2024-08-03 Funeral Jan Hofer

should for spe [Music] [Music] [Music] J [Music] [Music] spe [Music] been [Music] see [Music] you [Music] [Music] please stand if you're able Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus for in him you have been enriched in every way in all your speaking and in all your knowledge thanks be to God this time then the casket will be covered with a Paul as a remembrance of holy baptism from Romans 6 do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death we were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father we too may live a new life and if we have been reunited with him in his death we shall certainly also be United with him in his resurrection let's unite our voices and sing our first hymn beautiful [Music] savior beautiful savior l [Music] all [Music] oh [Music] with the words in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit We join in Reading Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want he restoreth my soul he leadth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake they 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 the 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 forever glory be to the father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever amen let us pray oh god of Grace and Glory we remember before you today our sister Janet hord we thank you for giving her to us to know to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on Earth in your boundless compassion console us who mour grant us faith and confidence so that we may see a Christian's death as the gate to eternal life grant us Faith to follow you to walk with you in newness of life until you call us home to be reunited with all those who walked by faith died in Grace and now live in eternal glory forever more through your son Jesus Christ Our Lord amen you may be seated at this time we have a couple of people who'd like to share some memories Amber is first hello I was told to introduce myself so I'm Amber for dead I am Jan's grand niece um and I'm just gonna say a couple words um I know it's illogical but I thought I thought Jan would always be here she was such a pillar of the H her family and everyone else that branched out from there I always remember picking up the phone and hearing yeah Amber she always started with yeah followed with inquiries about myself my family the weather and an update about her life in a conversation that would inevitably last hours some words places and things that remind me of Jan are um Gordon said her lover dog mom White Bear Lake or white Bears uh competition Twins and baseball reeba and Country Music dancing Santas games and logical puzzles and dominoes uh being a caretaker Baker Square King City uh cameras and photography lawn mowing scooping dog presen she would call them um rhubarb wolves sweatbands and sunglasses and laughters and laughter and jokes Jan despite being riddled with health issues always fought to join in everyone's life she attended so many events and sent sent thoughtful gifts for everything I mean Jan is the reason I knew what each anniversary was wooden wool like who knows Jan did uh she also joined in times of hardship and tried to help I remember how she gave advice on how to teach Madison to go down the stairs um what a joy she was we celebrate your life Jan thank you we love you for good morning my name is Don Doran and I am Jan's niece I sy's daughter um everybody knows me to be quite an emotional person and a crier however in Jan's uh funeral folder she picked out this verse and had it written down please remember me with smiles and laughter for that is how I remember you so that's what I'm going to try to do we're here to celebrate the life of Janet L Hofer not haer Hofer so each one of you is here today whether in person or online across the miles because your lives have been blessed by Jan as the saying that Jan picked out I already said so um just about remembering her with smiles and laughter um she was a loving and devoted daughter sister Aunt cousin and friend Jen was a lifelong member of this church she received the means of Grace here baptism confirmation and the sacrament of the altar most recently uh some of the ladies of the church here told me that she was a part of helping put together the 75th Anniversary cookbook in which if you page through it there are many entries from Jan and by association my gram also um Aunt n um she graduated from White Bear Lake High School and earned her associates degree at the community college with an internship and finance that turned into a 39 plus year career for the state of Minnesota as a k9 Enthusiast Jan was a dog mom to many prized Gordon Setters Melody lyric Tempo Harmony Jazz and Rhythm and she also opened her heart and her home to Foster other rescue Gordon Setters Jen was my aunt and she was also my godmother she always tried to make things fun I remember riding with her and it was you know one of the first times I was allowed to go in a car without my parents and I was riding with her to get a treat from the Dairy Queen and as her car was doing this she says oh I must have gotten Kangaroo gas at the gas station and so we're laughing but she wasn't stopping the gas thing so that was a her sense of humor she just tried to make things fun um and I remember at sleepover when um Matt and I would sleep over at Graham's house because um Jan lived with my grandparents at the house on 2205 South Garden at drive for her whole life so as sleepover with Grandma and Grandpa was also as sleepover with Jan um which was fine um and we didn't set any alarms of course but Jan would send in her Gordon Setters to wake us up in the morning so they would jump up on the bed and we would have