A Service of Witness to the Resurrection And to the Life of Bryan R. Burch
Westminster Church, Upper St. Clair
January 12, 2004

March 17, 1980 - January 9, 2004

Click on images for enlarged photos Bryan's Burial Niche in the Columbarium at Westminster Church, Rt. 19, Upper St. Clair, Pa.

The above are copies of the memorial cards we had printed for Bryan's viewing.

Presided by Reverend Bob Norris

We are gathered here today with sad, yet grateful hearts.

SAD, because death represents loss for us. The loss of relationship. The loss of life as it was remembered, in all its vitality, health, and joy. Sad, because what was, will not be repeated and can only be remembered.

Yet, GRATEFUL hearts emerge when the memory banks are engaged. And it is these memories of life with Bryan that by the Grace of God sustain us at this time of sorrow and grief.

So today, we are Grateful for the life of Bryan Burch
Whose spirit has returned to the God who gave it. And so with trust and certain hope in the love of Christ our Lord, we affirm our faith in His victory over the power of death. And we claim the promise of Bryan's and our eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Resurrected Lord.

In this I declare with assurance, that as Christ lives, so Bryan Burch lives also!

Eternal God, our heavenly Father, who loves us with an everlasting love; and who can turn the shadow of death's dark night into the brightness of a resurrection morning, help us to turn now and wait upon you with hope-filled and believing hearts.

And in the reflective silence of these moments, through your promises read and heard in Scripture, by the memories shared and the character, love, wonder and joy of Bryan Burch upheld this day, speak to us of eternal things.

As constant as the Morning Star was Bryan -- a son who grew up with a great curiosity, interest and delight in life; a brother whose greatest delight was in the vigor and vitality of relationship a young man who was headlong in love with so many and in shared life together. We gather up our prayers and for Bryan's family. Kathy, Mike, Amber and Cris.

We offer this our worship in memory of Bryan and in tribute to Christ, who is our hope and our life, and our assurance of these claims we make this day.

It is our prayer that through the promise of hope conveyed by your presence through your word and spirit - we would be lifted above the present darkness and sadness into the assurance of your abiding presence.

Minister to us now we pray in the strong and confident name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

At a time like this... Scripture speaks best for itself:

The Lord is my Shepherd
We've had a great time
He's helped me to see the green pastures
Not just with my eyes, but with my heart
And to love the life there
And everywhere
He was quiet with me beside still waters
That quenched the thirst of my soul.
He let me fall and fall again
Until I knew that my only happiness
Was through learning to love like He does
Some of us fear what they call death,
But the secret of eternity is that it's all life and love,
And Heaven is a feast of Joy,
For nothing else exists
But the All that is God.
So I sing the song of the Kingdom of God
That we all know
In the part of us
That is Forever.

For everything there is a season, and a right time for every matter on earth.
A right time for birth, and another for death;
A right time to plant, and a time to harvest,
A right time to kill, and a time to heal;
A right time to destroy, and a time to construct;
A right time to cry, and a time to laugh;
A right time to lament, and another to toast;
A right time to keep, and a time to give away;
A right time to embrace, and another to part;
A right time to search, and a time to count your losses;
A right time to hold on, and another to let go;
A right time to keep silence, and a time to speak up;
A right time to love, and a time to hate;
A right time to wage war, and another to make peace.
There is nothing better to do than to make the most of the time, to give
and get the most we can out of life. That's is to eat, drink, and make the
most of your job. All you have . . . is God's gift.

It is important what you choose.

In the end what makes the difference is what God does.

God claims the World and everything in it,

God claims the Earth and all who live on it.

Who can ascend the hills to God's heaven?

Who can stand in God's holy presence?

Only the clean-handed,

Only the pure-hearted,

God is at their side;

With God's help, they make it.

They will receive honor from God.

The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,

Faithfulness, Goodness, Generosity, Self-Control.

Let your love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit. Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering. Persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to all.

There is a song that expresses feelings that Kathy wanted read for Bryan.  The words are from Josh Groban's "To Where You Are" ...

Who can say for certain
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memories so clear

Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration
Can it be (?)

