In Celebration of the Life of Ivar O. Iverson Jr.
Ivar O. Iverson, Jr. passed away June 26, 2023 at the age of 92. Ivar was born in St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands in 1930 to the Reverend Ivar Iverson Sr. and Cora J. Hamre Iverson. Though he moved to the States at a young age, he always considered himself a Cruzan.
He lived in numerous places during his adolescent years as a pastor’s kid, but most fondly remembered his family’s time with stories from his time in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada and Gerritsen Beach in Brooklyn New York, as well as summers on his mother’s family farm in Deforest Wisconsin.
After his service in Japan during the Korean War, he attended and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture. He moved to Albany, New York to work for the State of New York and met the love of his life, Jean Egleston, at church. They shared a memorable first date, the events of which have become legend. As he aged, he repeated the story over and over to anyone who would listen, still amazed that she choose him, even after he ran out of gas on the way to a ski outing in Vermont. They married in August 1958, four months after their first date. This August would have been their 65th wedding anniversary.
After the birth of their first child, he accepted a position with Leo Daly and Associates in Omaha, Nebraska. He then accepted a position with the federal government and began a long career with FHA and HUD as an environmental officer. Those positions took him to Atlanta then Miami and back to Atlanta, where he retired in 1992.
Ivar was always active in church, especially St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Miami, where the whole family participated in the building of the church, and later in Advent Lutheran in Doraville and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, where he served on church council, advised on property and landscape issues and helped establish a Columbarium.
He loved to travel and in retirement was fortunate to see much of the world with Jean.
More important than anything was his time with family. Especially in recent years, Ivar frequently took the opportunity to express amazement and gratitude for the life he had. With
four generations at family gatherings, he was a great grandpa, a grandpa, a father, a fatherin-law, husband and uncle. He always seemed amazed at his good fortune.
He is pre-deceased by his parents and two brothers, Harold and Curtis Iverson. He is survived by his wife, Jean,; daughters Erica Meers (Tim), Cheryl Iverson and Rachel Iverson; grandchildren James Ivar Meers (Jessica), Samuel Anderson Meers (Megan), Caroline Iverson and Lindsey Iverson; great grandchildren Lennox Meers and Raelynn Meers; and nieces Jackie Iverson (Jake) and Kristy Iverson.
PRELUDE GATHERING
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 brother, Ivar, to give thanks for his life, to commend him to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.
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.
Standing
HYMN 773
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light,
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.
When my way grows drear Precious Lord linger near. When my life is almost gone Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall, Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.
When the darkness appears And the night draws near, And the day is past and gone. At the river I stand, Guide my feet, hold my hand, Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.
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 brother, Ivar We thank you for giving him 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
REFLECTIONS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Cheryl Iverson, Caroline, Iverson, and Sam Meers
MUSICAL RELECTION
Lamb of God
William Bolick, soloist
SCRIPTURE READINGS
2 Timothy 4:6-8
As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Word of God, Word of Life | Thanks be to God
Romans 8:35, 37-39
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 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
Standing
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 7:24-29
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 7th chapter | Glory to you, O Lord.
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell — and great was its fall!"
Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You, O Christ.
Seated SERMON
Standing
HYMN 597
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
PastorJenny
McLellanAPOSTLES' 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 Ivar and dry the tears of those who weep. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, man of sorrows, you wept at the grave of Lazarus your friend; comfort us who mourn. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, firstborn of the new creation, you raised the dead; give to our brother Ivar life eternal. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, friend of sinners, you promised paradise to the repentant thief; bring Ivar to the joys of heaven. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, wellspring of life, you washed our brother in baptism and anointed him with the Holy Spirit; give him communion with all your saints. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, bread of life, you nourished Ivar at your table on earth; Welcome him at your table in the realm of heaven.
In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, bright morning star, comfort us in our sorrows at the death of Ivar: let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope. 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 PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you.
Please share a sign of blessing with your fellow worshipers in whatever way is comfortable for you.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts! | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
You are holy, O God of majesty, and holy is your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. He lived as one of us, and knew our joy, our pain and sorrow, and our death.
By his death on the cross you revealed that your love has no limit. By raising him from death you conquered the last enemy, crushed all evil powers and gave new life to the world.
In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, we take from your creation this bread and wine and joyfully celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit unite us with the living Christ and with all who are baptized in his name.
Remember our brother Ivar, whose baptism is now complete in death. Bring him into your eternal joy and light, together with all who have died in the peace of Christ;
through whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray…
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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The risen Christ dwells with us here. All who are hungry, all who are thirsty, come. Seated
All who seek to meet the Risen Christ in the bread and wine are invited to receive Holy Communion
Standing PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. | Amen
Let us pray. Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction and a pledge of our inheritance of life eternal where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all your saints; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. | Amen.
COMMENDATION
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Ivar Iverson. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
Officiants: The Rev. Mark H. Larson, The Rev. Jenny McLellan
Organist: Kira Garvie
Inurnment will follow immediately in the Columbarium. All are welcome to join the family in the Sims Atrium for a light brunch.