Lena’s Memorial service

This bilingual memorial service for Lena Harutyunyan celebrates her life as a devoted mother and educator while offering theological comfort. The message emphasizes that for believers, death is not a terrifying end but a transition to eternal glory and a “perfect submission” to God’s presence, facilitated by Christ’s victory over the grave.

The service centered on the hope of eternal life and the victory over death through Jesus Christ. Key scriptures included:

• Hebrews 2:14-15: Explaining that Jesus took on human form to break the power of the devil (who holds the power of death) and to free those held in slavery by the fear of death.
• John 11:25-26: Jesus’ declaration as “the resurrection and the life,” promising that believers will live even if they die.
• 1 Corinthians 15:53: The necessity of the perishable body being clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality.
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: A reminder that while the outward man wastes away, the inward man is renewed daily, fixing eyes on the eternal rather than the temporary.

Congregation response

Brother Robert challenged the congregation to shift their perspective on mortality and use their remaining time purposefully:

• Self-Examination: Reflect on areas of life that need change to become more like Jesus.
• Preparation: Live in a state of readiness for Christ’s return or the end of one’s earthly life.
• Community Action: While alive, be proactive in loving one another, performing acts of charity, and supporting those in need.
• Comfort in Grief: For the family of the deceased (Lena), the response is to trust in the “Counselor” (the Holy Spirit) for healing and to find peace in the assurance that she is free from pain and in the presence of God.