Funeral For Elderly Christian Lady

Funeral Service for Mrs. Frances k. Stone

From the pulpit of Bayview Baptist Church, Columbia, SC

Prelude Organist

Seated:

As we seek comfort today, we’re assured that Mrs. Frances Stone is with the Lord Jesus Christ; yet her death leaves a vacancy in our lives that no one can replace!

Our message today will be a message that Mrs. Stone would teach; centered upon the strength that God brings to our lives.

On behalf of the Stone family, and from the heart and soul of the fellowship of Bayview Baptist Church, I would like to express our deepest thanks to all of you who have expressed your sympathies to this family.

You have given freely of your tributes as well as words of comfort, and to you we are most grateful and thankful for your compassion and care.

Solo In the Garden

23rd Psalm K.J.V.

Prayer

Solo How Great Thou Art

Devotion

First Peter 4:12-13

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed”

The Bible constantly informs us there will be difficult times in life; yet the Bible is also clear that as we face difficult times, God is with us, there to comfort us, guide us and sustain us.

For God does not always calm the storm in our life, but He calms His chosen people in the midst of the storm!

Through the 80 years of her life, the Lord protected, guided, and supported Mrs. Stone.

Even though Mrs. Stone’s health failed her during the last couple of months, and her personal trials were great due to her failing body, God didn’t send her through the dark valley alone, but instead, He walked with her every step of the way.

What a wonderful example of Christianity and Christian service was the life of Mrs. Francis Stone.

She loved God, her family, her friends, and the churches of our community.

Over the years, Mrs. Stone served faithfully at her church, because being a member of Bayview Baptist Church meant to Mrs. Stone that she was going to be involved in the work God was doing in our church.

At Bayview Baptist Church, Mrs. Stone was a member of the Winsome Sunday School class, and she was also the assistant teacher for the Winsome Sunday School class as well as the assistant teacher for the Fidelis Sunday School class.

Mrs. Stone was a natural born teacher, and she would always be prepared to teach the weekly lessons because she would begin studying the Sunday lesson the Monday before she was to teach.

Mrs. Stone was also a member of our Senior adult group we call the Keenagers.

Our Keenager group goes on trips together, and is a support group for our church.

Mrs. Stone was a faithful and devoted member of our W.M.U, exemplifying missions in her life, mentoring missions to many young people throughout the years, and always supporting mission work at the local, state, national, and world levels.

Under the W.M.U. organization, over the years, Mrs. Stone served faithfully with our GA and Acteen program.

I can remember most recently Mrs. Stone standing before our fellowship during a Wednesday evening missions study and delivering prayers to God that would be intercessory prayers lifting us spiritually, because she gave so much thought and attention to her prayers.

Perhaps you are one Mrs. Stone has prayed for over the years, and perhaps your personal need was a need of intercession Mrs. Stone lifted up to God through a beautifully worded prayer.

Mrs. Stone often served in the ministry to our homebound members, rotating her turn delivering the worship service cassette tapes to those who are not physically able to attend church.

Even though Mrs. Stone faithfully served in many different areas of work in our church, the most important thing I can say about her life as her pastor is that one day many years ago, Mrs. Stone asked Jesus Christ to enter into her heart to become her eternal Savior and Lord.

That is the greatest accomplishment and highest achievement in her life.

We who have had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Stone, have been blessed by her life, for we have seen a glimpse of our Lord Jesus Christ living in her.

Friday night, God chose in His great mercy and wisdom to close the earthly door of life in Mrs. Stone’s life.

At the same moment God closed the door of her earthly life, God immediately opened the door in heaven for her to enter in; for God is with His chosen people in life and earthly death, into eternal Light and Life.