freshly washed faces with the saliva of the Gardon Setters but we were definitely up um when it came to uh go to work with your parents day um it didn't quite work for me to go with a parent because my mom was a homemaker and my dad was in the trades so Jan volunteered for me to be able to go to work with her so we went to the state of Minnesota and I got a sneak peek of the work a day world and it was very obvious that Jan was well respected and remire admired by her co-workers Jan also took me on to my very first concert Shan Cassidy D run run run run run um my mom and um sister-in-law Carrie also uh got the concert experience with Jan as they went to Reba McIntyre it was fun for sure um I know that she also loved the fair and went to different concerts at the fair Alabama was one of them I think um so as we mentioned the state fair uh Jan I remember her running and skipping and going down the big yellow slide the giant slide with us as we were kids then it went to her pushing Graham in the wheelchair and then her final time she went she was driving her own cart so she got there whether uh she could walk or not um so um as Jan was there for all things Family Fun friends and her fur babies um she was there for my baptism my confirmation my graduation from high school my graduation from college my wedding my children's baptisms um and you know children get to the point where um they learn the word no and I remember being at Jan's and um a couple of our toddlers were with us and I was asking them to do something and of course the word was was no and Jan looked at me with her little smirk and she said that's why I'll take my four-legged kids anytime um one of our daughters Betsy Shar sent she's in Massachusetts and was not able to be here but she shared some thoughts she said Jan Had a Heart of Gold kind and pleasant hearted always happy love taking talking about and watching the twins she's a person who made Gabriel who is Betsy's son her Jan's great nephew um love cookie day for any of you who don't know cookie day was a marathon from the beginning to the end it was probably 8:00 a.m. to 8 or 9 or 10 p.m. she treated treated cookie day like most important Marathon event she would come complete with the sweat headband around her head and she had all the ingredients and the energy to outlast everyone she was the master of the Spritz gun nobody else could do it but she once she got the Spritz gun going um that's why she had the Sweat Band so that none of her sweat would drip into the cookies um she had a love for her kids the dogs and always having conversations with them and loving them unconditionally Betsy also remembers um Jan with Graham and Jan was a bit of a stinker she would set small pranks for Graham to fall for and then she'd clue you into it so that you could watch it happen and get in on it um and then you would watch as Jan would roll her eyes and give Grant give Jan the side stare Jan was centered around family always showing up with her kind eyes and smile a couple of words from Candice um our youngest daughter who is in Massachusetts and would have been here had it not been for the fact that she is 8 months pregnant right now so she's not able to travel um so among her memories of Jan she always remembers the special memories of going to Jan's house if it was for cookie day um or Thanksgiving it was always a special time at Thanksgiving Graham had all the China out and all the um Regular Thanksgiving dishes and then there was also the Kids Table Candace used to sneak away and ask Jan for a cheese slice from the refrigerator which Jan would smile give her a wink and grab one as a little side snack she does Candace doesn't think that she ever won a game that she played with Jan um Candace was always loved Jan's love of numbers and the way her brain worked but there were no sympathy wins given out by Jan you had to win fair and square one of her favorite things about Jan was that she always took the time to intentionally work Mark the moments and meet you right where you were at whether it was birthdays graduations holidays their wedding anniversary she would be so thoughtful about how she would join them and if she was and if she could she would have moved mountains to show up and truly be present even if it wasn't the easiest for her to get there come hell high water she would figure out a way to get there it was definitely mind over matter with Jan so I often they would wait until so often in life we wait until someone passes to tell them how much we love them and wish we could have been more present or join them in the key moments of their lives but with confidence Candace and I think we all can say that Jan that wasn't Jan I don't think she had any regrets about how she re joined any of us she took time to tell us how much she loved us and truly was there through every season of life that we were in thank you Jan for always making others feel seen and loved even when things may not have been very easy for you we miss you my husband marrying into the family many times you when you marry into a family you feel like an in-law or even an outlaw but with Jan Tom felt like he was her friend while our lives will never be the same without Jan now that she has been called home to be with the Lord let us rejoice though that that she's no longer confined to her Earthly body or restrained by her physical limitations in resurrected life she is running and leaping with her for friends her family and her friends our loss is Heaven's gain through our faith we know that we will meet again thank you continue then with the Old Testament reading and Dawn's going to do that too the Old Testament reading today is from Isaiah chapter 40 beginning at verse 27 why do you say