Funeral Manuscript for Dorothy Stotts, July 13, 2019

This past Saturday I presided over the funeral for Dorothy Stotts at Lampe Funeral Home here in Lake City.  Dorothy was a wonderful lady of 105 years, such a long and amazing life.  Please pray for her family and friends who will miss her until they are reunited in our Father's House.  God bless and comfort them all.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Order of Service – Funeral for Dorothy Stotts - July 13, 2019

Prelude: 

Call to Worship:
Heavenly Father, You have assured us that through Your Son all shall have eternal life. Trusting in Your faithfulness and mercy, we await that glory filled day when You raise us all to life in triumph and we shall stand before Your throne. Standing there with all Your creation made new in Christ Jesus, basking in the glory of Your eternal Heavenly Kingdom. 

Opening Prayer:
Dear Lord, we acknowledge Your presence here and come before Your throne this afternoon as friends and family of Dorothy Katherine Stotts. We are here because we loved her, and now miss her, and we want to cherish our memories of her, we want to honor her life, to honor her, and to support one another as we grieve her passing – a passing from life here with us to everlasting life there with you O Lord.

God, thank you for Dorothy, You formed her, you knew her, you walked with her through 105 years, and even now we have confidence that she is in your presence.
We thank you that you are a God of mercy, who promises to comfort us, particularly when we lose our loved ones, and so in these moments now, and in the weeks and months ahead, please bring comfort and mercy to us as we remember, and share fondly all that  Dorothy was to us.

In the mighty and holy name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.

Special Music:

Scripture Readings:
Let us hear now a Reading from the Old Testament:
Psalm 23  King James Version (KJV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Let us hear now a Reading from the New Testament:
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

Prayer:
Let us pray.
Dear 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 their loss and sorrow. Be their 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, our comforter, speaks 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

Message:  Pastor Roy Karlen – Woodlawn Christian Church 
Today I'm going to do something a little different with my message.  I am going to start off with a biography written for Dorothy by her daughter-in-law Linda.  Linda in her writing has touched on so much of Dorothy's life.

Dorothy Katherine Mapel, middle daughter of Thomas Layton Mapel and Eva (Gregg) Mapel was born April 14, 1914, at home in Lake Creek township.  She spent her growing up years playing with her sisters, Hazel and Ruth, doing farm chores, helping her mother around the house and in the garden, and riding their pony down the road to country school.  The family moved into Rockwell City during the time the girls attended high school.  Dorothy graduated in 1932, after taking Normal Training.  She accepted a position teaching country school in Lake Creek #5, down the road from her home.  Her sisters, likewise, took up positions in neighboring schools.

On April 30, 1939, Dorothy married Merle Stotts (an electrician), in the St. Francis rectory.  They lived in Rockwell City before moving to a small home in Sherwood (the little red house is still standing).  For four years, Dorothy ran the small grocery store out of the home and pumped gas.  The couple then moved to a farm northeast of Yetter, where they raised crops, milked a Brown Swiss dairy herd, raised hogs and chickens, and had a large garden.  Dorothy was active in all aspects of farming.  She taught Sunday school at the Presbyterian Church in Lytton.  They had three boys.  Michael was born in 1945, followed by Steven and David (both dying in infancy).

On January 21, 1968, Merle suddenly passed away.  Mike and Dorothy got the crop in that year, after which Dorothy made the decision to move into Lake City.  She took employment as a clerk at Ryan's Super Value for several years.  After living in several apartments, she purchased a small home on South Woodlawn.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren, Jennifer and Jason, and continued to garden on a smaller scale, adding beautiful flowers around her home.  She helped Mike and Linda during farming season, bringing out meals, helping them change locations, and watching the grand-kids on occasion.  She became a member of the Lake City Union Church.

About this time, her interest in painting bloomed.  She took classes from local artist Eileen Blaskovich, as well as other area classes and seminars offered.  She joined china painting clubs in Carroll and Fort Dodge.  Her skills grew as she did numerous oil paintings, beautiful porcelain plates, and dolls.  Her doll collection numbered over 50.  A small kiln was added to her workshop in the basement.

Dorothy also loved to bake, keeping the neighborhood kids supplied with fresh cookies! She also loved playing cards, joining several clubs.  Through friends Ruth and Sam Finley, she met Sam's brother Floyd.  They spent time together doing many social activities, including dancing.  Their companionship lasted until Floyd's passing.

After a fall, she entered Shady Oaks in the fall of 2014.  There she enjoyed the companionship of other residents and participated in the activities offered.  Church remained an important aspect of her life, attending whatever service was being offered.  Her health started to decline this past year.  On July 4, she said a final goodbye to this life.

