Joann's Funeral

JOANN’S Funeral

We come here today not to celebrate death but to celebrate life Joann’s life here on earth is over but her life in heaven with her beloved Savior Jesus Christ has just began.

Creation teaches that life can pass through different forms and that life may even come out of death.

-The caterpillar lives the first part of its life crawling on the ground.

-After fulfilling its course, the caterpillar curls up and seemingly dies.

Then out of that body a beautiful butterfly comes to life. No longer forced to crawl on the ground, it spreads its wings and flies upwards.

Joann has just left the cocoon and has spread her wing like a butterfly soaring over the golden street of heaven

Opening Text: John 11:25-26

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. 26 And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Opening Prayer:

Lord we come before you with thanksgiving, thanking you that this short life that we live, this vapor that is here one moment then gone is not the end of our life but the beginning. No longer does Joann have to deal with the uncertainty of this life but is now in the arms of a loving and merciful Father. I thank you lord for giving me this opportunity to know our dear friend Joanne. I ask you dear Lord to give Her a hug from us until meet her again in your lovely presence. -Amen

Song: When I cross that River

Scripture: Psalm 23 (King James Version)

Psalm 23

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

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

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

4Yea, 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.

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

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

Song: Amazing Grace

Address: Joann

Closing Prayer: Father I now ask you to comfort those of us that will be absent from Joann for a short while and let us realize that life truley is a vapor. It won’t be long until those of us that are prepare will soon be with Joann again.

Committal

Opening:

Blessed are the that mourn: for they shall be comforted

Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid.

Committal

Joann would not want you to cry for Her. He has just had Her big day

for the first time in Her life a King has rolled out the red carpet for Her and has put his arm around Her and said Welcome Home

Song: New Hometown

This place in time with so many troubles, pain, anguish and hurt cannot be home.

There is a better place!

Joann has just entered that place of perfect peace.

A place called Heaven

None of us are going to heaven because we have been good.

We are going to heaven because Christ died on that cross for us

– because Jesus paid the price for our sin.

---For each of us a time is coming when we will step from this life time and into eternity.

But is it eternity with God or without God? It makes a big difference.

Jesus Christ opened the “Door to eternity” when he died on the Cross just for Joann, and just for us.

Have you entered that door? A/C?

Song: I surrender

Prayer:

Help us Oh Lord that are still here. that you would comfort our hearts and fill us with the peace of knowing that our Sister has made it home.