A Service of Thanksgiving for the Resurrection Life of

Marilyn Morton Hartke

May 3, 1933 – May 31, 2022

July 16, 2022

11:00 am

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Westborough, MA

Gathering
The Holy Spirit, the comforter, gathers us in worship.

PRELUDE

Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring
J. S. Bach

Yeon Soh, organ
Marilyn Reiman, trumpet

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
arr. by Robert Lau

Yeon Soh, organ

WELCOME

INTRODUCTION

Welcome in the name of Jesus, the Savior of the world. We are gathered to worship, to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to remember before God our sister Marilyn to give thanks for her life, to commend her to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you.

We glorify you.

Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you.

We praise you.

Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you.

We worship you.

To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. Amen.

GATHERING HYMN

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister Marilyn. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

FIRST READING ROMANS 8:35, 37-39 Cynthia Overman

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans.

³⁵Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

On Eagles Wings

Kirby Stalley, soloist
Soloist sings the verses. Congregation, please join on the refrain.

REMEMBRANCE Linda Hartke & Sue Hartke

SECOND READING PSALM 139:7-12 William Bowser

A reading from Psalms.

⁷Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?

⁸If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

⁹If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

¹⁰even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.

¹¹If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,”

¹²even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Sung two times. Please stand as you sing.

GOSPEL MATTHEW 11:28-30 Rev. Jeffrey Goodrich

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said: “²⁸Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Rev. Jeffrey Goodrich

HYMN OF THE DAY

 Beautiful Savior

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Janet Hartke Bowser

Wait for The Lord

Lord of all hopefulness, in baptism you have knit us together into one communion of saints in the body of Christ. Give to your whole church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace. We wait for the Lord.

Sing refrain “Wait for The Lord”

Help us in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in your unconditional and unwavering love, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. We wait for the Lord.

Sing refrain “Wait for The Lord”

Give courage and faith to all who mourn and bind up the brokenhearted. Your goodness never fails and we hold fast to the sure and certain hope in your loving care, casting all sorrow on you, that we may have strength for the days ahead. We wait for the Lord.

Sing refrain “Wait for The Lord”

Nurture our memories of Marilyn that we may be inspired to acts of kindness, generosity and gratitude – and help us find joy in the hidden beauty of everyday life and offer hope and a caring word to those in need. Bless the earth, your creation, and all of the places and people that she loved, from the plains of Kansas to every nook and cranny of every antique store. We wait for the Lord.

Sing refrain “Wait for The Lord”

Good and gracious God, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection he opened the kingdom of heaven to all who believe. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, will be able to separate us from your love. May Marilyn’s compassion, her laughter and her gentle spirit live on – like a legacy of love that will always be with us. May that love surround us now and bring us peace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

SPECIAL MUSIC

We Are the Lord’s
arr. Roland E. Martin

Resurrection Choir

PRESENTATION OF GIFTS

MEAL
God gives us a foretaste of the feast to come.

DIALOGUE

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, and in whom our hope of resurrection dawns. The sting of death has been removed by the glorious promise of his risen life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

SANCTUS

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE

You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God.
You are most holy,
and great is the majesty of your glory.

You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but have eternal life.

We give you thanks for his coming into the world
to fulfill for us your holy will
and to accomplish all things for our salvation.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Remembering, therefore, his salutary command,
his life-giving passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension,
and the promise of his coming again,
we give thanks to you, O Lord God Almighty,
not as we ought but as we are able;
we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving
and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants,
and these your own gifts of bread and wine,
so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ
may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace,
and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,
may be formed to live as your holy people
and be given our inheritance with all your saints.

To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Let us pray as Jesus taught us, each in the words or language of our choice.

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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

OR

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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen 

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

COMMUNION

At this table, Christ is both host and meal, and offers himself to all who hunger and thirst for his presence.
We believe that he is truly present in this sacrament.
Come to the front, where bread is placed in your hand (you can request a gluten-free wafer), and where you receive wine by taking a cup from the tray (the cups in the center contain white grape juice).
If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward and receive a blessing.
If you need to receive communion in your seat, simply notify an usher.
No one is too young to receive this sacrament, though some families wish to give their children some instruction before they take their first communion. If a young child accompanies you, please indicate to the pastor whether they should receive bread or a blessing.

AGNUS DEI

COMMUNION MUSIC

The Lord’s Prayer
Malotte

Yeon Soh, organ
Marilyn Reiman, trumpet

Abide with Me
Kirby Stalley, soloist

TABLE BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish your people. Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, that we may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.

SENDING
God blesses us and sends us out in peace.

COMMENDATION

Let us commend Marilyn to the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Marilyn. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace. Amen.

SENDING HYMN

Thine is the Glory

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Judy Garland

Please join Marilyn’s family immediately following the service for a celebratory meal together in the fellowship hall (featuring Marilyn’s favorites grilled cheese and ice cream).

Your friendship and your presence today are deeply felt and keenly appreciated. Our shared joy in the life of Marilyn has been celebrated today, as we will celebrate it for many years to come. Marilyn’s family thanks you for your presence and your prayers. We would also like to thank the many volunteers and staff of Good Shepherd who helped create this celebration.

The Hartke family has requested memorial gifts to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, in lieu of flowers. If you wish to leave a gift in Marilyn’s name, you may do so by placing it in the basket in the narthex next to the guest book, or by mail or by visiting the church website. We are also grateful for and welcome your many remembrances of Marilyn. Photos and messages can be posted with her obituary at: www.westboroughfuneralhome.com. A burial will follow this October in Wamego, Kansas attended by family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marilyn (standing far right) with her siblings Helen, Marjorie, Raymond (Bud), and Harold, 1935;

On the farm with trusty dog Laddie, c. 1946; Newlywed, Long Branch, New Jersey,1956

 

Oh yes, this was fun, 1962; With buddies Betty and Loretta, 1975; ‘Pill Sisters’ in Hawaii with Bud, 1986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wayside Antiques, 1998; Bermuda, 2008; Castle Island, Maine with her beloved Jerry, 2019

On the farm with Bubbles her pet lamb, 1948; with her mother Leafy in her gardens in Webster, NY, 1966; With a new friend in Nome, Alaska, 1987

 

At the Highlands with her babies (and Jerry), 2019

The altar flowers are a gift from the Hartke family and feature the sunflower, the official flower of her beloved home state of Kansas. Marilyn’s lifelong love of flowers, plants and animals was abundant. A notorious grower of African violets, Marilyn had them in her home for decades and grew them from cuttings for many years.

 

 

From Sundays and Seasons.com. © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #27028. Great Thanksgiving adapted from Will Ed Green, 2019. New Revised Standard Version Bible, ©1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. CCLI#1313879. OneLicense # A-716488