She is survived by her son Michael (Linda) Stotts, grandchildren Jennifer Holloway (Derek Manchester) and Jason (Jecque) Stotts, great grandchildren Amanda, Amber, and Allison Holloway, and Jack and Dane Stotts.

Thank you, Linda, for preparing these memories to be shared today.

When I asked Mike and Linda to describe Dorothy to me they immediately answered that she was nice, that she never said a bad word about anyone, Mike never remembers her really being mad, she never complained, she wasn't one to ask for help, she was always active, she never smoked or drank, and her only vice was that she liked to go to the Beauty Shop regularly.  Oh, and they mentioned that she really loved her shoes, Mike said she had a least 90 pairs of shoes in her closet.

They told me how she'd overcome so much adversity in her life.  Her arm was caught in a wringer washer when she was a child and the doctor wanted to amputate the arm.  Dorothy's father Thomas wouldn't allow it, he took her to Chicago for treatment and there they were able to save her arm.  She lost one of her kidneys at an early age and went over 90 years with just one functioning kidney. Dorothy endured not once but twice the most heartbreaking event a parent can face, the loss of a child, her two sons Steven and David both dying as infants. She next lost her husband at an all too young of an age and then in that very same year, her mother passed as well.  Finally, in that last year of farming after Merle's death, Dorothy lost part of a finger in a stock chopper.

Still, through it all, she kept going and didn't complain.  She simply moved into Lake City and found new lines of employment and involvement. Dorothy just kept living and enjoying her life, as Linda said she met Floyd Finley and they shared many years of friendship.  She maintained her independence and kept driving well into her 90's.

Finally, though the time came that Dorothy had to move into Shady Oaks.  Mike and Linda said that they discovered that Dorothy would often forget to turn the timer on when baking cookies and only remember that she had something in the oven when the smoke detector would go off.  They wondered how many batches of cookies she burned.  She'd just dump the burned ones and start over again with another batch. Dorothy celebrated her 100th birthday at Shady Oaks shortly after moving in; and I have to say that having to move into a nursing home at nearly 100 isn't anything to be ashamed of, in fact, that in and of itself is quite remarkable.

There are so many, many stories that one can accumulate in 105 years of life on this earth, but I am going to let the rest of them be told by each of you during the time of gathering right after this service.

In closing, Dorthy was as mentioned, always devoted to her faith and regularly attended worship even after moving to Shady Oaks.  She had an unwavering faith in her Lord and a firm understanding of the importance of worshiping together.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Hebrews 12:1-3  New International Version (NIV)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Dorothy endured hardship, loss, and trails, but she never lost her faith nor her witness.  Ours is a great and wonderful God, a God who loves us and watches over us our whole life-long.  Let us, like Dorothy, never lose heart, let us always remember to smile and gently laugh, even while the world throws it's worst upon us... for we know that beyond all that we see and endure here, that our Lord and our Savior loves us.  And knowing that God loves us we are called to show, and express our love for Him and His children.

On July 4th, 2019, Dorothy Stotts was born anew into the Kingdom of Heaven and looked not only into the face of her husband Merle, and the faces of her two dear young boys Steven and David, along with the faces of all of her so many other loved ones that have gone on before her, but she also and most importantly looked upon the very face of God the Father Himself...  Praise be to God... 

Thank you, dear Lord, for giving us Dorothy to know and to love on this earthly journey.  Though we shall always miss her, we know that her gentle smile, today lights the very streets of Heaven, and its memory shall long be lit in the hearts and minds of those who loved her so very, very much.  Praise be to God.  

Special Music:

Final Instructions and Closing Prayer:
The family wishes for you all to join them in further celebration of Dorothy's life and a time of shared remembrances and closure, by gathering with them for snack bars and beverages in the room adjacent here at Lampe's.  The family will have a private interment at a later time.  Please allow this closing prayer to serve also as the blessing for the refreshments.  

Let us please pray:
O God, our Strength, and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we open our hearts to you just as we are.  We celebrate your gift of life freely given but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death.  The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken.  Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead.

We trust you. We love you. We know in Christ that your love is everlasting.  Nothing can separate any of us from your abiding care.  With you is eternal life.

With confidence, we now entrust Dorothy to your unfailing love and overflowing goodness.  Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with you, lift up this, your servant, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining.  We give you but your own, enfold her in your everlasting arms, hold her for she is your child.
Now strengthen us, through the gift of your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that you stand with us.  Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life.
Reassured of your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another.  Renewed by your love, help us to love in ever larger circles so as to embrace your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction:

Lampe Funeral Home

Funeral Manuscript - Mary Nelson - June 14, 2019 - Union Church

Friday I performed the funeral for Mary Nelson at the Union Church here in Lake City.  Pastor Randy was out of town and unable to return to perform the ceremony so I stepped in to help him, and more importantly the Nelson family in this time of grief.

