Dear all this morning Glen went to be with his Saviour and Lord. He and those with him had been listening to the words of John Newton's hymn Amazing Grace:
1. Amazing grace-how sweet the sound-
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind, but now I see.
2. T'was grace that taught my heart to fear,
his grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
3. Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace has brought me safe this far
and grace will lead me home.
4. When we've been there ten thousand years
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we've first begun.
I know that many of you will feel as I do a great sense of sadness and loss at the passing of a loved friend, one who warmed our hearts with his quick smile, funny turn of phrase and infectious sense of humour. But I think what I will miss most of all is his passion to see others come to know his Saviour and his desire to help, spur on and encourage those of us who shared that love of Jesus with him.
Please in the midst of your grief remember Anne and the family. I was reading these words of Paul this morning:
"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4v13-18
Glen has fallen asleep in Christ and we who grieve have a hope that makes our grief distinctive, we grieve our loss but know that to die has been Glen's gain and that one day we will see him again when Christ comes or calls. It is this hope which is the consolation of all who mourn those who trust in Jesus as their Saviour, and it is this hope we are to encourage one another with in our loss.
Prayer: Father God we want to thank you for the life of Glen, thank you for everything about him which made him him. His willingness to dive right in and enjoy life, his readiness to laugh and make others laugh along with him, his love and care of others, his passionate conviction and loving service of his Saviour. Thank you that you have taken him home beyond all pain and suffering.
Father we pray for Anne, Ruth, Michael and the rest of the family we ask that you would sustain them with your word and by your Spirit through your people. Thank you that they know they do not grieve without hope.
Amen