May 19, 2018, 10:00 AM
First Chinese Baptist Church, San Francisco
Opening Prayer
Creator God, we trust you to guide us through every season of life. You carry us from death to life, from weeping to laughing, from mourning to dancing, from silence to speaking and from crying to singing. Today we come together as family and friends of our loved one, Flo Chin to not only share our sadness of her death but also to celebrate the joy that she gave to all who knew her. Lord, just like we know that as Spring ends and Summer begins, Flo’s life represented many different seasons of life that she experienced. In all of the seasons of Flo’s life, we pray and believe that you have always walked along side with her. She believed in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and proclaimed that truth and faith to all who were blessed to have come in contact with her. We celebrate Flo Chin’s life of faithfulness today confident in believing that as she completed her life on earth, she began a new eternal life with you, Lord in everlasting life. Inspire us to experience every season in its fullness as Flo Chin did, and to trust that nothing lasts forever—except for your eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
This Thessalonians passage is like the many kind words that Flo Chin read in greeting cards when she selected just the right card to send you. All by herself she kept Hallmark Cards in business! Flo always remembered our birthdays, marked your special occasions and wished us to “Rejoice…”
Closing Prayer
Creator and Provider God, at this time of all times, we thank you for the beautiful memories, images, and stories of Flo Chin who demonstrated in her life on earth how precious the gift of life is.
We thank you for good health to which we are blessed and for the skill and compassion of those who care for us especially when our health falters and fails just like how Bill cared for Flo throughout her life. Be with Bill now and fortify his health and strength to continue to be a faithful servant of Christ Jesus.
We thank you for home, for the roof over our heads and the place where we stretch out to renew our strength in sleep; and for loved ones who make that roof and that bed and all the rest into a true home that give praise to you, O God.
We thank you for hope, hope for the pursuit of the next goal when one goal has been reached; hope for recovery and a fresh start when a goal has eluded us; hope that Flo Chin always had of a new beginning, a new chance, more peace, a new year when she invited us to celebrate Chinese New Year with her at Moonstar.
And we thank you, O God for hope at last, when all hope seems lost, except for the one shining hope set before us in your raising our Lord Jesus from death.
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen. (Numbers 6:24-26)
Interment for Flo Chin
May 4, 2018, 10:00 AM, Woodlawn
Announcements
Bill Chin invites you to lunch at Moonstar immediately following our service here.
The Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Flo Chin open to all will be on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 AM at First Chinese Baptist Church, 1 Waverly Place, San Francisco. There will be a lunch reception upstairs in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
Closing Prayer
Merciful God, you created us in your own image, perhaps because you were lonely. You created us as members of families, so that none of us should ever be lonely. You share our grief when the family circle is broken and we experience loneliness and sorrow.
Our sister Flo Chin set her feet on this earth to seek your ways as a dedicated and devoted disciple. You watched over her especially during difficult and confusing times. And we know that she was never alone because of your love for her. As you lovingly received and welcomed her to the ranks of the redeemed, we pray that you would continue to guide our steps so that, at the appointed time, we might join Flo Chin in the communion of saints—forgiven, transformed, and fit for our new life with the Lord.
Grant us strength in the days ahead with the assurance that Flo Chin’s return to you has not broken our family circle, but only extended it beyond this earthly scene into the heavens, thanks to the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. Amen. (2 Thess. 2:16-17)