May God comfort and reassure them in this difficult time.  Blessings and peace to both Susan, Scott, and all of Mary's extended family and friends.

Below please find the manuscript from the service.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Order of Service – Funeral for Mary Nelson – June 14, 2019

Entrance:
All Please Rise

Call to Worship:
Gathered in Christ's name, let us praise God
Who is our certain hope in all life's varied circumstances.
In the face of death believe the good news the scriptures proclaim:
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.
(Isaiah 66:13)

Please be seated

Greeting:
We have come together within the strengthening fellowship of friends and family:
to praise God for the life of Mary Ann Nelson;
to share our grief with God and with one another;
to reaffirm our faith in God's unfailing goodness;
to hear again God's promise of resurrection;
and to commend Mary to God's everlasting care.

Music:  Erin Blair - “Morning Has Broken”

Opening Prayer:
Gracious God, your love endures forever.  Your faithfulness is unfailing and all your promises are true.  The movement of your Spirit is evident even in our darkest moments.  Attend to us now in our grief as we trust you will.  
Speak words of comfort to our hearts.  Open us up to receive your hope.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Mary.
We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends,
to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.
In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn.
Give us faith to see death as the gateway to eternal life,
so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth,
until by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Let us hear now a reading from the Old Testament:
Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Let us hear now a reading from the New Testament:
Philippians 4: 4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Music:  Erin Blair - “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”

Message:  Pastor Roy Karlen – Woodlawn Christian Church
Good morning, on behalf of the family I would like to thank you all for coming here today to remember and to celebrate a life... the life of Mary Ann Van Heiden Nelson.

Mary Ann Van Heiden Nelson was reborn into the Kingdom of our Lord on Monday, June 10, 2019.  She passed into God's glory at Stewart Memorial Hospital here in Lake City.  Mary blessed the lives of her parents Anton and Bernice Van Heiden with her birth on April 2, 1927, in Ackley, Iowa.  She was one of nine children, sisters Betty, Abigail, Agnes, Janice, and Janet, and brothers William, Skip, and Sidney... all of whom have preceded her in their passing.  Sadly, Mary lost her father while still at a young age.  Her father worked as an electrician for the Town of Ackley and he was killed in an accident while working on a power pole.  After his death, Mary's mother was left to raise the children on her own.

While a young girl in Ackley, Mary worked for a time as a 'soda jerk' and then at the Canning Facility that was in Ackley in those days.  Mary graduated from High School in Ackley and after High School, she received her teaching credentials from Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls and Simpson College in Indianola.

After graduating with her teaching degree, Mary came here to Lake City to teach 4th grade at Lincoln Elementary School.  On August 8, 1959, Mary was joined in marriage to her husband Bernard Charles Nelson at the old First United Presbyterian Church in Lake City.  She continued to teach at Lincoln until her daughter Susan was born and then after Susan was older, she went to work at Central School as the School's Secretary in the mid-1970s.  Later she worked for a number of years as the Church Secretary here at Union Church.

Mary's husband Bernard was a farmer, their home was located to the North of Lake City. She and Bernard lived on the farm for 25 years living in an old remodeled Country School House.  Mary loved farm life and enjoyed helping her husband on the farm.  After Bernard's death in 1985, Mary moved into Lake City sometime in 1986 or 87.  She loved her home here in Lake City and it was very important to her right up until the end of her life.  This past winter she stayed down in Des Moines first staying with Susan and Scott and then living at Morning Star Assisted Living.  All the while she was in Des Moines she kept asking 'when are you taking me home'.  She loved Lake City and she wanted to get back here... to her home and to her house.  Susan and Scott brought her home the first part of April this year and she was delighted to be back in Lake City.

Mary was very active in a number of clubs and organizations, she was a 4-H leader, a member of the Monday Club, the PEO, the QC Club, Women's Circle at Union Church, the Book Club, the Lake City Country Club, and of course First United Presbyterian Church which became part of Union Church.  She always loved her church and was a very active and devoted member.  Mary especially loved to read, and she was a constant customer of the Lake City Library.  In fact, Susan said that at the end of Mary's life she would go to try and check out a book for her Mom from the Library and that she'd have a dickens of a time finding a book that didn't already have Mary's library number recorded inside it.  She was a voracious and dedicated reader.

When I asked Susan and her husband Scott for words to describe Mary they said; independent, resilient, self-reliant, and that she had a very strong work ethic.  That she loved golfing even though she hadn't played a round for nearly fifteen years.  You really should ask Susan or Scott to tell you about Mary's last outing of golf, she rode in the cart and putted a few holes, it sounded like she only teed off on one hole, but she liked to say that she'd played a round of golf.  It's a wonderfully charming story and there is no way for me to do it justice so I'll leave it to Scott or Susan to relay to you later at the luncheon or perhaps another day.

