Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day
long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced
that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor
the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ
Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8
On Resurrection
Morning — when the dead in Christ shall rise, we shall
be gathered again in a glorious reunion. We will then have new bodies that will
never be sick, grow weak, or give out. Never again know pain or suffering,
or parting sorrow. But, until that time, we shall deeply miss our dear
one, even as we continue to treasure & celebrate his memory, and thank
God that we knew him, that he was in our lives.
For
the young men and women gathered here . . . I ask you to consider his life, his faith, his Saviour.
This was a man of faith and conviction, outstandingly so. And this faith was
placed in God as He understood it through the Scriptures that he loved. I ask
you that you would consider his life and his ways, and invite you also to
give yourself to the Lord with the same kind of courage, faith and
conviction. I invite you that in your own unique life and
calling, you too will lovingly and faithfully serve the God to whom
Laurence Evans gave His life.
The
faith of our fathers and mothers is passed on generation after generation.
That is evident in the family gathered today. And even if you're an onlooker,
it's never too late for any of us to begin to create a godly
dynasty. Who knows what is in your physical and spiritual DNA because
of the lives of:
David
Evans and Mary Harris (of Wales)
Thomas
Evans ~ Isabella Hargraves
William
McGregor Evans ~ Lottie Blight
Wilfred
Laurier Evans ~ Gladys Margaret St. John
William
Laurence Evans – Olive Wilson
(and
we can go on from there for a generation or three . . .)
Despite,
even, being misunderstood or persecuted, or experiencing times of
suffering and loss, the fruits and rewards of Christian faith experienced
even now, stretch and last into eternity.
And
now, let us remember:
The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want,
He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures,
He leadeth me beside
the still waters; He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in
paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake;
Yea, 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;
Thou preparest a
table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my
head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in
the house of the Lord, forever.
Inasmuch
as it has pleased the Lord to take from this life our dear brother, William Laurence Evans. . .
we therefore entrust
his soul to God Who gave it
& his body to the earth from which
it came,
—
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust —
in sure & certain hope of the
resurrection to eternal life,
through Jesus Christ
our Lord
who shall transform
our frail bodies
that it may be like
unto His glorious body,
according to the
mighty working,
whereby He is able to
subdue all things to Himself.
Let us Pray
Loving God, we
commend to you, our loved one
Give to us comfort & courage, as
we continue to feel the pain of parting — the sadness of this deep loss.
Grant peace, hope, and renewed faith
as we remain in the sure knowledge of Your presence.
For each family
member, friend loved-one we pray,
as together we draw
near to You in our sorrow.
We thank you for the
dear one whom we now surrender
into Your sure hands
& gentle embrace.
Teach us all to be ready, through faith in
Jesus,
for that summons Home that will one day come
us.
Keep and nurture us
all, in Your constant love and care.
And grant to us the forgiveness of our sins,
that we may be recipients evermore,
of the rich blessings given us - of Your mercy
& grace.
O Master, let us walk with Thee,
In lowly paths of service free;
Teach us Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
May we walk . . . In hope – that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broadening way,
In peace that only Thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master, Let us live.
And now, may the Lord bless you and keep you
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you
May the Lord lift up the Light of His countenance upon you,
And give you Hope – and Peace.
Amen.
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