Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
4768 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111
office: 652-8285; cell: 319-5424; home: 732-2631;
Email: ;
Church’s Website: www.ascension-wels.net;
Pastor Robert Green; Officers: President: Mike Neff; Vice President: Chuck Thompson; Secretary: Ralph Buehler; Elders: Mike Neff, Chuck Thompson, Ralph Buehler, Rick Grove, and Lance Pockey; Fellowship: Ron Althoff; Treasurer: Rick Grove; Properties: Larry Stoner; Publications: Terry Reilly; Stewardship: Franklin Stauffer; Evangelism: Steve Lange; Organists/pianists: Marge Metz, Scott Salesky, and Brook Larson; Willing Workers: Chairwoman: Barb Buehler; Secretary: Linda Graf; Altar Guild: Barb Buehler; LWMS Reporter: Marge Metz; Choir director: Lori Nowaczyk
Funeral Service for
Magdalena Marzluft
February 14, 2014
Born June 14, 1919
Born again by infant baptism;
Confirmed in the Christian faith;
Passed to glory on February 9, 2014
Pall Bearers
Magdalena’s great-grandsons:
Billy Hanna, Joey Hanna
Tony Rauh, Jake Rauh, Josh Rauh
Nate Liefke
As the Church conducts the new Christian into its fellowship through Holy Baptism and sustains the Christian's faith through preaching and the Lord's Supper, so at death, the voice of the Church is heard again. Today the Church proclaims our glorious expectation and anticipation of the resurrection of the dead through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The order of service is the Order of Christian Funeral from Christian Worship, A Lutheran Hymnal
Opening Hymn: Amazing Grace, verses 1-3
Text: John Newton, 1775-1897, st. 1-3, abr.: John P. Rees, 19th century, st. 4 NEW BRITAIN
Tune: Columbian Harmony, Cincinnati, 1929, alt. CM
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
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 weak and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Let us pray: 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 Magdalena 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 rising 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 the saints in glory everlasting.
C: Amen.
Hear now Psalm 23 (NIV) of David, a psalm for the living:
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Hymn: Just As I Am, without One Plea
Text: Charlotte Elliott, 1789-1871; Tune: William B. Bradbury, 1816-68 Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-718321
RESURRECTION AND COMFORT
M: Praise 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."
M: Death has been swallowed up in victory! Thanks be to God!
C: He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
M: When Christ, who is life, appears,
C: Then we also will appear with him in glory.
M: We will be before the throne of God.
C: And serve him day and night in his temple.
M: Never again will we hunger;
C: Never again will we thirst.
M: For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be our Shepherd; he will lead us to springs of living water.
C: 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.
First Lesson: Job confesses his faith in the resurrection of the dead, for his knows his Redeemer lives!
Job 19:23-27 (NIV)
“Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
or engraved in rock forever!
25 I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand
upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him 4with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!”
Hymn: The Old Rugged Cross, verses 1, 2, and 4
WORDS and MUSIC George Bernard 1913, Public Domain
Second Lesson: In which St. Paul comforts us with the simple truth that the resurrection is God’s proof that we who believe will be raised with new bodies, imperishable, thus taking away the sting of death!
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (NIV)
“I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55 "Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Sermon Hymn: How Great Thou Art, verses 1, 3, and 4
Text, Tune, Setting: c 1953. Renewed 1981 by Manna Music, Inc., 35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-718321
Sermon: by Pastor Green, based on Hebrews 13:5 -6
This day will you be comforted by God’s promise that never will he leave you, never will he forsake you?
Hebrews 13:5–6 (NIV84)
God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
6 So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”
APOSTLES' CREED
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 again 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.
PRAYERS
M: Almighty God, we praise you for the great company of saints who have finished their lives in faith and now rest from their labors. We remember especially our loved one, Magdalena, 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,
C: Hear our prayer.
M: 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,
C: Hear our prayer.
M: 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 where 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,
C: Hear our prayer.
M: Lord, watch over Magdalena’s family. Strengthen them in faith again and again assuring them that they can cling to your promises of forgiveness and eternal life and that you will work good in all things, even in Magdalena’s death.
M: Remove our fears, and make us bold to pray with confidence as our Savior taught us to pray:
The Lord’s prayer
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 glory
forever and ever. Amen.
M: May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ (†), to whom be glory for ever and ever.
C: Amen
Closing Hymn: 382 My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
Text: Edward Mote, 1797-1874, alt. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-718321 MAGDALEN
+ Announcements +
Interment will follow the service and will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Harrisburg PA.
Reverend M. Robert Green, officiating;
Arrangements by Wiedeman Funeral Home, Steelton.
Organist/pianist: Marge Metz, member of Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church.
We will have a luncheon following the internment in the church Fellowship Hall, downstairs, and all are welcomed to join with the family.
On behalf of our congregation and on behalf of Linde and Erika and the rest of the family, we thank you all for coming and sharing in the comfort of the resurrected Lord who promises to never leave or forsake you.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church or a charity of the donor's choice.
A favorite poem of Magdalena Marzluft
Author unknown
15
Vertrau nur auf Gott
Verlier nie den Mut,
Vertrau deinem Heiland
und alles wird gut.
Wer Gott vertraut
hat nie auf Sand gebaut,
Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen,
dass sie dich behueten
auf allen deinen Wegen.
Trust only in God,
Never lose the courage,
Trust your Savior
And all will be well.
He who relies on God,
Has not built on sand.
He has instructed his angels,
To protect you
In all your ways.
15
Magdalena Marzluft
Magdalena (Lena) Marzluft age 94, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother sister and dear friend, went to be with her Heavenly Father on February 9, 2014. She was born on June 14, 1919 in Hrastovac (Eichendorf) Yugoslavia (Slavonia, Croatia); she was the daughter of the Late Anna Maria (Wagner-Zarth) and Pavel Ostashek. Lena was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years the late Johann (John) Marzluft, an infant son Josef, her loving daughter Magdalena Liefke, two sister’s Anna Maria Zarth-Kemler, Elisabetha Zarth and a brother John Zart.
She and her family were refugees during WWII, relocated to Boesendorf, Austria during wartime and later lived in Friedensdorf, Germany until the family immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1955. Lena was instrumental in initiating a Ladies Bible Study Group, served as a Willing Worker and was on the Alter Guild at her church. She was employed by the Bayuk Cigar Factory in Steelton and later worked and retired from the International Ladies Garment Workers Industry. She continued to enjoy gardening, music, cooking, baking, housework and handiwork for many years.