A Service of Worship
Celebrating the Life of
Rudolph (Rudy) Edward Laumbach
And the Eternal Life of his Soul
June 16, 1931 – June 15, 2024
First United Presbyterian Church
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Saturday, June 29, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
PRELUDE
GREETINGS
*CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 27 and Isaiah 43)
Leader: The Lord is my light and my salvation;
People: Whom shall I fear?
Leader: The Lord is the strength of my life;
People: Of whom shall I be afraid?
Leader: “I have called you by name,” says the Lord, “you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”
People: May we live trusting in God’s eternal love for us and the world.
All: Praise Creator, Savior, Presence, the Trinity of God!
*OPENING PRAYER (Unison)
God of love, you adopted us as your children. Grant that we may pass through the world with such integrity that no one will have just complaint against us. At the end, may we inherit what has been prepared for us in heaven, through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
*HYMN OF PRAISE “How Great Thou Art” GTG #625
CALL TO PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION
UNISON PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION
Holy God, you see us as we are and know our inmost thoughts. You know how grief sometimes overwhelms us and how our minds wander from your eternal love, turning away from your gracious care. We sometimes forget that all life comes from you and to you all life returns. We admit we have not always trusted Christ’s example nor lived as your grateful children, loving each other as you love us.
O Lord, help us remember that you are with us always, when we are weak and in our strength. In your mercy, we ask you to forgive and heal us. Restore to us the joy of your eternal salvation, even as we grieve the death of your beloved child, Rudy. We pray in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 23
John 14:1-7
Romans 8:35-39
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR GOD’S WORD
*HYMN “Amazing Grace” GTG #649
EULOGY BY BLAINE LAUMBACH
TIME FOR SHARING MEMORIES
WORDS OF HOPE
HYMN “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” GTG #834
PASTORAL PRAYERS AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (In English and Spanish)
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Based on A Brief Statement of Faith) (unison)
We are not alone. We live in God’s world. We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community.
In a broken and fearful world, the Spirit of God gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior…and to work with others for justice, freedom and peace. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God! Amen.
CLOSING HYMN “When We Are Living/Pues Si Vivimos” GTG #822
(Sing in the language of your choice)
*CLOSING PRAYER (Unison)
Gracious God, in whom all hearts are glad, and all souls rejoice, show us the path of your presence, that we follow it in hope and be filled with Resurrection Joy, through Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior. Amen
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