Susan mentioned the families annual pilgrimage to the Iowa State Fair.  She also remembered the family taking a trip to Colorado to see the mountains, but other than that, as is the case with many farm families they tended to stay pretty close to home.  Mary did travel more after Bernard's death however, taking trips to Italy, New York City, and Chicago with a group of friends. She always enjoyed her friends, going to lunch together, to church, or taking little day trips.  As I said earlier, Mary was an independent soul and she kept her driver's license and kept driving right up until the end.  In fact just last summer she decided she needed a new car and so she got one.

Susan told me that Mary loved to watch people, she liked to be out and about and seeing what was going on.  She also enjoyed being online with her computer and iPad.  She kept up on the news and current affairs both online and with the television. They said that she was on her computer all of the time, which is remarkable for someone of her generation.

Mary was always very close to her sisters Betty and Abigail. In reading the news article about Mary and Bernard's wedding I saw that Abigail was her Maid of Honor. Sadly, Abigail passed away last year and sister Betty passed away about a month ago.  Up until each sister's passing, Mary had communicated with them regularly.  She and Betty would talk weekly, generally on Sundays.

Scott described Mary as a cat with nine lives, she survived a battle with cancer about 12 years ago, she recovered from several broken bones, a hip, a knee cap, and a wrist, she recovered from gall bladder and pancreas issues as well.  Through it all, she just kept bouncing back, though at the end she did have some dementia starting to creep in.  It seems though that the loss of her two sisters hit her particularly hard and she was unable to pull through her most recent health bouts.  Just a month ago at Betty's funeral though Scott and Susan told me that Mary was very active, even venturing into the kitchen several times to try and help at the funeral luncheon.

I was told about how Mary loved her dogs out on the farm but it seems she was especially fond of cats.  Susan mentioned many cats growing up on the farm and to be honest the very first thing that Susan and Scott told me about Mary was about her cat “JJ”.  She was extremely fond of her JJ, he's a black and gray tabby who she received ten or twelve years ago from Jim and Joy Angrove.  Thus why she named him “JJ”.  JJ would sleep with her every night and wake her up in the mornings.  He even went with her to Des Moines and lived with her at Morning Star Assisted Living.  

Finally, there was another thing about Mary... one that Susan and Scott very much emphasized, and that was her deep fondness for the Lord's Prayer.  Will you all join me now in reciting the prayer that Christ taught to us, feel free to use, sins, trespasses, or debts, as is your preference...  Our Father...

Please allow me to share with you just a little bit about the Lord's Prayer, this may well be something that you are unaware of and which may very well change how you experience our Lord's prayer.  As Mary so very well realized, the Lord's Prayer is very important to us as followers of Christ.

We find “The Lord's Prayer” in two of the three synoptic Gospels.  It's found in Matthew and also in a more abbreviated form in Luke's Gospel.  What most people do not realize, however, is that the prayer is also found in a third location.  It is found in the 8th Chapter of a non-canonical document known as the 'Didache' which is also known as 'The Teaching of the Twelve'.  When we say a book or writing is or isn't canonical, what we mean is that it is or isn't in the Bible. 

Let's now consider the verses in the prayer, run them through your mind and notice in those verses that everything seems so focused on larger things... God's Kingdom, God's will, Earth, Heaven, and then we come to 'daily bread'... suddenly everything seems to narrow radically in focus.  We've gone from these amazingly big picture concepts... to worrying about the extremely immediate.  That word that is translated as 'daily' is the Greek word “Epiousios”.

Now... Epiousios is a very, very interesting and intriguing word.  The only real problem is that we don't actually know what the word means.  You see this word exists in exactly three places... only three places in all of the writings in the World... it is only found in the three readings of the “Lord's Prayer”.  And since for many, many years the Didache was lost, even though it may well be an older document than the two Gospels, it was lost for many years... so for much of Christian History we have only had two sources for this unique and unusual word, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke... in the prayer that Jesus taught to us.  Now since we find this prayer in only Matthew and Luke, and not in Mark's Gospel, it is highly likely that it originated in that undiscovered but hypothesized Document known as 'Q' for Quelle or 'The Source' in German.
But, back to just what does Epiousios mean and how did it come to be translated as daily.  Well in the fourth century St. Jerome was commissioned by the Pope to translate the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin.  This was the first translation of the Bible in its entirety into Latin.  When Jerome came to Epiousios he was uncertain just what to do with it... after all, it didn't exist outside of the Bible at that time... and of course later finding it in the Lord's Prayer in the Didache, doesn't help us today in translating it either...  So what he did was in Luke he translated it one way as 'Daily' and in Matthew, he translated it considerably differently.  In our modern Bibles only the translation from Luke the word 'Daily' remains and the meaning assigned by Jerome in Matthew has been almost entirely forgotten.

