Address, Celebration of Life for Darlene June (Williams) Jaycox
April 12, 2019
Prayer: Father in heaven, we invite you to dwell in us today as we both grieve and celebrate the ending of mom’s life here on earth, the beginning of her life in heaven.
When I was quite small, Mom read fairy tales to me. I would inevitably cry at the pinnacle of the conflict in the plot. She would threaten to stop reading, and I would beg her not to. Lack of closure is often worse than unhappy plot points themselves. I NEEDED to know how it ended.
I remember one time she declared she would read nothing but Bible stories to me because she didn’t want me to cry. She then proceeded to read the story of Ruth to me…and of course, I was sobbing from the get go. She was, of course, more reluctant to threaten to stop reading a Bible story…
Fairy tales, and Ruth’s story, all have happy endings. On this earth, we know that closure does not always bring a happy ending. But closure is ultimately satisfying. And there can be hope of something more in death.
As a Christ-follower, mom’s happy ending has culminated in new life in Jesus Christ. How can this be so?
Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Why did Jesus do this? Because of love.
As Christians, we affirm:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…Gen 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…John 1
We affirm:
The Son is the image of the invisible God, firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created…Col 1:15-16
In Him we live and move and have our being…Act 17:28
We affirm:
The gospel of God, promised beforehand…born of a descendant of David, in human flesh, (is) Jesus Christ, Our Lord…Rom 1:1-6
We affirm:
That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…that He appeared to Peter, the twelve…James, all the apostles…and Paul…1 Cor 15:3-8
We affirm:
That one day, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow…Phil 2:10
Please bow your heads and meditate for a few minutes on the unconditional love of God.
Song: I Have Never Been Unloved
There is a lot of turmoil in this family. Through it all, I always knew that I was loved, both by my parents, and by God. That is the best tribute any mother can receive, to be acknowledged as having loved, though imperfectly & selfishly at times, selflessly and with Christ-like sacrifice at others.
Turmoil is caused by sin and fallenness. Even in the midst of fallenness and conflict, mom appreciated a humble & repentant spirit, telling me once that this song embodied repentance and confession for her.
Song: Find Me In The River
Prayer of Confession:
Father, we confess our very great sin and fallenness. We confess our sins against each other, against other nations, other communities, and against you, even as we are speechless at your very great love for us.
Reading: Psalm 51
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Thank you, mom, for the gift of life, and love, and for showing me the way to an eternal happy ending In Jesus Christ. Rest In Peace, Rise in Christ. Amen.