Funeral Services

AS MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, one of our responsibilities and privileges is to assist families who have lost a loved one. Death can be a cataclysmic event in a home, so our role may go far beyond simply officiating at the funeral service. We should also reach out with comfort and encouragement to the living in their time of sorrow.¹

The needs of the family must be of utmost importance to us when a death occurs. If the deceased was a member of our congregation, we will find our support in a time of mourning will draw us closer to the family. If we were not well acquainted with the individual who passed away, but are contacted by a family member to assist with the funeral, we have a rare opportunity to share the comfort of God with people in grief.

Arranging the funeral service

There are a number of steps we will need to take when members of our congregation or someone close to them passes away. We should contact the family as soon as possible after the news of a death. If a short visit is possible, it will provide us with an opportunity to personally express our sympathy, pray with those who are grieving, and perhaps read a Scripture that will bring solace.

Subsequent to that initial visit, we should make an appointment to meet with the family member(s) who will be making the funeral arrangements, to learn the family’s needs and wishes. There will be many details to be decided at this point. Even though funeral services follow a somewhat typical pattern in Apostolic Faith churches, the requests of each family and what they want to be included in the program will be unique. Points to be addressed at this second meeting will include:

• Obituary information regarding the deceased.
  
• Where and when the funeral service will be held.
  
• Who they wish to have participate in the service.
  
• Special thoughts, presentations, or tributes they wish to have included.
  
• Preferences related to music in the service.
  
• Committal arrangements.
  
• Other ways we can assist them.
  

The ability to focus on funeral service details may be a challenge for grieving family members, and it can be a great help to those in sorrow if we guide them through some of the necessary decisions. One way we can do this is to come to the meeting prepared with some questions in our minds that will help us obtain the information we need. We should encourage the family not only to inform us of facts related to the individual, but also to share their memories and reminisce about the deceased. This will help us glean the type of material we need to speak effectively and personally about the person at the funeral service. Guide the family to share information regarding the following topics.

Information about the individual’s personal history.

• Where and when was he/she born?
  
• What were the parents’ names?
  
• What should be mentioned regarding education, work history, and achievements?
  
• Who are the survivors? (Obtain names of spouse, children, grandchildren, and siblings)
  
• What were the highlights of his or her life?
  
• In what areas did the deceased serve in the church?
  
• What will the deceased be remembered for? (This could include personality traits, hobbies, favorite pastimes, relationships with others, etc.)
  
• What stories or incidents reflect the person’s character and life?
  

Arrangements for the funeral service.

• What funeral chapel or director do they plan to use?
  
• Where and when will the service be held?
  
• Will family members speak during the service? Alternatively, would they like to compose a tribute that can be read?
  
• Are there any particular memories or tributes they wish to have shared?
  
• Will any type of media presentation be included in the funeral?
  
• Are there poems, stories, favorite Bible verses, or other readings they would like to have shared?
  
• Does the family have a preference as to who will sing or play?
  
• Are there any special songs or music they would like to include?
  
• Is there a charity or an area of the church work the family would recommend to mourners in lieu of flowers?
  

Arrangements for the committal.

• Will the service conclude at the chapel/church or will the interment be open to the public? Will a funeral home or representative of the family announce this, is it on the program, or should the minister announce it?
  
• Will there be a procession to the cemetery?
  
• Who will be the pallbearers?
  
• What is the location of the cemetery they plan to use?
  
• Will there be music at the graveside?
  
• Will there be any form of military honors such as a flag presentation, or rifle salute? If so, who will receive the flag?
  

In addition to obtaining the specific information we need, we should listen for casual remarks and anecdotal memories, meaningful stories, or incidents that reflect the nature and character of the deceased. In particular it is good to be alert for recollections that bring a smile. We can prompt the family’s contemplations by reminding them, “This service is for you. You need the opportunity to remember your loved one. If you have stories, songs, Scripture verses, or poems that are especially meaningful, feel free to share them with me.”

If the family needs help in arranging the order of the funeral service, we should offer to assist in that regard. Remember, there is no absolute right or wrong when it comes to the family’s requests. Once the order of the service is established, the information should be distributed to the organist and vocalists who will participate, the audio/visual crew who will be assisting with that aspect of the service, and any family members or others who will be participating in the funeral.

The funeral service itself should be personal in nature. As officiating minister, we should mention the deceased and those who have suffered loss by name. The service should be dignified but not formal, and should acknowledge, express, and sympathize with the feelings of those present. It is appropriate for us to speak gently and comfortably about death and the natural sadness it brings, doing our best to put into words not only feelings of loss, but of gratitude for the privilege of knowing the deceased. Our words should encourage those who are grieving to view death in the context of God’s eternal purposes.

There are several other responsibilities we may need to assume in conjunction with the funeral.

