The Celebration Service/Reflections on Noel's Life and God's Love

The Celebration Service
Monday, May 7, 2001
6:30 PM
Papago Park
Phoenix, Arizona

The Order of Service

Prelude:
   Keyboard Selections played by Ken Reeves
Welcome and Opening Prayer:
   Pastor Paul Sorenson
Song #1:
   Amazing Grace by Cecilia
   From: Voice of the Feminine Spirit
Reflections on Noel's Life & God's Love:
   Pastor Paul Sorenson
A Father's Message:
   John Schuderer
A Mother's Letter:
   Marna Chvarak
   [Not Shared Publicly at Service]
Song #2:
   Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton
   From: Eric Clapton Unplugged
Reading #1:
   Barbara Schuderer (Stepmother)
   Excerpt from A Return to Love: Reflections
   on the Principles of A Course in Miracles by
   Marianne Williamson
Song #3:
   A Place in the World by
   Mary Chapin Carpenter
   From: A Place in the World
Reading #2:
   Ryan Schuderer (Brother)
   On Joy and Sorrow
   From: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Song #4:
   Bourée by Johan Sebastian Bach
   Performed by Jethro Tull
   From: Standup
Email and a Love Poem:
   Heather Burns (Partner)
Song #5:
   Dante's Prayer by Loreena McKennitt
   From: The Book of Secrets
Open Sharing:
   by Family and Friends
Closing Comments and Prayer:
   Pastor Paul Sorenson
Postlude/Song #6:
   Standing in Motion by Yanni
   From: In Celebration of Life
Reception
Spreading of Ashes

Reflections on Noel's Life
and God's Love
by Pastor Paul Sorenson,
Community Church of Joy

Noel knew that grace [referring to the song Amazing Grace that had just been played]. His was a life of grace. He lived gracefully and ever so graciously. We have felt that grace and one of the ways that Noel lived that grace was in the beauty of creation.

I'd like to read for you a passage from the Bible from Psalm 8 that really talks a lot about what Noel loved the best.

Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth!

You have set your glory above the Heavens. From the lips of children and infants, you have ordained praise.

When I consider your heavens, and the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you would care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

We will now hear from Noel's father, John.