From the Pulpit

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="id23_m.htm#changing_weakness_into_power" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="From the Pulpit"><B>Changing Weakness into Power</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id23_m.htm#litany_of_praise_for_the_pleasant" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="From the Pulpit"><B>LITANY OF PRAISE FOR THE PLEASANT</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id23_m.htm#a_service_in_the_memory_of_lance" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="From the Pulpit"><B>A Service in the Memory of Lance</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id23_m.htm#the_keeper_of_the_stars_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="From the Pulpit"><B>The Keeper of the Stars</B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>     </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Sheer Beauty</B></FONT></div> <div> (On seeing a rainbow in 1969)</div> <bR> <div> <B>I saw a rainbow</B></div> <div>    <B>Through rainswept skies-----</B></div> <div>      <I><B>Mere beauty.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>I saw compassion</B></div> <div>   <B>Through tear-stained eyes---</B></div> <div> <B>     </B><I><B>Sheer Beauty ! </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>     by Robert O. Zehr</B></I></div> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Bayou Des Allemands Robert O. Zehr</B></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bayou Des Allemands Robert O. Zehr">home</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Content">My Content</A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who Am I?">Who Am I?</A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Family Photo Album">Family Photo Album</A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mardi Gras 2000">Mardi Gras 2000</A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" My Poetry Page"> My Poetry Page</A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Some Favorite Links">Some Favorite Links</A>   |   <B>From the Pulpit</B>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Please Sign My Guest Book">Please Sign My Guest Book</A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alaska 2000">Alaska 2000</A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bayou Tales">Bayou Tales</A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Des Allemands Mennonite Church Constitut">Des Allemands Mennonite Church Constitution</A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hiking and Camping 2002">Hiking and Camping 2002</A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Parable of the Orange Trees">Parable of the Orange Trees</A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Fellowship">The Fellowship</A>   |   <A HREF="katrina_updates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Katrina Updates">Katrina Updates</A>   |   <A HREF="aftermatrh_of_katrina.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Katrina Reflections">Katrina Reflections</A></div> <div> From the Pulpit</div> <div> <B>  <FORM ACTION="http://wbsa.logos.com/default.asp" METHOD="POST"> <CENTER> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#CCCCCC" WIDTH="400"> <TR><TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="90"> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="WBSA.GIF" WIDTH="80" HEIGHT="55"></TD> <TD ALIGN="left"> <INPUT TYPE="text" SIZE="30" NAME="search"> <BR> <INPUT TYPE="submit" VALUE="Search!"><FONT SIZE="2"><BR> <A HREF="http://wbsa.logos.com/faq.asp#addwbsa">Add this search to your web page</A> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE> </CENTER> </FORM>   </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="changing_weakness_into_power"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>Changing Weakness into Power</I></FONT></div> <div> <I>A sermon by Robert O. Zehr</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>How often we wish that we could be more powerful, more assertive, more authoritative commanding better respect. But most of us are caught up in bodies less than perfect with minds and personalities that are flawed.  When we become agitated, we fly off the handle, when we become sad we lose it. </I></div> <div> <I>We are fearful. We worry.  We suffer from depression.  We are frail humanity.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jesus Christ came to earth and joined us in a human body.  But more importantly he came showing us that there is power to transform these very weaknesses which cripple us and render us emotional weaklings into super spiritual giants.  He did it.  He proved that the Father's unlimited strength is available to us!  In Christ we are strong.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Our emotions are powerful tools that separate us from the rest of creation.  Our capacity to love, to cry to be joyful to feel guilt make us different.  These emotions often prove our undoing.  They in some respects are our Achilles heels.  We are prone to loving in wrong kinds of ways, crying when inappropriate, laughing when we shouldn't!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Look with me at the emotions of  Jesus , who of course , is the exact image of the Father.  When we see Jesus, we see God the Father.  Jesus responds to one of his disciple's question "What is God like or Show us the Father", by saying "He who has seen me has seen the Father".  When we become acquainted with Jesus, we become acquainted with the Father.  And certainly the emotions of Jesus reflect the Father. As Jesus loved so God loves.  