Prelude

Greeting

Rev. Kevin Benjamin

Beloved, we have gathered here today to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Desserie Blake.

As we come together in grief,

acknowledging our human loss, may God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.

My name is Pastor Kevin Benjamin and I and I am joined by Pastor Greg Redden and Rev. Dr. Christopher Curry.

Together, we will be leading you through today's celebration of life service for God's servant, Desserie Blake.

Words of Welcome

Pastor Greg Redden

Dying, Christ destroyed our death.

Rising, Christ restored our life.

Christ will come again in glory.

As in baptism, Desserie put on Christ, so in Christ may she be clothed with glory.

Here and now, dear family and friends, we are God's children.

What we shall be has not yet been revealed; but we know that when he appears,

we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Those who have this hope purify themselves,

as Christ is pure.