Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Memorial Service for Vera Fisher - Nana


A Service of Witness to the Resurrection
In Memory of Vera Fisher
September 28, 2019
Alleghany Memorial Garden, Clifton Forge, Virginia



Call to Worship:                                                                                      
We are gathered here as the clock strikes noon, or there abouts, to celebrate and remember the life of Vera Goodwin Fisher, and to witness to the resurrection, made possible by the Life, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We'll begin with a familiar statement from scripture, of the Love and Protection God provides, Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 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. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. [1]
 
Prayer
Let us pray:
Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth:
you formed us from the dust of the earth,
and by your breath you gave us life.
We glorify you.
Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life,
You tasted death for all humanity
and by rising from the grave
You opened the way to eternal life,
We praise you.
Holy Spirit, author and giver of life;
You are the comforter of all who sorrow,
our sure confidence
and everlasting hope.
We worship you.
To you O  blessed Trinity,
be glory and honor, forever and ever. Amen.


Prayer for Illumination
Source of all true wisdom
calm the troubled waters of our hearts,
and still all other voices but your own,
that we may hear and obey
what you tell us in your Word,
Through the power of your Spirit.
Amen.

Homily – Her Own Way
They, who ever they is, they say in the Bible that there are only 4 kinds of love. I think such people are trapped in the notion that because there are 4 different Greek words that mean love there must  only be four different kinds.

1 Corinthians tells us that Love is patient and kind and slow to anger, that it never fails, that it ranks with faith and hope, but somehow always pulls ahead in the race towards greatness.

It tells us that without love we are nothing, or much worse a loud clanging cymbal, the kind that Nana could hear in the other room, or maybe it was just the sounds coming out of the big bedroom at the camp. . .

And to know Nana is to know that there must be another definition of love. There must be more than merely 4 types. There must be a type all her own, for she had so many ways that she would show her love. . .

So I want to use this other definition, and it is also a scriptural definition, and so just as important as those others. Just as prominent, just as needed, and just as profound if not as poetic:

“Love must be sincere.” –  Romans 12:9

Meaning That it is pure, that it is clean.  That means that it is there at the heart, and is true at the heart, and is real at the heart—there, true, and real in the heart.

That it isn’t fake.

It comes from a Latin pair of roots that when jammed together means – “without” – sine and “wax” – cere.

“Without wax.” Without pretense, some might even say without show, without anything fake.

The truth is that Nana’s love breaks through the notion that there are only 4 types because her love, at least the ways she’s showed it, was different. It was different in different situations, and it was different for and to each of us, the way she showed it was different.

But the one unifying principle was that it was sincere. Underneath it all, there at the heart was love.

Think for a minute how she showed her love to you.

Was it always patient?
Was it always kind?
Was it always slow to anger?

Yet I bet it was always sincere. Again, as I said, underneath it all.

And maybe she showed it by a thousand little things like:

Not being but so mad when you took her stuffed animals and put them down the laundry chute. Or maybe that after doing it once, you showed up the next time and there were more bears to do it to.

Maybe it was a Christmas spread, with cold shrimp, rolls and potato chip dip, and apparently there was some potato salad, too.

Maybe it was imposing a 5 dollar fine for whining, and not seeing the irony in it at all.

Maybe it was that deep down you knew there was something to this lady because she loved the song that goes “I like my women just a little on the trashy side.” Again, no irony.

Or Grandma got run over by a reindeer, no irony.

Or maybe it was being the one a loving man loved, and maybe that is not as easy as it would seem.

Especially when you have the power and vision to see a tick around the corner, or a mosquito, or a you name it, if it was a problem, she was going to point it out.

And maybe the fact that she couldn’t let things go, could make you feel bad, or sad, or guilty, or a number of feelings, and that those things could pile up year upon year. It never meant that love was not there, sincerely, without wax at the bottom of it all, at the heart level.

Maybe knowing that was true was what could make it all so much more painful.

But then you might think that there was some pain on her end too.

Because there is a tough façade to a woman like nana, but she is also, one who taught me something special about love.

That if you can find a way to communicate your love to someone, you should cherish it because such things also are not as easy it would seem.

We always wish for one more way.

But at the same time, we really don’t need it because really we know, love is there, and it always was. No matter what.

And still is, no matter what.

Because nothing can separate us from it.

Certainly not death

For such things have no power, as we thought they might.


Prayer of Thanksgiving and Lord’s Prayer
O God, before whom generations rise and pass away,
we praise you for all your servants, who, having lived this life in faith
Now live eternally with you.
Especially we thank you for your servant Vera, whose baptism is now complete in death. We praise you for the gift of her life, for all in her that was good and kind and faithful, for the grace you gave her, that kindled in her the love of your dear name, and enabled her to serve you faithfully throughout all her years.
We thank you that for her death is past and pain has now ended, and that she has now entered into the joy you have prepared.  For in Jesus Christ you promised many rooms within your house. Give us faith to see, beyond touch and sight, some sure sign of your kingdom, and where vision fails, to trust your love which never fails. Lift our heavy sorrow and our joy, mixed in all of our memories, and give us hope in Jesus Christ, in whom we give all praise and glory, and humbly pray, as he taught us saying. . .

Our Father

Commendation
You are immortal, the creator and maker of all. We are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth we shall return. This you ordained when you created us, saying, "You are dust and to dust you shall return." All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Give rest to your servant, with all your saints, where there is neither pain, nor sorrow, nor sighing, and not even a five dollar fine, for there be no whining, but life ever lasting.
Holy God, by your creative power you gave us life, and in your redeeming love you have given us new life in Christ. We commend Vera, Nana to your merciful care in the faith of Christ our Lord who died and rose again to save us, and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever.

Benediction
Go in Peace, and find ways to show your love in all you do. Amen. 



[1]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Ps 23:1-6). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

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