oh Jacob and Speak O Israel my way is hidden from the Lord and my right is discarded by my God have you not known have you not heard the Lord is the Everlasting God the creator of the ends of the Earth he does not faint or grow weary his understanding is unsearchable he gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increas increases strength even youths shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength they shall Mount up with Lings like eagles they shall run and not grow weary they shall walk and not faint this is the word of the Lord thanks be to God hello my name is Ken Leu I am Jan's cousin my mother Charlene was Jan's cousin the episc reading is from from First Peter chapter 1 beginning at verse one blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his great Mercy he has caused us to be born again to a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable undefiled and unfading kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed field in the last time in this you rejoice though now for a little while if necessary you have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuiness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ though you have not seen him you love him though you do not now not see him you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with Glory obtaining the outcome of your faith salvation of your souls this is the word of the Lord thanks be to God [Music] [Music] [Music] when you walk through a stor keep your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark at the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a walk on through the wind walk on through the rain though your dreams be TOs and blow walk on walk on his hope in your heart and You'll Never Walk Alone you never [Music] walk walk through the wind walk on through the rain though your dreams be TOs and blow walk walk with hope in your heart and You'll Never Walk Alone you never walk Lord if you're able please stand for the gospel The Gospel reading chosen for today is from John 14 beginning at verse 1 let not your hearts be troubled believe in God believe also in me in my father's house are many rooms if it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you may be be also and you know that the way to where I am going Thomas said to him Lord we do not know where you are going how can we know the way and Jesus said to him I am the way and the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through me this is the gospel of the Lord praise to you o Christ you may be seated for our next song Amazing Grace for [Music] [Music] for for [Music] dear friends and family Amazing Grace I thought that's a a golden oldie it's a favorite song for many people but it's also a fit theme for us today as we say goodbye to a loved one our dear Lord who knows our needs may he comfort you who mourn and give you strength and Faith to uphold one another whenever people gather together for a Christian funeral there's two basic reasons for a worship service like this one is to demonstrate by our presence the respect that we have for the deceased a life given as trust from God and second to contemplate the meaning of our own relationship to God and for other people with other people for Time and Eternity so with that as background let's turn our attention to our text which is 1 Corinthians 1510 and it picks up on Paul talking about God's grace it takes note of individuality but it relates life to the grace of God 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul wrote but by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace toward me was not in vain on the contrary I worked harder than any of them though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me there is no more beautiful or meaning ful concept for human beings than to contemplate God's grace it emphasizes that not only is God great but he's also good our life on Earth is uncertain it can end unexpectedly and we see the grace of God not only in knowing how he sustains us but also in the knowledge that we are in his hands so the grace of God we usually Define it as being undeserved love God's love and care for us is his grace God's grace is evident most clearly in his love most clearly in how God has restored our relationship to himself a relationship that was broken by human sin Paul wrote uh the words of our text to the Christians at Corinth it Bears testimony to the significance of God's grace Paul had an experienced um a unique experience I think a powerful experience in his coming to Faith remember how God touched Paul's life he was on the road to Damascus he was an enemy of Christians he had made it his life's goal to persecute Christians and then God came to him Jesus came to him on that road one day and by that experience the instruction and baptism Paul's life was turned in a New Direction insteading instead of hunting Christians to persecute them he traveled endlessly to bring the message of Salvation to distant people the change in his life and his witness to Christ Paul attributes to God's Grace by the grace of God I am what I am I kind of like that phrase I am what I am so you could dwell on his past which in Paul's case was very negative or the present and that's what he's saying I am what I am by the grace of God so for all of us for all Christians our baptism our hearing of the Gospel our daily strength our personal blessings Our Hope Of Heaven are all properly recognized as coming from the grace of God so it's only fitting today that we gratefully testify that the grace of God was also the greatest gift in Jan's life there are many things to be grateful for the years of life life her deep Abiding Love For Animals uh Pastor gy who was her pastor for 22 years