Preparing the Obituary

The obituary is a brief biographical account of the deceased. It typically includes the full name of the individual, the place and date of birth, and place and date of death. It may also provide the names of the parents and siblings, where the individual attended school and the level of education and/or degrees held, professional and career accomplishments, and military service. If the person was married, it should mention the spouse’s name, when the marriage took place, and names of children. The obituary generally concludes with a list of surviving family members. In Apostolic Faith circles, the obituary often also includes a mention of when the individual was saved and/or became affiliated with the church, and any particular roles they held within the church organization.

Preparing a Eulogy

A eulogy is a memorial tribute to the life lived by the deceased. Typically, it refers to aspects of the person’s life such as significant life accomplishments, character qualities, Christian service, and how the individual affected other lives. Many times it will be part of our responsibility as the officiating minister to deliver the eulogy, although at times a family member or close friend will choose to do so. If someone in the family does offer a tribute, it is still acceptable for us to share personal thoughts or memories, perhaps as a preface to or part of the funeral message. If a printed copy of the individual’s testimony is available, that can also be a resource with regard to the deceased’s walk with the Lord.

In making personal comments about the deceased, we should always be careful, honest, and kind in what we say. All people have some redeeming qualities and these should be shared in the service. While it is appropriate to focus on the positive, we must be sure that all comments we make are truthful and deserved; those who were close to the individual will quickly become aware if we portray the person in an unrealistic manner or unduly glorify the deceased.

Preparing the Funeral Message

A funeral service presents us with an opportunity to reach those who seldom, if ever, attend church services. In preparing the message, we will want to choose our Scripture carefully and not read too many verses.² Our sermon should be straightforward and presented in simple language, as those in attendance may have little or no knowledge of the Bible. In addition, they may be too focused on their grief to take in a complicated exposition of a text.

In the funeral message we can address what the Christian faith has to say about “the sting of death” (1 Corinthians 15:56). We will find it helpful to study the message of the Apostle Paul, who wrote to his friends at Thessalonica, “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). While we always want to speak words of comfort to the family in a funeral service, our most important goal will be to declare the ultimate hope divinely given in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If the deceased was a true child of God, it is well to call attention to that fact and emphasize how it pays at the end of this life to have been a Christian. If the deceased was unsaved, there need be no personal reference at all. Of course, there should be no pronunciation of judgment, but there should be a plain declaration of the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. If we did not know the person well, we must guard against making any assumptions regarding his or her spiritual state. While we want to bring comfort to the grieving family, we should not imply the person is in Heaven if we are not sure that the individual had a personal relationship with God.

In conclusion, there are several final points to consider in officiating at a funeral.

• The funeral director. Prior to the funeral, introduce yourself to the funeral director. He or she should be made aware of the order of the service, any particular wishes of the family, and any expectations of him (such as an announcement of the committal plans, etc.)
  
• Placement of casket. Typically, the casket is in place at the front of the sanctuary before the funeral service begins. In the case of a memorial service or a closed casket service, a framed photo of the deceased is often placed in front of the pulpit in the chapel.
  
• Music during the service. It is soothing to those in attendance if suitable music is softly played in the sanctuary or chapel as the funeral attendees gather. After the mourners are seated, the music is faded out and the service proceeds. The vocal numbers sung during the service are usually the favorites of the departed or of the family.
  
• Memory display. We often provide a table where the family can place special remembrances, photographs, and other memorabilia for viewing before and after the service. When we make funeral plans with the family, we should ask if there are items they would like to display. Possibly a family friend could help with the arrangement of these items if help is needed.
  
• Funeral program handout. Often the funeral home provides memory folders for those attending the funeral service. At times, family or friends of the deceased prefer to make their own. This can be as simple as a picture of the loved one with their birth and death dates, the order of service, and a cherished Bible verse, but they can also include a portion of the individual’s personal testimony or a biographical sketch.
  
• Length of service. Typically, Apostolic Faith funerals last between 30-60 minutes.³ Time should be allowed either before or after the service for the family to greet those who attended if they so desire. The family should be given an opportunity for some final moments alone with the deceased and each other, after the other attendees have left the chapel. It is customary for the officiating minister to conclude this time with a brief prayer.
  
• After the service. Often in Apostolic Faith circles the church family provides light refreshments for the family of the deceased following the funeral service. This can precede or follow the cemetery interment, depending upon the time of day and preference of the family.
  

Counsel for Ministers

It is not our practice to charge a fee for conducting a funeral service. In some instances, the minister is given an “honorarium,” for his/her services. The amount of such honorariums varies. It is a matter of personal choice whether you keep the honorarium; in some cases, our ministers simply donate it to a cause or branch of the church work that the deceased was involved in.

