Sunday, July 15

Words from Rev. Robertha Klauder, Spoken by Damon Steele


Friends,
we gather here in the protective shelter of God's healing love.
We are free to pour out our grief,
release our anger, face our emptiness,
and know that God cares.
We gather here as God's people,
conscious of others who have died
and of the frailty of our own existence on earth.
We come to comfort and to support one another
in our common loss.
We gather to hear God's word of hope
that can drive away our despair
and move us to offer God our praise.
We gather to commend to God with thanksgiving
the life of Joyce Elaine Parker Brock
as we celebrate the good news of Christ's resurrection.
For whether we live or whether we die,
we belong to Christ who is Lord
both of the dead and of the living.

From Psalm 46
 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in time of trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear
though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.
Though its waters roar and foam
though the mountains tremble with tumult.
The Lord of hosts is with us. 

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE LIFE
OF JOYCE ELAINE PARKER BROCK
O God, our strength and our redeemer, giver of life and conqueror of death, we praise you with humble hearts.
With faith in your great mercy and wisdom, we entrust Joyce Parker Brock to your eternal care.
We praise you for your steadfast love for her  all the days of her earthly life.
We thank you for all that she was by nature and grace to those who loved her.
We thank you that for Joyce all sorrow is ended and death itself is past and that she has entered the rest where all your people gather in peace.
Keep us all in communion with your faithful people in every time and place, that at last we may rejoice together in the heavenly family where Jesus Christ reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.
Amen













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