Opening Song: Rise by Ashley Dean Coppola. Lyrics:Out of love for youOnce was veiled by darkness came to lightFor your sake I your GodBecame the man whom you betrayedSee my faceSee my sideHold my hands pierced by youAnd let me leadOn the crossLove brought forthAnd the pain in my sideHealed the pain in yoursEarth is still fast asleepFlesh has died and love draws nearIn the dark bound by chainsAll who slumber now awakeTake my handRise from sleepLet it goGive me everythingYou are foundYou are freeI live in youAnd you in meTake my handRise from sleepLet it goGive me everythingPassage: 13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.(1 Thessalonians Musical Reflection: Children of the Heavenly Father (TRYGGARE KAN INGEN VARA), trad. Swedish folk song Reflection Notes: Lina Sandell-Berg purportedly wrote the lyrics for this hymn after witnessing her father’s untimely death in a boating accident. Her text focuses on our heavenly Father, who will never leave us or forsake us, in life or in death. The tune originates from a 19th-century Swedish folk song, its sweet fluidity well-suited for the words of comfort. Prayer:O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.