We learn how to be the body of Christ to the world by being like Jesus.  When we know Jesus and gaze upon his face and fully learn to experience emotions as he did, we begin to know God and we also begin to understand ourselves as God meant us to be.  The emotions that evil has tried to corrupt become powerful assets.  Praise God!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>A.      Compassion</I></div> <div> <I> </I></div> <div> <I>     Mark  10:13-15</I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>13</I></FONT><I>People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>14</I></FONT><I>When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, </I><I>"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>15</I></FONT><I>I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Mark 1:40-41</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." </I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>41 </I></FONT><I>Filled </I><I>with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. </I><I>"I am willing,"</I><I> he said. </I><I>"Be clean!" </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Luke 7:5-13</I><I> </I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>1</I></FONT><I>Soon  </I><I>afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>12</I></FONT><I>As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>13</I></FONT><I>When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, </I><I>"Don't cry." </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Matthew 9:36</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Out of Christ's compassion came bread, restoration of sight, life to the dead  Jesus translated his feelings into action. Effective  powerful action.</I></div> <div> <I>Are we touched with compassion like Jesus was?</I></div> <div> <I>Do we weep over our crime  ridden cities?</I></div> <div> <I>Tears are not signs of weakness.  Tears can  show inner strength!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>B.      ANGER</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>     </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>Mark11:14-17     </I></FONT></div> <div> <I> T</I><I>hen He said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."</I><I> And his disciples heard him say it. </I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>15</I></FONT><I>On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>16</I></FONT><I>and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>17</I></FONT><I>And as he taught them, he said, </I><I>"Is it not written:</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>" 'My house will be called</I></div> <div> <I>a house of prayer for all nations'?</I></div> <div> <I> </I></div> <div> <I>But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Anger is fire.  When we let it burn uncontrolled it can be destructive.  Channeled and controlled it becomes a powerful motivation.  Jesus anger kindled a flame that warms us and brings life.</I></div> <div> <I>Are we angry enough  to become involved in doing something about our sinful corrupt surroundings?</I></div> <div> <I>Are we angry at sin enough to warn , invite others to grace ,and become a part of the rescue team?</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>C.      GRIEF</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Luke 19:41-44</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>42</I></FONT><I>and said, </I><I>"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>43</I></FONT><I>The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>44</I></FONT><I>They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>John 11:29-36</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>30</I></FONT><I>Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>31</I></FONT><I>When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. </I></div> <div> <I>32</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." </I></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>33</I></FONT><I>When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>34</I></FONT><I>"Where have you laid him?"</I><I> he asked.</I></div> <div> <I>"Come and see, Lord," they replied. </I></div> <div> <I>35</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>Jesus wept. </I></FONT></div> <div> <I>36</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" </I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>Do we love deeply enough to cry?</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>D.      JOY</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Luke 10:18-21</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>He replied, </I><I>"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>19</I></FONT><I>I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>20</I></FONT><I>However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." </I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>21</I></FONT><I>At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, </I><I>"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>John 15:11</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>John 17:13</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>  </I><I>"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Jesus was truly a man of joy  He obeyed the father and endured the cross by focusing on the ultimate joy which was in store.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Hebrews 12:2</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Hebrews 12:22</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>E.      