Memorial Service Draft

Tracie, I highlighted in orange what goes in the bulletin! Thanks! LCR

A Celebration of the Life of
Stephen Ament

Preparatory Music & Lighting of Candles                                    Sherry Greene

Steve's siblings light the candles of God's presence.

Words of Preparation                                                          Mark CR

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life.

Those who believe in me, even though they die,

yet shall they live,

whoever believes in me shall never die.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,

the first and the last.

I died and, behold, I am alive forever more.

Because I live, you shall live also.

Vocal Prelude    "How Great Thou Art"                            Vocal Solo

Greeting                                                                       Mark CR

Friends,

we gather here in the protective shelter

of God's healing love.

We are free to pour out our grief,

release our anger,

face our emptiness,

and know that God cares.

We gather here as God's people,

conscious of others who have died

and of the frailty

of our own existence on earth.

We come to comfort and to support one another

in our common loss.

We gather to hear God's word of hope

that can drive away our despair

and move us to offer God our praise.

We gather to commend to God with thanksgiving

the life of Steve Ament

as we celebrate the good news of Christ's resurrection.

For whether we live or whether we die,

we belong to Christ who is Lord

both of the dead and of the living. 

Invocation & Lord's Prayer                                                                              Mark CR

Almighty God,

whose will is sovereign and whose mercy is boundless,

look upon us in our sorrow and enable us to hear your word.

Help us so that, through patience

and the encouragement of the scriptures,

we may hold fast to the assurance of your favor

and the hope of life eternal; through Jesus Christ

our risen Savior, who taught us to pray saying,

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.
Lead us not into temptation but  deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever. Amen.

Opening Hymn     "Here I Am, Lord"    Blue Book

 

Words of Remembrance                                facilitated by Mark CR

          Introduction----Mark CR

          Family Memories--Grandchildren & Nancy

          Gospel Reading--Pam & Steve 
Reader 1: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

Reader 2: “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.

Reader 1: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 
 
          Conclusion---Mark CR

Blessing of Memories & Rose Ceremony with Luke 24:1-12         Mark CR

24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in, they did not find the body.^{[a] 4} While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. ⁵ The women^[b] were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men^[c] said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.^{[d] 6} Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” ⁸ Then they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Hymn   "Eagles' Wings"          Insert

Affirmation of Faith    From Romans 8                                       Unison Reading

We believe there is no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus,

and we know that in everything

God works for good with those who love God,

who are called according to God's purpose.

We are sure that neither death, nor life,

nor angels, nor principalities,

nor things present, nor things to come,

nor powers, nor height, nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us 

from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Musical Offering        "Forever Smiling"                                Vocal Solo
 

Prayers of Intercession & Commendation                              Don Sorrell

O God, our strength and our redeemer,

giver of life and conqueror of death,

we praise you with humble hearts.

With faith in your great mercy wisdom,

we entrust Stephen Ament to your eternal care.

We praise you for your steadfast love for Steve all the days of his earthly life.

We thank you for all that Steve is and means

to those who love him

and for his faithfulness to the church of Jesus Christ

as a member, a mentor, and a friend.

We thank you that for Steve,

all sickness and sorrow are ended, and

death itself is past and that he has entered the home

where all your people gather in peace.

Now, into your hands, O merciful savior, we commend your servant, Steve.

Acknowledge, we humbly pray,

a sheep of your own fold,

a lamb of your own flock,

and a child of your own redeeming.

Receive him into the arms of your mercy,

into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,

and into the company of the saints in light.

Holy one, by your Spirit, keep us all in communion with your faithful people

in every time and place,

that at last we may rejoice together in the heavenly family

where Jesus Christ reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Benediction                                                                       Mark CR

May God bless you and keep you.

May God's face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May God look upon you with kindness and give you peace.

Let us go forth in the name of Christ

Instrumental Postlude   "How Great Thou Art"                                      Sherry Greene