"The bell tolls.....The funeral service begins...the march toward the grave is halted...the Lord Jesus through the called and ordained servant He has sent by the Holy Spirit through His Church...speaks His Word.."In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The congregation responds, "Amen"...."This is most certainly true." Our loved one is not dead, for God is the God of the Living, baptismal words of life dry our tears. Death is swallowed up by life...we see this reality as the funeral pall covers the casket...the blanket of life to soundly sleep in until the day of resurrection. God the Holy Spirit comforts us through the pen of St. Paul, "Romans 6:3-5 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (4) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection," Here is the promise, sign, and seal in Jesus' Word and works...this sleeping one...shall rise...we will be together again in these bodies raised from death, from sin, from Satan...perfectly restored and given back to us by His grace."(Rev. Nathan J. Rusert)The Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity 24-September-2023Sermon Text: Luke 7:11-17Sermon Theme: Life’s Triumphant March! I. Life Comes To Meet Our Death! (Vs.11-12) II. Life’s Compassionate Word Restores Hope! (Vs.13-15) III. The Lord and Giver of Life Visits His People Only in Jesus! (Vs.16-17) by Rev. Nathan J. Russert