LOVE</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Love was and is the capstone of Jesus `s emotions.  In his ability to love we see the Father.  Jesus had compassion, he became angry, he grieved he was happy, all because he loved.</I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I> </I></FONT><I>Mark 10:19-21</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" </I></div> <div> <I>20</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." </I></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>21</I></FONT><I>Jesus looked at him and loved him. </I><I>"One thing you lack,"</I><I> he said. </I><I>"Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Many of us don't know how to love.  We distort and twist love.  In fact we say love when we really mean lust.</I></div> <div> <I>The love of Jesus led him to Calvary.</I></div> <div> <I>There he showed the fullest extent of his love.  There he made it possible for us to rid ourselves of our greatest weakness- Death.  As he arose to Eternal life in all its Power so can we!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>John 15:12-15</I><I> </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>13</I></FONT><I>Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>14</I></FONT><I>You are my friends if you do what I command. </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>15</I></FONT><I>I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Jesus was not a wimp.  He did everything boldly in living color.  He was not easy to misunderstand.  When we see him dying on the cross it becomes abundantly clear that he REALLY loves us.  Jesus invites us to follow him.  He invites us to love as he loved.  If we do, we must buy the whole package which includes being able to channel our anger our joy our grief and compassion in useful and empowered actions which build the Kingdom of God.</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="litany_of_praise_for_the_pleasant"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>LITANY OF PRAISE FOR THE PLEASANT VALLEY </I></FONT></div> <div> <I>MENNONITE CHURCH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION</I></div> <div> <I>May 27-30,1988</I></div> <div> <B>WHAT IS ONE HUNDRED YEARS?</B></div> <div> <I><B>Leader:</B></I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Praise be to the Lord, our Rock.</I></div> <div> <I><B>All: </B></I></div> <div> <I>He is our loving God and our Fortress,</I> </div> <div> <I>our stronghold and our Deliverer,</I> </div> <div> <I>our Shield in whom we take refuge.</I> </div> <div> <I>0, Lord, who are we that You care for us?</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Leader:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B> </B></I><I>Humanity is like a breath.</I> <I>Our days are like a fleeting shadow.</I> <I>One hundred years in your sight</I> <I>are like a day that has just gone by</I> <I>Or like a watch in the night.</I></div> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT></div> <div> <I>For us one hundred years is a responsibility, a</I> <I>sacred trust.</I> </div> <div>            <I>Almighty God, Our Father, we tremble in your presence that you would entrust us with             one hundred years.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Readers #1:</B></I> </div> <div>      <I>One Hundred Years? What is one hundred years?</I></div> <div> <I><B>Readers #2:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>     </B></I><I> Twelve hundred months, twenty-five leap years, one hundred</I> <I>times of seeding!</I></div> <div>  <I><B>Readers #3:</B></I></div> <div> <I> One hundred times of sand plums and strawberries,</I> <I>One hundred springtimes --</I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>— </I></FONT><I>times of lilac scented hope.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Readers #1:</B></I></div> <div> <I>      Thirty-five thousand, five hundred twenty-six sunrises!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Readers #2:</B></I></div> <div> <I> Three billion, seven hundred eighty-four million, three hundred twenty thousand heart beats!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Readers #3:</B></I></div> <div> <I>       Five thousand two hundred Sunday morning worship services!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Pastor:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>      </B></I><I>Twenty-six hundred hours of sermons!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Readers #1:</B></I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>     WOW! A twenty-six hundred hour sermon? !!!!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>      </B></I><I>Thank you Father! You entrusted us with one</I> </div> <div> <I>hundred seedtimes and one hundred harvests.</I> <I>You entrusted us with Birth.</I> <I>You entrusted us with the growing season</I> <I>You entrusted us with LIFE!</I> <I>You entrusted us with Death.</I> <I>We give you praise! Blessed be the name of the Lord!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Leader:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B> </B></I><I>Father, our Father, you have been our Rock, . Our Comfort through every uncertain and painful storm</I> </div> <div> <I>When Salome Gerber Beyler died and that first grave </I></div> <div> <I>was dug --</I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I> </I></FONT><I>a lonely grave by a lonesome railroad track </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>—</I></FONT> </div> <div> <I>you were there!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All: </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>     </B></I><I>We give You praise! Blessed be the name of the Lord!