If we break down the word Epiousios we find that 'epi' means 'above', 'beyond' or 'super'... think of the word “Epic”... 'ousios' means substance, essence or necessity.  We come up with the word that Jerome used when translating the Gospel of Matthew, 'Super-substantial'.  Above substantial, super essential, something far beyond necessity... these all give us a considerably different meaning than 'daily'. 

Now we no longer have 'daily' bread but 'super-substantial' bread, 'super essential' bread, bread that is 'far, far beyond that what is necessary for mere survival'.   When we consider that Christ used bread as a metaphor... and what he used it as a metaphor for... we have, well the Eucharist, we have Communion, we have the bread of life, we have Christ Himself... 

We no longer have feed us for we are hungry, but feed us for we hunger.  We hunger for that relationship with God that comes through the celebration of the Lord's Supper, through the ceremonial celebration of communion.  Through a vivid and vital relationship with Christ.

It is important that we remember that when Christ taught this prayer to his Disciples, he almost certainly did not teach it to them in Greek.  Rather he almost certainly taught it to them in Aramaic.  We are left wondering what word or words did he use here that forced the writer of 'Q' to have to create a new word in Greek in order to try and grasp the depth of the meaning.  It would seem unlikely that it was a word as mundane as daily.  A word which can be rendered by at least 20 different ancient Greek words none of which is “Epiousios”.

Let's look at the Lord's Prayer again with this idea of the bread being 'Christ' foremost in our minds.

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 an abundant and unending relationship with Christ;
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
And the power
And the glory,
Forever.
Amen

Suddenly, that prayer takes on a whole new meaning.  A new deep theological meaning that honestly my modest preaching and teaching skills fail to adequately convey.  But be that as it may, perhaps now you'll think about the Lord's Prayer just a little bit differently whenever you recite it in prayer.

Mary had a great fondness for the Lord's Prayer, and today she surely is reciting it in all its fullness in the “super-substantial” presence of Christ Himself.  Praise be to God.

On this past Monday, Mary opened her eyes as a new creation in the Kingdom of Heaven, though we gathered here mourn her loss, let us all praise God for her great and wonderful reward in Heaven.  Praise God indeed.

Music:    Erin Blair - “Amazing Grace”

Closing Prayer:
The family invites you all to join them in further celebration of Mary's life and a time of shared remembrances and further closure, by joining with them in a luncheon in the Church's fellowship hall following the committal service at Lake City Cemetery.  If you do not wish to go to the graveside, please feel free to wait here at the Church for the family to return.  We will hold the blessing for the meal until the family has returned to the Church from the interment service.

Let us now please pray:  
O God, our Strength, and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we come to you today in mourning and open our hearts to you just as we are.  We celebrate your gift of life freely given but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death.  The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken.  Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead.

We trust you.  We love you.  We know in Christ that your love is everlasting.  Nothing can separate any of us from your abiding care.  With you is eternal life.
With confidence, we now entrust Mary to your unfailing love and overflowing goodness.  Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with you, lift up this, your servant, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining.  We give you but your own, enfold her in your everlasting arms, hold her for she is your child.

Now strengthen us, through the gift of your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that you stand with us.  Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life.

Reassured of your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another.  Renewed by your love, help us to love in ever larger circles so as to embrace your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction:
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His face shine down upon you, and grant you His peace.  Amen.

Committal Service 
Hear now these words from the 3rd Chapter of Ecclesiastes 3  (NIV)
A Time for Everything
3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

It is today time... for us to return Mary to her Father in Heaven. We gather here to lay to rest this body that has served Mary throughout her earthly life, knowing that we commit to the earth only that which is of the earth. The Scriptures teach us that our bodies are made of the dust of the ground and to the dust of the ground we will return.  But we are more than dust, for when God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life, man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7 says, “…the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

God the Father breathed a spirit into these temporary bodies, and that immortal spirit is what lives on today. These bodies serve us only as the temporary dwelling place for our eternal spirit given to us by God.

In 2nd Corinthians 5:1-5 we read, 
“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,  because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.  For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Mary has laid aside her temporary home... this earthly tent. It was made of this earth and to the earth, it shall return. But her spirit lives on with eternal life.  And now her spirit is in the hands of the same loving God who tenderly cared for her in life. He also has provided for each of us the promise of life everlasting.

