>>> IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AMEN MY GOD'S PEACE AND CONSOLATION BE WITH YOU.
>> AND WITH YOU.
>> MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS WE GATHER THIS AFTERNOON AS A COMMUNITY OF FAITH TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR TOM BENSON'S LIFE, HIS FAITH, HIS LIFE OF DISCIPLESHIP AND IN THANKSGIVING
FOR THE MANY MANY HEARTS THAT HE HAS TOUCHED THROUGH HIS 90 YEARS.
WE ALSO GATHER AS A FAITH COMMUNITY TO SURRENDER HIM BACK TO THE LORD HAVING LIVED THIS EARTHLY JOURNEY AND WE GATHER TO PRAY FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO MOURN, ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, GAYLE, ON
THIS VERY DIFFICULT DAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS THAT WE HAVE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON.
GOVERNOR JOHN BELL EDWARDS, SENATE PRESIDENT JOHN ALARIY , MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS, CONGRESSMAN GARRETT GRAVES, COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL, COMMISSIONER ADAM SILVER, ALSO
MY BROTHER BISHOPS, ALFRED HUGHES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND FOR GRACING US AND GIVING HONOR TO TOM AS YOU GATHER TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIM.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A VERY SPECIAL AND WARM WELCOME TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE FROM OTHER CHRISTIAN FAITHS AND OTHER RELIGIONS.
WE THANK YOU AS WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, A COMMUNITY OF FAITH AND WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND JOINING US IN THIS PRAYER.
IN THE WATERS OF BAPTISM TOM DIED WITH CHRIST AND ROSE WITH HIM TO NEW LIFE.
MAY HE NOW SHARE WITH HIM ETERNAL GLORY
IN HIS BAPTISM TOM EMBRACED AND BEGAN TO LIVE THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS.
AS WE BID OUR EARTHLY FAREWELL, GAYLE WILL NOW PLACE ON HIS BODY A CRUCIFIX, A SIGN OF WHAT TOM BELIEVED IN AND ALSO AS A SIGN OF HIS SUFFERING, THAT A AS HE HAS SUFFERED WITH CHRIST, HE
WILL ALSO SHARE IN THE RESURRECTION OF ETERNAL LIF ♪♪ >> LET US PRAY.
LISTEN KINDLY TO OUR PRAYERS, OH, LORD, AS OUR FAITH IN YOUR SON RAISED FROM THE DEAD IS DEEPENED.
MAY OUR HOPE FOR RESURRECTION FOR YOUR DEPARTED SERVANT TOM ALSO FIND NEW STRENGTH IN US.
THROUGH OR LORD JESUS CHRIST YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE