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The response has been overwhelming, and has meant a lot to
Larry's family and friends around the world.

Again, thanks for all the support and great memories...
 
Larry Norman -> Larry Norman -> larry's memorial service
Post Info TOPIC: larry's memorial service
Anonymous

Date:
larry's memorial service
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Just got back from that..it was about 2 and half hours long..and a lot of fun. 
The family really took care to make sure? that this was not a somber event, that 
everyone could feel comfortable and celebrate his life and contributions.? There 
was a photo collage, video clip montage at the end, and even a sing-a-long with 
a bouncing ball on the screen where we all sang "The Rock That Doesn't Roll" 
together.

As we walked in, everyone got a four page program and a cd of the 30th annv 
edition of IAL. We were also asked to write notes to put in a basket about our 
thoughts on Larry for both his family and future grandchildren.? We were also 
encouraged to make financial contributions to the children Larry has supported 
for years overseas so that support could continue.

Gene and Denny of People both gave moving testimonies; others including Kerry 
Hopkins and other musicians also talked about Larry and his impact; Frank Black 
did his via video as he's currently in Holland. Jason Carter did the same.

There's a lot I'm leaving out-I'm really tired, but I'm glad I went and saw 
first-hand the love and support that flowed from the family to the audience. 
Kudos to Charles and the rest for putting this together under such short notice 
and tough circumstances.

It was a good reminder, after seeing all the clips and hearing all the stories, 
how much he really loved Jesus and spent so much time helping others to find the 
same door, despite all the other conflicts and ailiments he had to battle over 
the years.

He's running through the flowers now...


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Keith

Date:
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I just got back from Salem about an hour ago from Larry's service this morning. It was amazing. The service was about 2 and half hours long and then they fed everyone afterwards.  The family was so gracious to open their hearts and lives to so many people, friends and fans of Larry. There was about 600 or so people there. I spoke with the funeral home guys and they thought they had set up about 600 chairs and I didn't see to many empty ones. I had my camera there but didn't take hardly any pictures, it just didn't seem right to do though there were others snapping away (and that's fine but it just didn't seem right to me). SO many shared what part Larry played in their lives. There were people I think, from all over the  world. The pastor (called himself "Sharpie") from England had the place going. He loved Larry so much and preached a little about needing Jesus. One other thing that I thought was total class, the family and staff gave everyone there a couple of albums. Check this out, one was "Only Visiting This Planet" and "Another Land" because Larry was only visiting this planet and now is in another land. Totally cool. The memorial was a time of sharing and the other memory that will stick with me for a while, the first guy on the platform, or he walks out and introduces himself as Larry's mailman. He said he had delivered mail to Larry's house ever since they had moved there. He said he had one last letter to deliver and he said it was from Larry. He opened the envelope and read, "From Larry", today should not be a day of morning but one of celebration. He said that Larry wrote he had an amazing journey while visiting this planet. And that he had nothing but heart felt joy in the walk. The platform had a lot of flowers and a simple pine box casket. It's still hard to believe he's gone. I loved his music and had had the chance to meet with, have lunch with, go to the movies with Larry, he was about Jesus. Charlie said they were taking things one step at a time right now and the office would be open in a  while. He went on to share that the doctors had just said they thought Larry had a year to go but it wasn't to be so in a  way it was sudden and a surprise. As I had started out in this post, the family, Larry's brother, sisters, son, and mother were so gracious to do all of this during this time of what has to be a time of pain and sorrow. I know those who read these things will be praying for his family and friends. Kristin and Silver from the "office" and Charlie did a great job on it all!. You can go to Larrynorman.com message board and there's other postings about the service. Some of the people that spoke I didn't know, but found out some were old friends and people that grew up with Larry. Some of the other things that went on was they had the crowd singing "The Rock That Doesn't Roll" on the screen, it was just amazing! I wasn't sure who was supporting who, the family reaching out to fans and friends or fans and friends reaching out to the family. There was a slide show of Larry growing up.  Lots of words to attempt to describe something that was almost indescribable. One last point, the pastor from England made the point we serve a phenomenal God and Larry was a phenomenal person because he knew a phenomenal God. Such a time of blessing.

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