The Bible promises that one-day earthly death will be no more. How we long for that day to come! Until then, may we live in anticipation of the time when we, too, shall lay aside the cares of this life, as Mary has, and take up the joys of eternal life.

Our hearts still cling to this body because it is so difficult for us to disassociate it from the one who lived in it. But really it is just a worn out garment waiting to be cast aside. It is altogether fitting and proper that we just now turn it over to the One who designed it for His will to be accomplished. We, therefore, commit this body to the ground and this soul... Mary's soul... to the Lord... Earth to earth, ashes to ashes and dust to dust, knowing full well that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and through her faith in her Savior, Jesus who is the Christ... Mary now walks the streets of Heaven.

Let us pray... Almighty God, we gather beside this grave today to lay to rest the body of our friend and loved one, Mary. We do so remembering another grave in another place—the tomb that received the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus came from the grave to live again, we know that all who die in Him shall never truly die. Thank you, Father, that Mary has finished the course, that she has kept the faith, and that she now has rest from her labors. As we commit her body to the ground, we do so in perfect trust, remembering Jesus’ victory over death and knowing, that because He lives, so too, shall we. Comfort our hearts through His words today; strengthen us now with His presence, and may Your grace and peace be ours both now and forever.
In Jesus’ name,  AMEN.

Let us please pray together the prayer that Jesus taught to us... Our Father...

This concludes our graveside service.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His strong arms encircle you and uphold you in your hour of grief.  God's peace and strength to you all.

Amen

Funeral for Joyce Hiler - October 11, 2018 at the Union Church, Lake City, IA

Below please find the manuscript for the funeral for Joyce Hiler that I performed at the Union Church here in Lake City earlier today.  May God's peace and comfort be to the family in this time of mourning.

In Christ,

Roy

Order of Service – Funeral for Joyce Hiler

Prelude: 

Entrance: 

Call to Worship:

Heavenly Father, You have assured us that through Your Son all shall have eternal life. Trusting in Your faithfulness and mercy, we await that glory filled day when You raise us all to life in triumph and we shall stand before Your throne. Standing there with all Your creation made new in Christ Jesus, basking in the glory of Your eternal Heavenly Kingdom. 

Greeting:

Today we have come together within the strengthening fellowship of friends and family: to praise God for the life of Joyce Hiler;

to share our grief with God and with one another;

to reaffirm our faith in God's unfailing goodness;

to hear again God's promise of resurrection;

and to commend Joyce to God's everlasting care.

Music: In The Garden

Opening Prayer:

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 their loss and sorrow. Be their 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, our comforter, speaks 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

A Reading from the Old Testament:

Psalm 23  King James Version (KJV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

A Reading from the New Testament:

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

Hymn:  Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore

Message:  

Pastor Roy Karlen - Woodlawn Christian Church 

Joyce Hiler, age 90, passed from this world in which we reside and into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior on Monday, October 8, 2018, at Shady Oaks Retirement Center.

Joyce was born at home in Glidden, Iowa on June 2, 1928, to George and Mary Ann Astleford.  Joyce was a town girl, raised in the big city of Glidden where her family lived.

On October 26, 1945, she and Paul Hiler were united in marriage. Their wedding was held in the Parsonage of the Methodist Church here in Lake City.  Joyce's sister Anna Marie was her Maid of Honor and the wedding was a rather quick event, due to Anna Marie needing to leave to go play in the Homecoming Band.  Paul and Joyce then went to the rollerskating rink after the wedding, which was appropriate as that is where they first met and began their relationship together.

The young newlyweds spent their honeymoon at Federal Dam in Minnesota.  When they arrived they went to the grocery store for supplies and the first meal that Joyce prepared for Paul as husband and wife was tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  The family told me that ever after, that was always one of Paul's favorite meals.

When I asked the family to describe Joyce for me they told me that her greatest quality was her unconditional love for her family.  She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren so very, very much.  She was never one to be judgmental and that everyone that met her just loved her.

They told me that she had a quick wit and how that wit stayed with her until the very end.  Not long before she passed she had an appointment with the ophthalmologist, he was checking on the progression of her macular degeneration, to which she asked: “are you calling me a degenerate”.  I'm sure the doctor was right then and there... made very well aware of her sharp wit... and will remember this quick exchange for years to come.

I was told how if you came to visit she could rustle up a meal in no time at all and that it was always great food.  The family shared with me how they always had a special meal that was made for every birthday in the family... this special meal was homemade pizza and red cake. This was a long-running tradition and even after Lonny moved away the family here would have pizza and red cake on his birthday to celebrate and in his honor. 

