Gisela Kittel 1939 - 2018
March 24, 2018 3:00 PM Grace Lutheran Church 830 N. 1st Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719
MEMORIAL SERVICE Gisela Kittel
GREETING AND PRAYER HYMN
On Eagles’ Wings Christian Worship #440
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen. M:
We have come together to seek God’s comfort in our sorrow and to rejoice in the promise of the resurrection. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Let us pray.
C:
Lord Jesus, you wept at the grave of your friend Lazarus, and you consoled Mary and Martha in their distress. Draw near to us who mourn for Gisela Kittel, and dry the tears of all who weep. Calm our troubled hearts, dispel our doubts and fears, and lead us to praise you for having brought her to faith. In your resurrection from the dead, you conquered death and opened the gates to eternal life. Strengthen us with your Word, and lead us through this earthly life until at last we are united with you and all believers in glory everlasting. Amen.
RESPONSIVE READING - Psalm 23
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The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
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He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
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He restores my soul; he guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
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Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
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Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
RESURRECTION COMFORT M:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. The apostle Paul writes to the Romans, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus gives us this comfort: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
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Death has been swallowed up in victory! Thanks be to God!
C:
He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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When Christ, who is our life, appears,
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Then we also will appear with him in glory.
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We will be before the throne of God
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And serve him day and night in his temple.
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Never again will we hunger;
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Never again will we thirst.
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For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be our shepherd. He will lead us to springs of living water,
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And God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
M:
Let us pray. God of all grace, you sent your Son, Jesus, to destroy the power of death and to open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives, we too shall live. Comfort us with your promise that neither death nor life nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C:
Amen.
GISELA KITTEL’S TIME OF GRACE (SEE PAGE 7)
LESSON
JOB 19:23-27
“Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” 2
LESSON
ROMANS 8:18-19, 28-39
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
LESSON
PHILIPPIANS 3:17-4:1
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
HYMN
SERMON
I’m But a Stranger Here Christian Worship #417
PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21 A Citizen of Heaven
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
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APOSTLES’ CREED C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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.
HYMN
Amazing Grace—How Sweet the Sound Christian Worship #379
PRAYER M:
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C: M:
Almighty God, we praise you for the great company of believers who have finished their lives in faith and now rest from their labors. We remember especially our loved one, Gisela Kittel, whom you have redeemed by the blood of your Son and received as your dear child through Holy Baptism. We thank you for giving her to us as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your compassion, comfort all who are sad in this hour. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. We praise you for your love in Christ, which sustains us in life and death. In our earthly sorrows, help us find strength in the fellowship of the church, joy in the forgiveness of sins, and hope in the resurrection to eternal life. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
C:
You do not leave us comfortless but strengthen and care for us through your Word and sacrament. You give us family, friends, and neighbors to help when there is loneliness now and in the days to come. Brighten our future with a firm trust in your promises and care. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
M:
Remove our fears, and make us bold to pray with confidence as our Savior has taught us: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. 4
BLESSING M:
C:
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and †give you peace. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS HYMN
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In Christ Alone Christian Worship Supplement #752
Copyrighted material reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-710199 & CCLI #3095263
Preacher Liturgist Accompanists
Rev. Samuel Clemons Rev. Ron Koehler Teri Guenther and Kathy Parra
The family thanks you for your presence and support and invites you to join them for a light meal and fellowship in the church Fellowship Hall across the courtyard immediately following our service.
In lieu of flowers, Gisela requested that donations be made to Grace and that memorials given in her name be used to help open a new Child Learning Center for children ages six weeks through four years old, scheduled to open in 2019. Donations may be made out to Grace Lutheran Church and marked “Gisela Kittel Memorial.� Grace Lutheran Church 830 N. 1st Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719
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Gisela Kittel’s Time of Grace 1939 - 2018 Gisela Kittel was born on December 9, 1939 in Möhringen, Stuttgart, Germany—one of five children born to Klara and Josef Kittel. Gisela was made a child of God through Holy Baptism at the family home just two days after her birth, on December 11th. The Holy Spirit caused her to grow in faith over the years and on April 4, 1954, she was confirmed at the Evangelische Kirche in Echterdingen, Germany. Her confirmation verse was Exodus 23:20, “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.” Gisela came to the United States in March of 1961 and later earned her GED, became a citizen of the United States, and studied nursing at Pima Community College. Gisela was blessed with four children: Tom Bowman (and Ruth), Jack Bowman (and Kelly), Christopher Facio, and Heidi Bowman, who was called home to heaven in November of 2007. Her grandchildren, Jared, Wyatt, Brandon, and Rylie were also deeply loved by her. Gisela found many ways to use her time and her gifts in service to the Lord and his church. Service to others and sharing the gospel were important to her. Her enthusiasm for sharing Jesus with others led her to be involved with Mission to the Children (WELS mission work in Mexico), Reach the World Choir, Pima County Jail Ministry, Sabino Canyon Rehab Outreach, and Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society. Her desire to serve others prompted her activity in Grace’s Christian Education Circle, Women of Grace, the Altar Prep Team, serving Sunday fellowship, greeting at the church doors, cooking and serving church meals, and helping with fellowship activities. She was always supportive of her pastors, whom she called her “Seelsorgers” (“those who care for the soul”) and expressed her appreciation for them and her church often. Gisela was a faithful child of God who was not shy about telling people how important worship and Bible study are for every person. Sunday mornings always found her in church and she was a front row Sunday Bible Study participant, leading by example. This time spent with God, his Word, and his people spiritually prepared Gisela for the physical struggles at the end of her life and for the day the Lord called her from this world to his side in heaven. The Lord saw fit to allow Gisela to struggle with brain cancer over the last five months of her earthly life. He finally called her home to heaven on January 30, 2018. The Lord gave Gisela a time of grace on this earth of 78 years, 1 month and 21 days. So teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
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