</I></div> <div> <I><B>Leader: </B></I></div> <div> <I>As that graveyard filled, one hundred years of tears for Sol and </I></div> <div> <I>Ammon and Clayton and Sam and Salome and Stella and Donnie and Ella </I></div> <div> <I>and Scott and Wilma and Carl and Hap and Florence and Sylvia and Rena and.....</I> </div> <div> <I>God! God, You were there!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>      </B></I><I>We give You praise! Blessed be the name of the Lord.</I></div> <div> <I><B>Leader:</B></I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Through our tears we see the brilliant sunflowers and the incredibly beautiful butterfly that's resting on the casket spray. The clear call of a meadow-lark rinses the air clean. You are here!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>      </B></I><I>Blessed be the name of the Lord!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Readers #3:</B></I></div> <div>  <I>If every labor pain and every hurt accumulated in one</I> <I>hundred years were heaped in one pile, we would be overwhelmed.</I> <I>But You only let us hurt one pain and feel one labor pang at a time.</I> <I>The cry of new life has been worth it all!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All: </B></I></div> <div> <I>     Praise be to God who sustains our life. Blessed be the name of the Lord!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Readers #2 & #3:</B></I> </div> <div>      <I>Lord, we didn</I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP TypographicSymbols" ><I>=</I></FONT><I>t record them ---</I> </div> <div> <I>But You did! The number of the times lovers violated</I> </div> <div> <I>the covenant between them in word or deed,</I> </div> <div> <I>The number of times we allowed jealousy or hatred</I> </div> <div> <I>to mar the fellowship with sister or brother.</I> </div> <div> <I>Lord, when we thought we couldn”t forgive, </I></div> <div> <I>You did!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>      </B></I><I>Blessed be the name of the Lord!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Leader: </B></I></div> <div> <I>We thank You, God, for the foundation of our Faith— The rootedness in Christ cherished by, taught by,</I> <I>and passed on by our parents.</I> <I>First the seed, next the greening shoot and then the ripened grain. We thank You, God, for a root system that keeps wheat green even under January’s</I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA" ><I> </I></FONT><I> blanket of snow.</I></div> <div> <I><B>All: </B></I></div> <div> <I>We praise You, God, for roots! Blessed be the name of the Lord!</I></div> <div> <I><B>Leader: </B></I></div> <div> <I>One hundred years is a watch in the night, a day gone by in the </I></div> <div> <I>mind of God!</I> <I>For us it has been Birth--Death, generation following generation, the healing Shalom and undeserved Mercy of a loving Father.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B> </B></I><I>     Blessed be the name of the Lord!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Pastor: </B></I></div> <div> <I>We look for Your soon return, Lord!</I> <I>But should You entrust us with another one hundred years, we commit our  tomorrows to You!</I></div> <div> <I><B>Readers #2:</B></I> </div> <div> <I>We will plant and harvest the wheat.</I></div> <div> <I><B>All: </B></I></div> <div> <I>If tomorrow comes.</I></div> <div> <I><B>Readers #3: </B></I></div> <div> <I>We will pick sand plums and strawberries.</I></div> <div> <I><B>All: </B></I></div> <div> <I>If tomorrow comes.</I></div> <div> <I><B>Readers #3:</B></I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>We will rejoice at the cry of birth.</I></div> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>      </B></I><I>If tomorrow comes.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I>      Our tears will flow at the sadness of death.</I> <I>If tomorrow comes.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Pastor:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>      </B></I><I>But we are not afraid of tomorrows.</I> </div> <div> <I>We face them with eager anticipation.</I> </div> <div> <I>We face them rooted in Christ.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I>      We will serve our Risen Lord!</I> </div> <div> <I>Yes! If tomorrow comes, we’ve  only just begun!</I> </div> <div> <I>Blessed be the name of the Lord!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>      </B></I><I>Praise be to the Lord, our Rock.</I> </div> <div> <I>He is our loving God and our Fortress,</I> <I>Our Stronghold and our Deliverer,</I> </div> <div> <I>Our Shield in whom we take refuge.</I> <I>O, Lord, who are we that for one hundred years, You would care for us?</I></div> <div> <I><B>Readers #1:</B></I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>One hundred years? What is one hundred years?</I></div> <div> <I><B>All:</B></I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>One hundred years is thirty-six thousand,</I> </div> <div> <I>five hundred and twenty-six days to praise our Lord!!!</I> </div> <div> <I><B>Blessed be the name of the Lord!