Terry remembered and shared how this tradition began, he remembered going to a restaurant in Storm Lake in or around 1960 and the family having pizza for the very first time. Well, Joyce enjoyed it so much she went home and worked on cooking pizza until she perfected her own homemade pizza.  The family told me how much the grandchildren enjoyed helping to make their own special birthday pizzas and how they each got to have their own little pizza made with their personal favorite toppings.  They also told me how the grandchildren now prize these little pizza pans that they used to help their grandmother bake their special pizzas.  What an absolutely wonderful and precious memory this truly is... God bless Joyce for making such a lasting impression on her family and giving them such a gift to always remember her by. In just a little bit we'll all sit down together and enjoy a meal of pizza and red cake in Joyce's honor and memory.

Joyce enjoyed and worked with a variety of different crafts.  She did upholstery, she did oil painting, and painted on porcelain.  Particularly, she enjoyed making porcelain dolls and dressing them.  For approximately ten years she had the first place doll in the doll making contest up in Fort Dodge, then finally one year... she got second place and she told everyone she was done... and she was...

She enjoyed doing ceramics with her sister and the family shall long cherish those pieces that they have from her including a nativity set that Bill said they still use each year.  She was simply a craftier-extraordinary able to whip out an Afghan in a day.

Joyce was a collector, collecting and enjoying various types of figurines, Hummels, bird figurines, plates, and especially dolls.

She liked to share coffee and conversation with her friends and family.  Her sister Mary and she would have coffee together nearly every day.  She also enjoyed having tea parties with her family.

She was a life-long member of the democratic party and she worked the polls for countless elections.  Joyce was always willing and interested to talk about politics and loved to do so.  She was a devoted member of the Methodist Church in Lake City and then the Union Church once the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches merged.  She loved to cook and to decorate for the church, working on many, many funeral lunches and other events through the years.  She also taught Sunday School for the children.

Joyce loved to babysit her grandchildren and told her husband Paul that “If the kids want us to watch the grand-kids we will watch the grand-kids.”  She enjoyed her grandchildren immensely.

The boys remembered going on family outings to “Center Lake” which is between Lake Okoboji and Spirit Lake.  The family had a homemade pickup topper/camper that they used for these outings and on one outing Terry and Bill remember Lonny trying to make bacon on the campfire.  They said it looked perfect but that when you went to eat it the bacon just crumbled into ashes.  Their father for years to follow always said: “it was the best bacon I never had”.  The boys also remember that years later their mother once accidentally burned and ruined the bacon and how their father was upset.  Their quick-witted mother pointed out “you liked it when Lonny burned it”.

Terry and Bill told me that their mother never raised her voice to them... once when Terry had misbehaved in some fashion she simply said “shame on you” which was apparently enough to correct any future aberrant behavior.  You'll have to ask Terry or his brothers for more details on that story.  The family also shared that Bill as the youngest was always the good one, it seems he to this day reminds his wife that “my mother loves me”.  I suspect you'll have to talk to Bill or Julie for clarity about that story as well...

The family also told me about how Terry likes to compete in auto racing, once his mother went to watch a race and Terry ended up going off the track.  That was the one and only time she would go and watch him race, she wasn't about to watch her son wreck.  Bill also told how when he wrestled in High School that his mother went to one match, after watching the other wrestle apparently trying to hurt her boy, she had enough of that as well and never came to another wrestling match.

The boys said that their mother was never much of an animal person but that their father loved animals.  He had Golden Labs and one particular lab was named Goldie, it seems that Goldie viewed Joyce as a bit of a rival as whenever Joyce would go along with Paul and Goldie for a ride in the truck Goldie would slide over and try to block Joyce from being able to get in.  Animals can be a bit possessive of their humans and it seems that Goldie was very fond of Paul.

Paul and Joyce raised their three boys on their farm near Sherwood.  Joyce continued to live on the farm even after Paul's death in 1997 until eventually she moved into Lake City and lived in an apartment.  She then moved into Shady Oaks in December of 2015.  Within a couple of days of moving into Shady Oaks, she suffered a severe stroke and the family was called in as she was unresponsive.  But that evening when the nurse came in to turn her over she sat up and started talking like nothing had happened.  This wasn't her first stroke, she suffered a number of strokes through the years but always seemed to bounce back even when the physicians had believed that she wouldn't.  She was in Rockwell City when she had her first stroke and rather than call an ambulance she drove herself to the hospital in Lake City.  She never wanted to complain and she never wanted to bother anyone.  Though she had a “Link to Life” button she didn't like to use it because she didn't want to make a fuss.  Joyce never wanted a lot of attention and if she's watching right now we can only wonder what she thinks of all this attention.  But she was and is greatly loved by her family and friends and she certainly deserves these moments of celebration and remembrance.

