Amelia Oracion Memorial Bulletin

Celebrating the Life of Amelia Naval de leon Oracion 10:00 am April 15, 2023 Claremont United Church of Christ 233 W. Harrison Ave. Claremont, CA 91711

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR AMELIA NAVAL DE LEON ORACION PRELUDE Nellie Cleto WORDS OF WELCOME Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz HYMN OF PRAISE #423 Great is Your Faithfulness FAITHFULNESS Great is your faithfulness, O God, Creator, with you no shadow of turning we see. You do not change, your compassions they fail not; all of your goodness forever will be. Refrain: Great is your faithfulness! Great is your faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed your hand has provided, Great is your faithfulness, God, unto me! Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness to your great faithfulness, mercy, and love. (Refrain) Pardon for sin and a peace so enduring, your own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine with ten thousand beside. (Refrain) EXPRESSION OF LOSS & GRIEF One: Lord of our lives, the life of our beloved Amelia has ended, we are filled with sorrow and grief, and you are the only One who can give us healing and peace. All: Open our hearts to your grace and give us peace. One: The departed was so many things to us, fill her absence with your consoling love and may her indwelling in our memories empower and grant us confidence to face the future. All: We know with your abiding presence we can carry on with our lives in obedience to your will.

One: According to your Word, we know that she is now in a far better place than her earthly home; it was a joy and a blessing to have her with us these many years. All: Help us accept your providential wisdom; that human life ends in death. One: How lovely and true, that there shall be a time, according to your Word, that all of us shall be gathered together in your heavenly kingdom. EULOGIES Caitlin Oracion Carino, granddaughter Aida de Leon Zabala, sister Jaye Cueto Florendo, friend WORDS FROM THE BIBLE Isaiah 25:6-9 Caitlin Jade Oracion Carino On the mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all peoples. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will wipe away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, \"Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. Be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Romans 8:9-11 Christie Jolie Oracion Carino But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if the spirit of God really dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you. John 14:2-6 Olivia Myles Alikpala Oracion In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going. Thomas said to him, \"Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, \"I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by me.\"

PRAYER FOR THE DEPARTED & THOSE LEFT BEHIND Noah James Alikpala Oracion God of our lives, whose ways are not our ways, and whose thoughts are not our thoughts, grant that your Holy Spirit may intercede for us, with sighs too deep for human words. Heal our wounded hearts made heavy by our sorrow. Through the veil of our tears and the silence of our emptiness, assure us again that ear has not heard, nor eye seen, nor human imagination envisioned what you have prepared for those who love you; through Jesus Christ, the first born from the dead. Amen. HYMN OF ASSURANCE #433 In the Bulb There Is a Flower PROMISE In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there’s a dawn for every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. SERMON Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz HYMN OF HOPE I Believe Rev. Jeremias Lagahit I believe, for every drop of rain that falls, A flower grows... I believe that somewhere in the darkest night, A candle glows... I believe for everyone who goes astray, Someone will come, to show the way, I believe, I believe... I believe, above the storm the smallest prayer, Will still be heard... I believe, that someone in the great somewhere,

Hears every word... Everytime I hear a newborn baby cry, Or touch a leaf, or see the sky, Then I know why, I believe! I believe, above the storm the smallest prayer, Will still be heard… I believe, that someone in the great somewhere, Hears every word... Everytime I hear a newborn baby cry, Or touch a leaf, or see the sky, Then I know why, I believe! A PRAYER OF COMMENDATION Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE On Eagle's Wings ON EAGLE’S WINGS And he will raise you up on eagle's wings Bear you on the breath of dawn Make you to shine like the sun, and Hold you on the palm of his hand. BENEDICTION One: …Go in the peace of Christ. All: Amen.

Poems to Amelia from Levi, her husband Above All Others I have gone through the labyrinths of life and have seen, Known and befriended, a number of Eve’s daughters More than I have fingers, each of whom exhibited Varying degrees of beauty, some sharp and bold, Some shy and tender, some deceptive; But each in each own way had powers to make a Macho man’s dreams of sexual ecstasy throb with Mad excitement. Each has each feminine ways to reinforce their attractive Power, by their smiles and smirks, dainty movements; Or even look of childlike innocence, but they Were momentary pleasures that drove away the ennui Of the moment. But the One who made my heart, mind and soul Experience the bliss of romantic joy and pleasure, Of deep satisfaction, and genuine fulfillment YOU ARE, my dearest IMP, For with you I am fully satisfied and complete And do find myself so much at home with myself. Ah, from mere innocent glances, to tender and shocking Touches in tender places to that thrilling kiss And all the way to our union of mind, body, Heart and soul---are moments of joy unsurpassed That in later years got transmuted into love In its most perfect expression. *Written on the eve of her birthday, July 28, 2015

To Liling, My Life, My Love The roller coaster experiences of life wafting us To and fro in sweet contentment and peaceful bliss, Gets suddenly intruded by dark and ugly forces Mocking our fondest hopes and valiant efforts for Righteousness, goodness and peace and makes us Look daggers at our childhood’s faith making creeds Of yore seem cruel lies and force us to affirm the futility Of all life in agreement with the writer of Ecclesiastes. Such tragic events touches everything we hold dear And sacred even the beauty of One to whom we have Committed ourselves so exclusively, so totally Till death breaks us apart. And yet the remembrance of that original event Of falling in love as we look back and contemplate Its excitements, mystery, depth and power Allows us to perceive the essential beauty and power That withstands the storms and stresses of life And we find ourselves so happily and securely Moored to our original covenant. Truth, love, faith and power make Eternal accents to the life together we hold dear, Though these verities each in its own way Provide the deepest fulfillment of our being, Yet in truth their togetherness form the highest Beatitude and blessing of our union And is the impregnable fortress that withstands All the dark and ugly vicissitudes of life; No matter what life may throw at us, We are assured the power to take The horns of any bull that may dare gore us Wrestle it down to the ground and rise to have The abundant life that our Lord promised us.