Funeral

Memorial Service for Rowena Potts

On behalf of the family of Rowena Potts I wish to thank each one of you for being here today… and though today is a very difficult day the scriptures makes this promise:

Opening Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, we gather here today to remember the precious life of _Rowena Potts__ We also gather to say goodbye one last time and celebrate the life that she enjoyed here on earth and thank you for each precious moment and memory that we have had with her. Her life has touched so many in so many different ways. We pray that your peace and presence will be upon us during this time and we pray this in the name your Son, Amen.

Ps 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

And the bible also says;

Rom 8:35-39

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eulogies:

It is at this time that I would ask all those that would like to share something from the life of _Rowena Potts__ to come forward and do so at this time.

Message

Introduction:

As we gather here this evening to remember the dear and precious life of __Rowena__ I know that many of you are dealing with mixed emotions. On the one hand, there are emotions of great sadness. Sadness not for __Rowena__ because _Rowena_ is in a far better place, but sadness because we have lost a dear loved one.

But on the other hand, there is great joy knowing that because of the relationship that __Rowena__ had with the Lord Jesus Christ that she has already been in His presence. For the scriptures say in:

2 Cor 5:6-8 “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

And for the Christian there is no greater joy than to be in the presence of the One that loves them like no one else can.

So today is not a day of mourning but a day of celebration. It’s not a day of regret but truly a day of rejoicing. Today we come to remember the life of __Rowena__ and reminisce over all the special moments that we had with her.

You see__Rowena__ had a relationship that carried some wonderful promises found in John chapter 14:1-6. Let me read that portion of scripture to you.

John 14:1-6 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

I. The First Promise to Christians is that We Don’t have to

Fear Death. Jesus said "Don’t let your hearts be troubled"

1) We are troubled when we don’t know what is going to happen when we die, but Jesus has taken the fear out of dying.

a) He has conquered the grave and death so there needs to be no fear in our eternal future.

Rev 1:17-18 "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.

b) Do you know what the good news is this evening? Death had no hold on Him nor does it have a hold on us.

i) Because Christ conquered death there should be no fear for the Christian because through Christ we also conquer death.