</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>by: Robert 0. Zehr 1988</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="a_service_in_the_memory_of_lance"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><I>A Service in the Memory of Lance Bergeron</I></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>November 25, 1976- November 23, 1998</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Prelude</I><I>    </I><I>The Keeper of the Stars</I><I>         by Tracy Byrd</I></div> <div> <I>          </I><I>Paint the Sky with Stars</I><I>         by Enya     </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Call to Worship</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>     Leader:     We have gathered to celebrate the entry of Lance Bergeron into life </I></div> <div> <I>               Eternal.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>     </I><I>People</I><I>:     </I><I>To affirm with praise and thanksgiving the goodness of the Lord.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>     Leader:     Let us rejoice in God’s presence with us, in death as in life, among those</I></div> <div> <I>               who mourn as with those who now see Him face to face.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>     </I><I>People</I><I>:     </I><I>Our lips will shout for joy, for His love is over all that He has made.</I></div> <div> <I>               Blessed be His glorious name forever!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>A Hymn of Thanksgiving</I><I>       </I><I>Now Thank We All Our God      </I><I># 567</I></div> <div> <I>A Song of Praise</I><I>                      </I><I>Praise the Name of Jesus</I><I>             # 121</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>A Psalm of Comfort</I><I>                                               Psalm 91                        Laurella Bergeron</I></div> <div> <I>A Word of Encouragement from the Epistles</I><I>     Romans 8:28-39</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Biographical Notes</I><I>               Wayne Triche</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Message</I><I> </I><I>        The Keeper of the Stars</I><I>          Pastor Robert O. Zehr</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>A Song of Healing</I><I>       </I><I>There is a Balm in Gilead</I><I> </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>        Refrain:     There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole,</I></div> <div> <I>          There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>          1. Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work in vain,</I></div> <div> <I>              But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.  (Refrain)</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>          2. If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul,</I></div> <div> <I>                     You can tell the love of Jesus and say,”He died for all.” (Refrain)</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Benediction</I><I>   </I><I>We Will Overcome</I><I>     By Jaci Velasquez</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Family and friends are invited to a noon meal here in the church following the service at the cemetery</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I> <A NAME="the_keeper_of_the_stars_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><I>The Keeper of the Stars</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"A Sermon for Lance Bergeron's Funeral"</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Stars !</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Star light, Star bright</I></div> <div> <I>First star I see tonight </I></div> <div> <I>I wish I may, I wish I might</I></div> <div> <I>Have the wish I wish tonight</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>How often have you wished on a star?</I></div> <div> <I>How often have you received your wish?</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>To wish on a star is to hope.  To hope for something specific.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Stars through the ages have been objects of mystery.</I></div> <div> <I>We reach for the stars.  Stars represent our dreams.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Many years ago wise men followed a star.  After many days of searching but always following, they found a baby nestled in the straw of a manger.  They found Jesus.  How sad it would have been if they had not claimed that star –if they had not followed that star!</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Clouds keep us from seeing our stars.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>During World War I a song became popular which echoed this sentiment:</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>     O’er the dark cloud shining . There’s a silver lining</I></div> <div> <I>     Turn the dark cloud inside out til the boys come home.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Dark clouds come into all our lives.  It is assuring to know that on the other side of the darkness is light .  Incredible light.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>On a recent flight my plane  took off  in a heavy cloud cover which seemed to last forever.  With my nose glued to the window I began to see glimpses of light which suddenly broke into brilliance.  We cleared the cloud tops.  As far as the eye could see pure white puff balls of wonderful white helped us forget that it was raining on the earth beneath us.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>I believe that God gives us stars to increase our vision.  God wants us to see beyond our own back yard.  </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Stars provide a view that reaches all the way to Heaven.  For you see stars are star windows into heaven. </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I> </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Psalm 8:1