Bernice Dorothea Marsala
March 30, 1935 - November 10, 2022
perish.
John 11:25-26
Grace
Church Tucson, Arizona January 7, 2023
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will neverEvangelical Lutheran
The order for our service today is based on the Christian Funeral service in the blue Christian Worship hymnal (pages 274-277). Please join in speaking the congregational parts and singing the hymns as indicated.
REMEMBRANCE OF BAPTISM
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen.
In Holy Baptism, Bernice was clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covered all her sin. St. Paul affirms, “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
The apostle also writes, “All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!
GOD’S COMFORT
We have come together to seek God’s comfort in our sorrow and to rejoice in the promise of the resurrection. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christwho said, “I am the resurrectionand the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Death has been swallowed up in victory! Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
When Christ, who is our life, appears, then we also will appear with him in glory.
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus, you wept at the grave of your friend Lazarus, and you consoled Mary and Martha in their distress. Draw near to us who mourn the loss of Bernice, and dry the tears of all who weep. Calm our troubled hearts; dispel our doubts and fears. We thank you for bringing Bernice to faith and giving her the gift of eternal life. Strengthen us with your Word and sacraments, and keep us in the saving faith until we are united with you and all the saints where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Text: tr. The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, alt.; Magnus B. Landstad, 1802–1880, abr.
Tune: Christoph E. F. Weyse, 1774–1842
Text and tune: Public domain
READING 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
12 Now if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is pointless, and your faith is pointless too. 15 Then we are even guilty of giving false testimony about God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise, if it were true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then it also follows that those who fell asleep in Christ perished. 19 If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary was sitting in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the Last Day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. 26 And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Text: tr. Ernst W. Olson, 1870–1958; Carolina Sandell Berg, 1832–1903, abr.
Tune: Lofsånger och andeliga wisor, Sweden, 1873
Text: © 1925 Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199
Tune: Public domain
23
Oh how I wish that my words were written down. Oh how I wish that they were inscribed in bronze,
24 that they would be engraved in rock forever with an iron tool and letters filled with lead.
25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the end of time he will stand over the dust.
26 Then, even after my skin has been destroyed, nevertheless, in my own flesh I will see God.
27 I myself will see him. My own eyes will see him, and not as a stranger. My emotions are in turmoil within me.
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER
Lord God, heavenly Father, you are always with us, especially when our hearts are heavy with grief. Send us your Spirit so that even as we grieve we are filled with hope. You have convinced us that your Son Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that our loved ones who have fallen asleep in Christ are resting in peace with you. Let nothing shake our confidence in your promise that we will be united with you and them in glory forever. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
What great mercy you have shown us, Father in heaven! Through your Son’s resurrection, our hope is alive and our inheritance is certain. The bliss and security we will enjoy in your presence are blessings that will never perish, spoil, or fade. Shield us with your power and give us faith to trust in you in every trial until we inherit the glorious riches you are keeping for us in heaven. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, we see your abiding love in the kindness shown to us by family and friends. As we receive comfort and encouragement from others, we are experiencing your care. Help us bear all our burdens patiently. Be the strength of your people, now and in difficult days to come. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, support us all day long, till the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then, in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and T give you peace. Amen.
5 He lives to silence all my fears; he lives to wipe away my tears; he lives to calm my troubled heart; he lives all blessings to impart.
6 He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend; he lives and loves me to the end; he lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing; he lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
7 He lives and grants me daily breath; he lives, and I shall conquer death; he lives my mansion to prepare; he lives to bring me safely there.
8 He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same. Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!
Text: Samuel Medley, 1739–1799, abr.
Tune: attr. John C. Hatton, 1710–1793
Text and tune: Public domain
You are invited to a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the memorial service.
For those wishing to give a gift in memory of Bernice, a memorial in her name has been established here at Grace.
Grace Lutheran Church 830 N. 1st Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719