Julie said that Joyce was a great mother-in-law and that she had been so blessed to have her.  She said that Joyce always knew what Joyce wanted and how to get it, she'd simply state what she wanted to be done and then say “isn't that right Julie”.  

There are so many other memories and stories about Joyce and her life that need to be shared, so please do share them at the luncheon immediately after the service.  The family also invites those that wish to stop at Bill and Julie's home after the burial to enjoy each others company and to spend more time reminiscing and visiting.

In closing, let me share with you Proverbs 31:10-31:

Proverbs 31:10-31 New International Version (NIV)

10 A wife of noble character who can find?

    She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her

    and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,

    all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax

    and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

    bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still night;

    she provides food for her family

    and portions for her female servants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;

    her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,

    and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff

    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor

    and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;

    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,

    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;

    she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,

    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,

    but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Joyce's life was a ministry of love, joy, grace, and faith.  Hers was such a gentle ministry, not flashy, not boastful, just kind and genuine.  Each of us would do well to seek the inspiration of her life to motivate us to not only be better Christians but better human beings.  Human beings who love each other and who most of all love our Lord.  It is often said that we should live our lives with the understanding that our lives may be the only Bible that someone will ever read.  

Hebrews 12:1-3  New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Let us never lose heart, to always remember to smile and gently laugh, even while the world throws it's worst upon us... for we know that beyond all that we see and endure here, that our Lord and our Savior loves us.

Habakkuk 3:17-18  New Century Version (NCV)

17 Fig trees may not grow figs,

    and there may be no grapes on the vines.

There may be no olives growing

    and no food growing in the fields.

There may be no sheep in the pens

    and no cattle in the barns.

18 But I will still be glad in the Lord;

    I will rejoice in God my Savior.

On October 8th Joyce Hiler was born into the Kingdom of Heaven and looked not only into the faces of all of her loved ones that have gone on before her but into the very face of God the Father.  Praise be to God... 

Thank you, dear Lord, for giving us Joyce to know and to love on this earthly journey.  Though we shall always miss her, we know that her gentle smile, today lights the very streets of Heaven, and its memory shall long be lit in the hearts and minds of those who loved her so very, very much.  Praise be to God.  

Closing Prayer:

Prior to the interment at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Rockwell City, the family wishes for you all to join them in further celebration of Joyce's life and a time of shared remembrances and closure, by gathering with them now for lunch in the Church's fellowship hall.  The meal that we will enjoy shortly is, as I mentioned during the message, the family's traditional celebration meal of pizza and red cake, please let this time be a celebration of a life well lived.  And once again, after the committal services at the cemetery those who wish to visit and reminisce further are invited to Bill and Julie's home.  Please allow this closing prayer to serve also as grace for the meal that we are about to share.

Let us please pray:

O God, our Strength, and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we open our hearts to you just as we are.  We celebrate your gift of life freely given but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death.  The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken.  Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead.

We trust you.  We love you.  We know in Christ that your love is everlasting.  Nothing can separate any of us from your abiding care.  With you is eternal life.

With confidence, we now entrust Joyce to your unfailing love and overflowing goodness.  Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with you, lift up this, your servant, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining.  We give you but your own, enfold her in your everlasting arms, hold her for she is your child.

Now strengthen us, through the gift of your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that you stand with us.  Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life.

Reassured of your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another.  Renewed by your love, help us to love in ever larger circles so as to embrace your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction:

Postlude:  

Committal Service

Selfishly, we as mortals wish to hold on to Joyce. It brings great pain to let her 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 her body to its place of rest. We will continue to mourn Joyce, but now her smile and laughter will warm the kingdom of God. We will continue to love Joyce, but God will now take care of her. We will continue to carry Joyce in our thoughts, but she will now be kept safe in God's hands. Receive her in the arms of your mercy, O God, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of all your saints.

An excerpt from the 3rd Chapter of Ecclesiastes:

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.

Believing in the Resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we now entrust Joyce to the care of Almighty God and we ask Our Father to open the doors to his mansion and lead Joyce to the room made ready just for her. As we now commit her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we commend her spirit to its new home. Rest eternal grant her; and let light perpetual shine upon her.

God has blessed and enriched our lives in giving us Joyce to know and love here on this earth. Though our time together was not nearly enough, in committing her body to the earth, we give over to God the care of her spirit, and we acknowledge that we will one day reunite with her in God's Kingdom. The Lord bless her and keep her; the Lord make his face shine upon her and be gracious to her; the Lord look upon her with favor and give her peace.

Let us now pray together the prayer that our Lord and Savior taught us to pray... Our Father...

This concludes our graveside service.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His strong arms encircle you and uphold you in your hour of grief.  God's peace and strength to you all.

Amen