Funeral Sermon

The goodness and mercy that follow us are not something we achieve for ourselves. They are given to us by the sheer grace of God. Were it not for God’s forgiveness, our sins and mistakes would quickly disqualify us for eternal life. But with God there is goodness and mercy, supremely evident in his Son Jesus Christ. Our life on earth and our life with God forever are the product of his grace alone.

This is something all of us do well to remember as we look now to the days ahead. The grief we feel and all the emotions that go with that grief can tempt us to unbelief and irrational behavior and deep and dark sadness.

Nevertheless, the goodness and mercy of God will follow us all the days of our life, giving us broad latitude to work through our grief and sorrow, and forgiveness for our mistakes. For it is not God’s will that anyone living or dead be separated from him forever.

We have gathered in this hour, not only to grieve the death of Suzie, but to give thanks to God for her life among us and for her eternal life now with God.

We have gathered, not only to mourn over how different lives will be without her, but to give thanks to God for how full life was when she was in our midst.

We have gathered, not only to consider the shortness and uncertainty of life in the church on earth, but to give thanks to God for his gift of eternal life in the church in heaven.

For the church on earth and the church in heaven are not two churches, but one church, even as the Lord who calls us into being is one Lord, the good shepherd of all the saints both living and dead.

copyright 2001 Maynard Pittendreigh

Ministers are welcome to use this sermon for their ministries.