Cultural traditions surrounding funerals will vary from location to location. The ethnicity of the deceased dictates to some degree how we carry out the custom of memorializing the dead. We should be careful to adapt our services to expectations in the region where the service is being held, as long as the accepted cultural practices do not conflict with Biblical principles or Christian behavior.

With the rising cost of funeral expenses today, many people in the United Sates are choosing cremation instead of burial. Christians, however, often have concerns about cremation. There is no specific teaching in the Bible about cremation, so the decision must be made by the surviving family. We should support them in whatever they choose.

It may be prudent for pastors to look into services and costs of local funeral homes shortly after moving into a new location. In some areas, there are funeral homes or associations for seniors that will substantially reduce the cost of committal. Some of the big-box or warehouse club stores sell caskets at a greatly reduced price. If the family asks for guidance in this matter, or has financial concerns about burial costs, it may be helpful to be prepared in advance with information about what is available in the area.

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¹ For assistance in how to comfort those who have been bereaved, see the section of this manual titled The Ministry of Comfort.

² For a list of Scriptures suitable for funerals, see the section of this manual titled Selected Scriptures for Comfort and Reassurance.

³ The length of time for a funeral service is flexible and may depend somewhat on what the family wishes to have included in the service. Our main role as officiating ministers is to be sure the schedule for interment and family gathering following the funeral is maintained. If family comments or other aspects of the funeral extend longer than planned, we may need to condense our concluding remarks somewhat.

AS PASTORS AND MINISTERS, it will be helpful for us to be aware of the following considerations for specific types of funerals.

Graveside Service

The graveside service should be brief, unless it is the only funeral service being held for the deceased. The condition of the family, the weather, cemetery schedule, timing for a family gathering following the interment, and various other factors all must be considered when determining what is appropriate at the cemetery. As officiating pastor, we may need to guide the family in making these decisions.

If the interment follows a funeral service, as the officiating minister we should stand by as the pallbearers transfer the casket to the hearse for transport to the final resting place. At the burial site, we lead the way to the area where the committal will take place, and stand at the head of the casket. After the family and friends gather, the funeral director typically indicates when it is time to begin. We usually read a passage of Scripture such as the 23rd Psalm or 1 Corinthians 15:51-58. Infrequently, a song can be sung, either by a soloist or by all who have gathered.

If the deceased was an armed forces veteran, a representative of the branch of the service in which he or she served may be present and guide in a military salute. If the casket is draped with a flag, armed forces representatives remove the flag, fold it in the traditional manner, and present it to the family.

Depending upon the wishes of the family, the pallbearers may walk past the coffin and place on it the flowers they had worn on their lapels. We then close the committal service with prayer, commending the bereaved to the comfort and care of the Lord. We may wish to announce, “This concludes our service,” after the prayer. It is a thoughtful gesture to speak with the family members and share a few personal words of comfort; this will also serve as a signal to others who have attended the committal that they may greet the family at that time.

If the only service being held takes place at the cemetery, it is appropriate to expand the ceremony at the graveside, perhaps including a song and a few brief personal comments before the committal.

Memorial Service

In the Apostolic Faith, memorial services follow much the same pattern as a traditional funeral service. The basic difference is that there is no body present. A memorial service may take place a few days after the death of a loved one, or even weeks later. It may be less expensive than a traditional funeral, as there is no need for the embalming process if the burial takes place quickly. If the family asks for guidance, the minister can bring up this option, but care must be taken not to intimate that either type of service is better. The family must be allowed to make the decision without any pressure, or they may regret it later.

Funeral for the unsaved

There are times when we are called upon to officiate at the funeral of those who were not known to be saved. There are also times when we are not really sure about the spiritual status of the deceased prior to death. The truth must not be avoided, but at the same time we should not make remarks that would wound the feelings of friends and relatives. Under these circumstances, it is usually best to avoid personal allusions and simply to present Scriptural truth in a manner that will be an encouragement and edification to those present.

Funeral for a stillborn baby

Psalm 139:13-16 is an especially appropriate text to use at a funeral for a stillborn infant, for it assures us that God is mindful of an unborn child from the time of conception. Other appropriate Scriptures for use in this circumstance are 2 Samuel 12:15-23 (read only the second part of verse 23 because the account is really about God’s punishment for David’s sin with Bathsheba); and Matthew 11:25-30.

Though the stillborn infant never drew a breath outside of its mother’s womb, he or she was undoubtedly planned for, loved, and nurtured in the hearts of its parents for months. A mother forms a relationship and bonds with her baby long before the birth. She begins to love the child even though she has never physically seen or touched the infant. The parents’ loss is very real, and extreme care must be taken not to minimize that loss in any way.

We believe that Christian parents can look forward to the day when they will be reunited in Heaven with their child, even though they never had the opportunity to get acquainted on this earth. The Bible identifies those in the womb as “children,”¹ and indicates that “Children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3).