shared that whenever he had a visit with Jan it was usually a long one because he liked to talk so I guess we could add Gift of Gab in there too but it was the love of God and family and friends and all of that stems from the gift of God that Paul calls Grace so Jen could say too by the grace of God I am what I am she recognized God's grace as witness by her baptism you know she goes back in the history of this church to her birth her baptism her confirmation in 1968 to this very day that's pretty good experience for Christians to have belonged and been a part of the same church their entire life but all of her actions her attitudes toward life for all of us who believe even with our weaknesses and sins overcome by the grace of God in Christ and now at the end of life we lay to rest today because God's grace was sought not received was received and was trusted and we can be comforted by that promise of eternal life in the presence of God himself the amount of comfort and hope given by the grace of God is never more clearly evident than when a Christian comes to the end of life the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 is an account by Paul all of the hope of the assurance that we have because of God's grace in Christ Jesus Paul puts all the evidence of our Eternal Hope on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and rose again to assure us that the victory is already won and the Paul on the casket has one word on it besides a cross and it says as Resurrection that's the day we wait for the victory is won by Christ no one can claim to stand blameless before God by something we've done or by our own Merit neither do we claim that for Jan but we firmly believe as God word tells us the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin so it's in this confidence in this grace of God that we get our peace and our comfort it's there for all those who mourn so we close today with the words printed on the front cover of your bulletin it was Jan's confirmation verse from what I've learned about her and what others have told me it's very fitting for her it's like be content with what you have and remember God's word then to all of us I will never leave you nor forsake you amen and God is made us his people through our baptism into Christ living together in trust and hope we confess our faith in the words of the Apostles Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin Mary suffered under pontious pilate was crucified died and was buried he descended into hell the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty from then he will come to judge the living and the dead I believe in the Holy Spirit the holy Christian Church the communion of saints the Forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and the life Everlasting amen just a few directions before we get into our prayer after the service um the family will be going out to the cemetery uh for the committal if you're not going to the cemetery you're welcome to go downstairs and eat there are stairways in the Commons out here the long hallway there are stairways at either end there's also an elevator at this end um and restrooms are on both floors downstairs they're on that end of the hallway and upstairs the ladies is on that end of the mens is on this hym let us pray then and our dinner prayer is included in this first petition almighty God you have knit your chosen people together in one communion in the mystical body of your son Jesus Christ Our Lord gathering in your name today may you bless our fellowship with your love for the food we will share for those who have prepared it and for those who will serve it may all these gestures be a reflection of your abundant compassion and love for us all in thankfulness We join to pray come Lord Jesus Be Our Guest that all these gifts to us be blessed and Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ's death and Resurrection May die to sin and Rise every day to newness of life looking forward to our Passage through death that we may by Grace see our joyful Resurrection lifting our eyes to you we pray comfort and cheer us dear Lord as we are still in our Earthly pilgrimage walking by faith grant that your Holy Spirit may lead us in Holiness and righteousness all of our days guide and direct us dear Lord acknowledging your gifts of life and breath here on Earth and your Eternal victories and Heaven's reality receive our thanks and praise Grant to all who mourn in Christ here and everywhere assure confidence in your loving care casting our sorrow on you that we may know the consolation of your love give us courage and faith that we may have the strength we need to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a certain hope and in the joyful expectation of eternal life and with all your sainted souls in heaven we humbly pray strengthen our faith and Lift Our Hope help us we pray in the midst of things we cannot understand to believe and trust in the communion of saints the Forgiveness of sins the resurrection to life Everlasting our trust remains in you Our Shepherd and our savior and our King we stand for the Lord's Prayer grant us peace to accept and respect your holy will in all matters of life and death that we may confidently commend all matters of our bodies and souls into your Almighty loving and eternal hands trusting in your Almighty power and eternal love we now pray Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but Deliver Us from Evil evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever amen and now may the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you the Lord lift up his countenance on you and give you peace amen you may be seated for our final hymn oh GL [Music] all all oh h [Music] h