This annual event is held on or near All Souls Day honoring loved ones who had died during the year. Many family members attend every year to pray and remember loved ones who have passed away years ago as well as more recent.
Many parishioners are accustomed to the openness and broad feeling of being in the gym for the regular Sunday services but, some of us forget how truly different the feeling is at the church, or chapel as it is sometimes called. This service was no exception.
It is never an evening of somber sadness, but rather, the intent is to bring people together who have suffered a loss of a dear one in order to share a common bond of light, hope and remembrance.
That was much in evidence during the up-beat hospitality gathering in the church vestibule after the service. It seemed to speak of a healing that is evident after such a service and how some, even midst a dark mourning time, pursue signs of hope and life through the spirit of the living with others who have suffered as well.
The service itself was simple and themed itself around well chosen readings by Joyce Rupp, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and The Gospel of John 11: 17-27 (“..everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die…”).
Carin Vagle chose a lovely piece for the offertory solo “Fields of Gold” whose lyrics told of promises, remembrances and metaphorically walking in fields of gold.
A poignant part of the service is the Memorial Candle Ritual where each one takes a candle, lights it from the fire of the Easter Candle.
As each person approaches one of the two sand-filled copper tubs, he or she says aloud the name of the loved one they are remembering; place the candle in the hand of the celebrant who then puts it into the tub of sand. The altar is left unadorned except for a colorful cloth. The copper tubs are then aglow with light until the service ends. At this time the candles are extinguished.
The Eucharist continued. Fall scenes and the congregational communion hymns “Lamb of God”, “Only Remembered” and “Will the Circle be Unbroken” were shown on screen.
The musicians, Dan Chouinard at the piano; Fred Vagle, vocals, guitar; Anna Vagle, recorder, melodica; plus Carin Vagle, vocals; visited us with their familiar and appreciated talents.
The Memorial Eucharist was planned and implemented by the St. Joan of Arc Prayer Partners, Roger Dick, Louise Jankowski and Joan Riebel. Rev. Jim Cassidy was the celebrant of the Eucharist. Dick Voss hosted the hospitality.
Space does not permit me to detail the readings and homily, but allow me to give you a partial quote from the Bonhoeffer reading that gave me large comfort in these wise words to follow:
“Nothing can make up for the absence of someone we love…”(Speaking of the “gap” one’s absence leaves - it continues) “…It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap – God does not fill it but, on the contrary, keeps it empty and so helps us to keep alive our former communion with each other even at the cost of pain.”
I would like to leave you with this excerpt from a poem, “Autumn” by sister Joyce Rupp:
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