The question of whether or not to hold a funeral for a stillborn child depends upon the personal preference of the parents. If the loss occurred early in the pregnancy, it is not customary to hold a funeral. If the child was nearly to term, and a service is held, our main role at such a time would be to offer words of comfort and solace to the grieving parents. We would remind them to turn their pain over to the great Healer, whose love will help to mend their broken hearts.

Funeral for a young child

There are perhaps few things in life more devastating than the death of a child. When death separates us from a loved one, we experience a gamut of emotions: numbness, denial, grief, and finally acceptance.² Many of these emotions will be magnified when the deceased is a child, because we naturally expect children to outlive their parents. For this reason, planning a funeral for a child is a tremendously difficult task for a family. When we are called upon to assist those facing this situation, we must be prepared to walk them gently and compassionately through the necessary decisions.

It may be helpful to avoid the word “funeral” and instead, focus on the thought of a celebration of the child’s life. It will be easier if the music is not sad and melancholy but rather, Sunday school songs or songs about Jesus’ love for the children. Remember, the funeral is the family’s opportunity to say their last goodbye to their child. As such, it is important that they are able to plan the service in a way that feels appropriate to them in terms of their family customs and traditions, even if it departs a bit from the order of a typical funeral service.

If there are other children in the family who are old enough to understand, it can help them if they are included. You may wish to suggest that they be offered an opportunity to speak, or read a letter or a poem to their brother or sister. In some cases, it is good to encourage siblings to draw a picture or write a letter and allow them to place it in the casket with their sibling. Also, choosing a special toy or memorial item from home is helpful. Older siblings may want to help carry the casket at the cemetery.

Perhaps the greatest comfort we can offer the family is that their little one will be waiting for them in Heaven. Scripture teaches that children are loved by God, and we believe that until they come to an age of understanding (some call it “the age of accountability”), they have a place in the kingdom of God at death. This means that if a child dies before developing to a point where the knowledge of Christ can be understood and applied through forgiveness, his or her spirit is with God. The little one inherits eternal life in Heaven and will forever enjoy the blessings of God’s kingdom.

In your closing prayer, commend the grieving family to the healing embrace of God’s love. We know that God sympathizes with their sorrow, for He too suffered the loss of His Son. God did not promise that our lives would be easy or free of sorrow, but He did promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and that we can turn our burdens over to Him.

Funeral for one who committed suicide

Holding the funeral service for an individual who committed suicide is challenging for a Christian pastor. Ordinarily, Christians find comfort after the death of those we love in our belief that their sufferings are over and eternal life is theirs. While we want to extend sympathy and comfort to those left behind, when suicide was the cause of death, we cannot offer false hope, or state that the deceased will be awaiting them in Heaven.

We should also keep in mind that the survivors of a person who committed suicide often suffer feelings of guilt as well as sorrow, feeling that they should have been aware of the person’s mental or emotional state and done something to forestall the tragedy. It is also natural for them to feel anger at the deceased for their actions. We will want to take care to phrase our comments carefully, taking these emotions into account as we plan our funeral message, and avoid passing judgment or providing simplistic explanations of the suicide.

Our goal should be to encourage those who grieve to bring their grief, pain, and confusion to the One who said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). We can ask God to take the burden from their hearts and give in its place the “rest” for their souls that Christ spoke of. Another appropriate Scripture is Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” We can point those who are left behind to the shelter of God’s healing love, where they can pour out their grief, release their anger, and face their emptiness knowing that God cares.

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¹ See Genesis 25:22; 38:27; Ecclesiastes 11:5; and Luke 1:36, 44.

² For more on how to comfort those who have suffered loss, see the section of this manual titled The Ministry of Comfort.

IN REACHING OUT with comfort to those who are sorrowing, we should depend to a great extent upon the Word of God. Following are some passages which can be used in a funeral service or in ministering to the bereaved.

Psalm 23:1-6—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 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 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 for ever.

Psalm 31:1-3—In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

Psalm 46:1-3—God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Psalm 73:24-26, 28—Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. . . . But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Psalm 103:13-17—Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.

Psalm 138:3, 7-8—In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. . . . Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Psalm 147:3—He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4—To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Isaiah 26:3-4—Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

Isaiah 30:15— For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Isaiah 40:28-31—Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 43:1-3—But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Isaiah 58:8-9—Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.

Lamentations 3:21-23—If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Matthew 5:4—Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

John 14:1-3—Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 14:27—Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Romans 8:16-18—The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58—Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5—Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18—For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 5:1—For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 12:9—And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Ephesians 3:14-21—For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7—Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17—But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17—Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

1 Peter 1:3-9—Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 4:12-13—Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Revelation 21:1-7—And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Revelation 22:1-5—And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.