That you are my
Forever love
And you 're watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile

If only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen

As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me everyday

'Cause you are my
Forever love
Watching me from up above

And I believe
That angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up
To where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight

To see you smile
If only for awhile
To know you're there

A breath away's not far
To where you are

I know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

There are markers of a person's life, that serve as the measures of that life. And today, we gather to collect and celebrate the memories of this young man's life - Bryan R. Burch

An Alphabet of Descriptors of Bryan:

A Adored, Affectionate, Adventuresome
B Beloved, Brother, Beans
C Courageous, Compassionate, Calm and Committed, one with a Contagious Smile
D Devoted, Dependable
E Engaging, Encouraging, Enthusiastic
F Focused, Friendly, Fisherman
G A gift of God's grace
H Humble, Hopeful, A Hero
I Innovative, Ingenious, Inspiring
J Joyous and Jestive
K Kindhearted,
L Loving, Loyal,
M Motivator, Mentor, A Man's Man
N Nearby, Never too busy or too burdened.
O Optimistic
P Patient, Positive
Q Quiet,
R Respectful, Reflective, and today Resurrected
S A Son, Soft-spoken, Sincere, Steadfast
T Trusting / Trustworthy, Thoughtful
U Unselfish, Untiring
V Victorious over many of Life's Vicissitudes
W Winsome, Welcoming
X One who Xeroxed the good, and who never X-Rayed the Bad
Y Yielded to God and interested in You
Z Zealous in his appreciation for life, and for other's enjoyment of life.

Nicholas Wolterstorff, a minister and a college philosophy professor, lost a son who was only twenty-five years old. The son had been mountain climbing in Austria, when he slipped on a narrow mountain trail and fell to his death.

Shortly after his son's death, Wolterstorff wrote a book called Lament for a Son, in which he describes and explores the depth of his own grief.  "The pain of the no more," he writes, "far outweighs the gratitude of the once was."

"It's hard enough to bury our parents," he writes. "But that we expect.  Our parents belong to our past; our children belong to our future. We do not visualize our future without them. How can I bury my son, my future? He was meant to bury me!"

"Death has made my son special. He is special in my grieving. When I give thanks, I mention all five of my children; when I lament I mention only him. Wounded love is special love, special in its wound. Now I think of him every day; before, I did not. Of the five, only he has a grave."

You get the sense, don't you, of the depth of that parents' pain? You wonder whether he will ever climb out of it, that deep, black hole of grief. Yet, he wrote the book to try to share his pain with others.

In the preface Wolterstorff says, "I have written this book in the hope that it will help other people who find themselves among the company of mourners".

The company of mourners - what a telling phrase that is!

While grief is always private and personal, it is that common experience that comes to us all.

Sooner or later every one of us suffers some significant loss. As a result, we are all members of that company of mourners.

Like the author of Psalm 6, we want to cry out: I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.  My eyes waste away because of grief.

And yet, and yet - we mourn, we grieve, not as ones who have no hope.

Like Wolterstorff, Rev. William Sloan Coffin, when he was senior minister of Riverside Church in New York City, also lost a son, Alex, in the prime of his life.

In a sermon telling about his son's death the next week he said, "the one thing we should never say when someone dies is 'It is the will of God".  Never do we know enough to say that."

Even when pain is deep, know that God is good.

" Cast your burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain you. "

" Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

" In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. "

Psalm 46. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

This Psalm proclaims the gospel: God is for us and God is with us. God will help us, "though the earth should change, though its mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam."

The Psalm doesn't answer all the questions of why things happen as they do, but it is an affirmation about the nature of God and a source of strength and courage for us.

Julian of Norwich said: "God has not promised that you will never be tempted, troubled, or distressed. But God has promised that you will never be overcome."

The cross on which Jesus died is the sign and proof of God's identification with our pain, suffering and great loss.

God's answer to pain and suffering is not a philosophical answer, but rather an incarnational one.

In all this, both now and for all eternity in God's words, it tells us us:

1. I am with you.
2. You are not alone.
3. Turn to me.
4. Be not afraid.
5. I have called you by name.
6. You are mine.
7. Let not your hearts be troubled.
8. I will never leave, nor forsake you.
9. My peace I leave with you.
10. I love you.

Dear friends, death leaves a heartache no one can heal. But know-- but know -- that love leaves a memory - no one can steal.

If you don't hear anything else in these words, please hear this;  

If you don't remember anything else from this funeral service, please remember this;

If you don't do anything else in response to Bryan Burch's death and to this experience, please do this:

Love while you still can love.

Make the most of the moments that are yours, because too soon they may be gone.   One day we are all left to our memories. So, build good memories in your life.

I plead with you today, in the name of God, love … love those whom God has given you to love and love them while you still can!