A Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving For the Life of Bill Stolte
October 28, 1935 -August 26, 2022
March 4, 2023 11:00 am
Rev. Kent Gilbert, Pastor Dr. Bernardo Scarambone, Director of Music
Gathering Music
Ringing the Peace Bell
Welcome Rev. Kent Gilbert, Pastor
Opening Prayer
Opening Hymn #469 O Grant Us Light Hesperus
1 O grant us light, that we may know The wisdom Thou alone canst give; That truth may guide where’er we go, And virtue bless where’er we live.
2 O grant us light, that we may see Where error lurks in human lore. And turn our doubting minds to Thee, And love Thy simple word the more.
3 O grant us light, that we may learn How dead is life from Thee apart, How sure is joy for all who turn To Thee an undivided heart.
4 O grant us light, in grief and pain, To lift our burdened hearts above, And count the very cross a gain, And bless our Father’s hidden love.
5 O grant us light, when, soon or late, All earthly scenes shall pass away. In Thee to find the open gate To deathless home and endless day.
Reading Isaiah 61:1-4 Luke Frerichs, Reader
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion -to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
~ New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021
Response They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love (v. 1)
We are One in the Spirit, We are One in the Lord (2x) And we pray that all unity will someday be restored And they’ll know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love, Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our Love.
Reading Acceptance Tom Frazier Avery Stolte and Sarah Grace Burns, Readers
Earth is warmed gentle and quietly,
as sun slowly breaks through the fog.
From the night, rest is broken,
not with a shout but as a whisper,
moving the soul into a new day.
Hold the moment,
that it might speak in silence,
as lovers gazing into the eyes of each other,
who need not speak,
knowing it would make for thunder.
Sit quietly and move slowly,
as friends around a warm stove .
Expecting nothing, anticipating everything,
reaping from the experience
of the creative forces moving among us.
Earth is cooling with smooth color
as sun quietly spreads across horizon.
To end the day another way,
only that we might have our say,
is to miss the message of the day.
Response They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love (v. 2):
We will walk with each other we will walk hand in hand (2x) And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land And they’ll know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love, Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our Love.
Reading Mark 4:1-9 Ethan Burns, Reader
Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on a path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “If you have ears to hear, then hear!”
~New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021
Response They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love (v. 3)
We will work with each other, we will work side by side (2x) And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride And they’ll know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love, Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our Love.
Words of Remembrance and Reflection
Alesia Frerichs
Family & Friends
Rev. Kent Gilbert, Homily
Hymn #504 You Walk Along Our Shoreline Salley Gardens
1You walk along our shoreline
When land meets unknown sea.
We hear your voice of power,
“Now come and follow me.
And if you still will follow
Through storm and wave and shoal,
Then I will make you fishers
But of the human soul.”
2 You call us, Christ, to gather
The people of the earth.
We cannot fish for only
Those lives we think have worth.
We spread your net of gospel
Across the water’s face,
Our boat a common shelter
For all found by your grace.
3 We cast our net, O Jesus;
We cry the kingdom’s name;
We work for love and justice;
We learn to hope through pain.
You call us, Lord, to gather
God’s daughters and God’s sons,
To let your judgment heal us
So that all may be one.
Affirmation of Faith Psalm 46:1–11
One: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
All: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
One: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
All: God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
One: The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice; the earth melts.
All: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
One: Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
All: He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
One: “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.”
All: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
~ New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021
Prayers of Commendation and Release
Closing Hymn #576 For the Healing of the Nations Westminster Abbey
1 For the healing of the nations, Lord, we pray with one accord, for a just and equal sharing of the things that earth affords. To a life of love in action help us rise and pledge our word.
2 Lead us forward into freedom; from despair your world release, that, redeemed from war and hatred, all may come and go in peace. Show us how through care and goodness fear will die and hope increase.
3 All that kills abundant living, let it from the earth be banned: pride of status, race, or schooling, dogmas that obscure your plan. In our common quest for justice may we hallow life’s brief span.
4 You, Creator God, have written your great name on humankind. For our growing in your likeness, bring the life of Christ to mind that by our response and service earth its destiny may find.
Benediction
Response They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love (v. 4)
All Praise to our Maker from whom all things come, And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s begotten son,And all Praise to the Spirit, who makes us one And they’ll know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our Love.
Postlude
__________________________
¨ Those who are able are invited to stand
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