one Clarence, in fact all of your loved ones, in your Father's home.

The promise of Christ soothes our wounded spirits with the knowledge that He conquered death and that the promise of life ever-after is available to us all.

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Praise be to God!

Let us pray,

We selfishly want to hold on to Clarence. It brings great pain to let him go. Living in the resurrection hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the trust of a loving God and in the promise of eternal life, we now commit Clarence's body to its place of rest. We will continue to mourn our loss, but his laughter will now warm the kingdom of God. We will continue to love Clarence, but God will now take care of him. We will continue to carry Clarence in our thoughts, but he will be kept safe in God's hands. Receive him in the arms of your mercy, O God, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace.  Amen.

Let us hear now these words of reassurance from our God:

PSALM 121

We lift our eyes up to the hills.

From where does our help come?

Our help comes from the Unseen One,

The Maker of the heavens and the earth,

Who will not cause our feet to stumble,

Our protector who never sleeps.

The Abundant One preserves us,

The Watchful One is our shelter and support.

The Vigilant One guards us from evil,

And keeps our Life-breath safe.

The Shepherd guards our going out

and our coming in from now unto eternity.

Hear now these words from our Lord Jesus Christ himself:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.

If it were not so,

Would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and will take you to myself,

So that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way to the place where I am going.

I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.

In a little while the world will no longer see me,

But you will see me;

Because I live, you also will live.

I have said these things to you while I am still with you.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

Whom the Father will send in my name,

Will teach you everything,

And remind you of all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”  

(John 14:1 – 4, 18 – 19, 25 – 27)

God has called you each to console the other, please accept this calling in the days, weeks, and years to come and be His comfort one to another.  Through your love for one another, He has shown His love for all of you, and for Clarence.  Praise be to God.

Closing Prayer and Benediction:

Let us pray:

In sure and certain hope that, as Christ lived and was the first to rise from the dead, we too shall have new life and will join our heavenly Father along with all the saints in a new and better place. We, therefore, commit our brother Clarence to the earth from which he was made, and lay to rest this mortal body that it might put on immortality. The Lord bless him and keep him; the Lord make his face shine upon him and be gracious to him; the Lord look upon him with favor and give him eternal peace.  Amen

Believing in the Resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we now entrust Clarence to the care of Almighty God and we ask Our Father to lead Clarence to the room made ready just for him. As we now commit his body to its final resting place; we commend his spirit to its new home. Rest eternal grant him; and let God's light perpetually shine upon him. Almighty God, as you once called our brother Clarence into this life, so now you have called him into life everlasting.  Praise be to God indeed.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and may His strong arms uphold you and comfort you in the days, weeks and years ahead.  May God's peace be forever upon your hearts.  Amen.