Edna Kirby
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February 6, 2021
Pastor's Notes
They are phrases we have heard often these past few weeks… ‘a year like no other’ – ‘the year of Covid’; and every one of us longs for this to come to an end. Especially in a moment like this, when once more we stand at the graveside of one whose life has been taken by this virus.
In the early evening hours of Saturday, February 6th, my friend Edna Kirby lost her battle with Covid-19. And although she lived for nearly 95 years, this was still a sad way for her life to end – for she had been hopeful to to recover and receive the vaccine and go on living.
But instead, we find ourselves here today, doing what is right and honorable -- as we gather to say good-bye. As we do, I want to invite you to listen to the familiar words of Psalm 23 – and allow the Scriptures to bring to us a measure of comfort and encouragement.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs 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.
Prayer
Edna was one of the sweetest people I have known. She had a quiet, gentle spirit, she seldom complained or allowed her circumstances to get her down.
As I think about her life and faith, the words of the Apostle Paul come to mind: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
She has fought the good fight and finished her race. And for me, knowing that Edna’s faith was strong to the end, gives meaning to her life and death.
The Bible says…Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord, they will rest from their labor. Edna is now at rest. So, in a spirit of dignity and respect, we stand here to commit her earthly remains to this resting place.
While there is a sense of closure, we experience in laying a loved one to rest, I want to remind you, this is not the end of her story. For…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. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
This is the hope held out for us by faith—when our lives end here on earth, our journey continues in heaven. By faith, we have this hope and assurance in the Lord. And as I often say as we stand at the grave of a loved one – this where our convictions make all the difference.
So…Goodbye, Edna…until we meet again.
Prayer of Committal
For as much as it has pleased our God to call Edna Kirby to her home in heaven, we therefore commit her body to this resting place…earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust…in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This we pray, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs 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.
In the early evening hours of Saturday, February 6th, my friend Edna Kirby lost her battle with Covid-19. And although she lived for nearly 95 years, this was still a sad way for her life to end – for she had been hopeful to to recover and receive the vaccine and go on living.
But instead, we find ourselves here today, doing what is right and honorable -- as we gather to say good-bye. As we do, I want to invite you to listen to the familiar words of Psalm 23 – and allow the Scriptures to bring to us a measure of comfort and encouragement.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs 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.
Prayer
Edna was one of the sweetest people I have known. She had a quiet, gentle spirit, she seldom complained or allowed her circumstances to get her down.
As I think about her life and faith, the words of the Apostle Paul come to mind: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
She has fought the good fight and finished her race. And for me, knowing that Edna’s faith was strong to the end, gives meaning to her life and death.
The Bible says…Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord, they will rest from their labor. Edna is now at rest. So, in a spirit of dignity and respect, we stand here to commit her earthly remains to this resting place.
While there is a sense of closure, we experience in laying a loved one to rest, I want to remind you, this is not the end of her story. For…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. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
This is the hope held out for us by faith—when our lives end here on earth, our journey continues in heaven. By faith, we have this hope and assurance in the Lord. And as I often say as we stand at the grave of a loved one – this where our convictions make all the difference.
So…Goodbye, Edna…until we meet again.
Prayer of Committal
For as much as it has pleased our God to call Edna Kirby to her home in heaven, we therefore commit her body to this resting place…earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust…in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This we pray, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs 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.
