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This lovely service held in the church Wednesday, November 1, 2006 was, as always, true to its purpose - that being the solemn and prayerful Eucharist for those we hold in love and prayer who have gone before us.
The church was decorated with the usual glowing pumpkins of various sizes and shapes - some bearing carvings of crosses or symbols. Many candles glowed throughout the church giving an ambiance of fall beauty surrounding a simple dressed altar with cup, plate and Holy Book.
The Prayer Partners of St. Joan of Arc planned this event and Fr. Jim DeBruycker, officiated at the mass welcoming the assemblage plus giving a moving reflection. Julie Madden and Roger Dick(right) read the special readings from Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Frederick Buechner.
The Gospel of John 6: 37-40, read by Fr. DeBruycker, gives us the comforting words of Jesus who has told us, ”It is the will of Him who sent me that I should not lose any of all those He has given me, but that I should raise them all to life on the last day.”
The congregation present was invited to reflect on what “gift” or “legacy” their loved one left with them and asked if they would like to share those thoughts with those in attendance. Many did that in heartfelt ways.
A Memorial Candle Ritual was then held. Everyone who wished to remember someone deceased, picked up a small candle – lighting it from a large lit candle and - placed it into one of the two large copper tubs in front of the altar. All who had experienced deaths of loved ones were invited to bring a photo to display in various places of their choosing in the candle lit church. These photos will continue to be displayed for a few weeks
Slides were helpful in showing not only some lovely fall scenes but to make sure the lyrics of the hymns to be sung were visible to all.
The music was provided by Fred and Anna Vagle and their talented daughter, Carin. Joe Chouinard’s piano talents were showcased not only as accompaniment to the singers but charmed us by inserting some of his own compositions as quiet meditative music during parts of the service.
Carin’s meditation solo lamented hauntingly the words, “ You’ll remember me when the west wind moves among the fields of barley. You can tell the sun, in his jealous sky when we walked in fields of gold.”
The song’s meaning is likely different to each of us, but to me it brings loved ones close as I think of them in happy beautiful days walking in those fields of barley and fields of gold.
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