1. Would the congregation please stand as we say the Lords Prayer together
.
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen. You may be seated
2. Words of Grace & Greeting: Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of “Larry Reed”. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.
3. Song Amazing Grace My Chains are gone
In Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 the writer tells us this:
1. The writer tells us in Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 it’s :
• 2It is better to go to a house of mourning (Funeral )than to go to a house of feasting (Partys) , for death is the destiny of every man; (Everyone dies) the living should take this to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
• 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, (Wise person thinks about death.) but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
•
2. Why would the Bible say that it is good to be here? We are not here because Larry died but we are here because he lived
• I say that because this is a time for us to remember the life that God gave Larry
• It is a time to share our memories and encourage and lean on each other.
• It is a time to grieve, for us not for Larry because Larry is more alive today than any of us.
3. It Good to be here because so we can share memories of Larry and because of memory Larry is always with us.
• It’s true that death can separate our loved from us in a physical sense, but they can still be with us forever in our hearts and in our minds. I am sure that each of you have many precious memories of Larry
• God has given us the gift of memory, so that we can keep our loved one always close....
• I remember what family members shared with me about :Larry He was warm hearted, kind, gentile, and a pleasure being around.
• Many men that Larry mentored at work as a machinist said, “He not only taught me the trade but he taught me more about life, importance of family, how to be a daddy, and how to treat others”
4. It’s good for us to be here because he would want his family here
• His family being the love of his life Patty who he built not only his house but built a She Shed for Patty. In October 26 would have been married 50 years.
• Pa Pow loved his grandson Max, He loved his dogs Lucy, Geni, and Woodi.
• Larry Loved His Church, He loved family time, Family meals, He loved time with his family. Loved riding the Harley, He loved races going to Daytona, Loved going fishing
• Larry loved to give my understanding he gave Christmas dinners for the men at work and often he would have fish fry’s as well. Larry loved life
• Larry was pretty wise as well Karen and Patty had told Larry that Gerald is here if you have any anxiety’s or fears about death Gerald can help you maybe. Larry said, “I think a man would be pretty stupid not to fear death.”
5. Jesus had a family. Jesus had heard that a family member was sick and that he died.
• He and his disciples (Family) left and went to the town of Bethany where Lazarus had lived and found out that not only was he dead but that he had been buried for four days.
• Jesus arrived 4 days after Lazarus’s death, each of these sisters ran out to Him at different times and said exactly the same thing:“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
• If he’d been there Lazarus could have been healed and he wouldn’t have died.
• When someone dies - we say why God? “Lord if You would been here Lazurus wouldn’t died
•
6. Notice Jesus had no profound words what do you say when someone goes?
• The Bible only tells us what Jesus DID.“He wept.”
• Jesus wept, today friends and family weep
• And those standing nearby said, “See how much He loved him.
• If you feel like crying today, it’s ok. If it was OK for Jesus to cry, it’s OK for you to cry.
7. What brought Jesus to Bethany? What brings us Memorial funeral home today?
• What had brought Jesus to Bethany, his love for his friend or family .
• Love is what has brought us here today. love for Larry
• Jesus knew that one day, we all will die and He took this opportunity to show the people in Bethany and us that death is not final.
• Remember he told Martha, He told her that her brother would rise again and then
• “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
•
8. Do you believe this family and friends?
• This is what Larry believed and now he is experiencing resurrection and eternal life
• Remember this: God gave us a precious gift Larry Reed it time we give Larry back to God and say thank you God for the gift of this precious treasure
9. Closing Prayer Kathy Matheny
10. Song I’ll Fly Away
11. This concludes our service for Larry Reed
