The Celebration of Eternal Life for Elizabeth Ann Lott Bair
May 13, 2023 | 1:00 PM
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Atlanta, Georgia
PRELUDE
I Know that My Redeemer Liveth Handel
Adagio from Symphony #2 Widor
Adagio for Strings Barber
GATHERING Standing
Welcome in the name of Jesus the Savior, who died and was raised to new life by the grace of God. We are gathered here to worship, to remember before God our sister, Liz Bair, to give thanks for her life, to commend her to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received from God. Thanks be to God.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
ACCLAMATION
Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you. | We glorify you.
Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you. | We praise you.
Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you. | We worship you.
To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. | Amen.
HYMN 422 For All the Saints
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister, Liz. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen.
Seated
REMEMBRANCE Charlotte Bair, granddaughter
SOLO
Amazing Grace
The Rev. Dr. Greg Smith
FIRST READING Colossians 3:12-17
As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Word of God, Word of Life | Thanks be to God
PSALM 23 (read responsively)
The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Word of God, Word of Life | Thanks be to God
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Word of God, Word of Life | Thanks be to God
ANTHEM Panis Angelicus Franck
Khadijah Davis, soloistStanding
THE HOLY GOSPEL John 14:1-6, 14-18
The Gospel according to St. John, the fourteenth chapter | Glory to you, O Lord
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place 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 except through me. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.
The Gospel of the Lord | Thanks be to God
Seated
HOMILY Bishop David A. Donges
HYMN 376
Thine is the Glory
APOSTLES' CREED
God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Kneeling or Seated PRAYERS
Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus, full of compassion, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Liz and dry the tears of those who weep. Lord, in your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, man of sorrows, you wept at the grave of Lazarus your friend; comfort us who mourn. Lord, in your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, firstborn of the new creation, you raised the dead; give to our sister Liz life eternal. Lord, in your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, friend of sinners, you promised paradise to the repentant thief; bring Liz to the joys of heaven. Lord, in your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, wellspring of life, you washed our sister in baptism and anointed her with the Holy Spirit; give her communion with all your saints. Lord, in your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, bread of life, you nourished Liz at your table on earth; Welcome her at your table in the realm of heaven. Lord, in your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, bright morning star, comfort us in our sorrows at the death of Liz: let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope. Lord, in your mercy, | hear our prayer.
God of all grace, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. | Amen.
Standing
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
ANTHEM Chorale from The Passion according to St. John, BWV 245 The Redeemer Choir
Ah, Lord, your dear, sweet angels send, In my last hour my soul attend, To Abraham's bosom bear it; This body in its narrow room, So softly rests from pain and gloom, And waits the day prepared it.
Ah, then, from death awaken me.
Unbind my eyes that I may see In boundless joy your holy face! My Savior, and my Throne of Grace! Lord Jesus Christ! O, hear thou me! Thee will I praise eternally!
COMMENDATION
J. S. BachInto your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Elizabeth Ann Lott Bair Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. | Amen.
HYMN 504
A Mighty Fortress
DISMISSAL
Let us go forth in peace. | In the name of Christ. Amen.
Officiants: The Rev. Dr. David A. Donges, Bishop Emeritus South Carolina Synod, ELCA
The Rev. Mark H. Larson
Organist: Sarah Hawbecker
Acolyte: Michael Van Gorder
Crucifer: Diana Hodnett
Lectors: The Rev. Dr. Greg Smith
Michael Van Gorder
Reception to follow service, all are welcome to join the family in the Sims Atrium.
Lord, make us servants of your peace: where there is hate, may we sow love; where there is hurt, may we forgive; where there is strife, may we make one.
Where all is doubt, may we sow faith; where all is gloom, may we sow hope; where all is night, may we sow light; where all is tears, may we sow joy.
Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek to be consoled, but to console, nor look to understanding hearts, but look for hearts to understand.
May we not look for love's return, but seek to love unselfishly, for in our giving we receive, and in forgiving are forgiven.
Dying, we live, and are reborn through death's dark night to endless day; Lord, make us servants of your peace, to wake at last in heaven's light.
-Author (attributed to): St. Francis of Assisi; Paraphraser: James Quinn
Source: The Book of Praise #739
By powers of God so wondrously protected, we wait with confidence, befall what may. God is with us at night and in the morning and oh, most certainly on each new day.
-Dietrich BonhoefferElizabeth Ann Lott Bair died peacefully at King’s Bridge Retirement Community on April 10, 2023, surrounded by family and caregivers. She was 94.
Liz was born on October 8, 1928, in Gettysburg, PA, the only child of the late Belva Nora Deardorff and Walter Jamison Lott. She grew up in Gettysburg, attended Gettysburg College, graduated in 1950 and soon after married her one true love, John Criley Bair, also a Gettysburg graduate. Shortly after their wedding, Liz and John moved south, first to Raleigh, NC, then to Atlanta, GA, her home of 72 years.
Liz learned from an early age the historical significance of her surroundings. Her patriotism and values were further shaped by the times through which she lived, specifically the Great Depression and World War II. A member of the Greatest Generation, Liz was guided by traditional American values. She and John together achieved the American dream through hard work, perseverance, and a deep faith in God.
Liz and John purchased their first home with help from the GI Bill. The Bair family grew quickly, and by 1957 they had four children. Liz loved raising her children. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, decorating and being the manager of the household. She and John immediately began making friends in their neighborhood and at church, as well as connecting with new transplants, networking the old fashioned way. In 1959, Liz and John outgrew their starter house and moved to their forever home, the “school house on the hill.”
In 1961, Liz and John started Bair Pool Service, a swimming pool maintenance and repair business. In 1966, they added a retail operation to the business on Roswell Road in Buckhead and welcomed the birth of their fifth child. A year later, they launched a second business, Bair’s Ski Shop, operating from the same location. Riding the crest of the ski wave for over 20 years, they enjoyed tremendous success, retiring in 1986 to begin the next chapter of their lives.
Liz was a life-long learner with an adventurous spirit. She and John travelled the world for 12 years before he became ill. She faithfully and lovingly cared for him with the help of Ralph Ector until John’s death in 2003. For the remainder of her life, Liz continued to travel with friends and family, taking more than 17 major trips around the globe, each of which she documented in detailed scrapbooks and elaborate celebrations in her home with themed meals and décor. Some of her favorite destinations were Thailand, Africa, and India. Her last overseas destination was Germany in 2017 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation.
One of Liz’s greatest attributes was maintaining and nurturing her friendships and family relationships. She excelled in the art of letter writing and correspondence and was a gracious and hospitable hostess, always welcoming people into her home and into her life. She was optimistic, endearing, and beloved. She never judged others, living faithfully by the Golden Rule.
Liz was an active member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer for over 70 years, serving in a variety of capacities: teaching Sunday School, serving on the Congregation Council, the Wedding Guild, the Altar Guild, as well as in the Food Ministry. She was also a great supporter of its Friends of Music ministry. Liz’s deep faith formed the bedrock upon which her life was built.
Liz is survived by her five children and their spouses: Andrew L. Bair (Stanley), Wallace C. Bair, Charles E. Bair (Peggy), Elizabeth T. Currie (Robert), and John C. Bair, Jr. She was “Mama Dear” to her six adored grandchildren: Charlotte E. Bair, Jamison T. Bair, Andrew T. Currie, E. Claire Currie, Bridget E. Bair, and Keira C. Bair. Liz is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
