Deb Visits 50 Churches in 52 Weeks: #26 and #27 CELEBRATING LIFE AND GRIEVING TOGETHER

WHERE I WENT AND WHY:

This week I worshiped in 2 churches as I supported family in friends during their grief. I was in South Carolina and St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Charlotte.

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO:
St. Peter's is at the corner of 7th and Tryon in uptown Charlotte. Free parking is available with validation in the parking deck across 7th St.

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

MUSIC:

Music was not a major part of either service, though the hymns reflected the families and their faith. Amazing Grace was sung at both services.At St. Peters we also sang a hymn based on the 23rd psalm, and processed to Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, all very fitting to the funeral of a 90+ year old.

ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

MOOD:

My friend Diane's mom, Bette, had lived a long and productive life only slipping into poor health in the last few years. Diane and I have commiserated over elder care issues since my mom had Alzheimers several years ago. When one lives to be ninety one, you have probably out-lived most of your friends and the small group that gathered Friday at St. Peter's were there more to support Diane and her family.

MESSAGE:

The Rev. Ollie Rencher chose not to emphasize the Gospel reading from John about Jesus being the Good Shepherd instead described how his memories of Bette were most vivid at their first meeting when she shared both her love of family and her faith. He came to know her as a "doer" constantly making sure everything was in order so that she could offer hospitality to friends and guests. The Eucharist was included in the memorial service because it was always important to Bette along with prayer and scripture reading. He asked us to think of our own faith journey. Today as we celebrate with joy and thanksgiving for Bette's life, he said that we could use her as a model in our own lives for kindness, hospitality and belief in the grace of eternal life through Christ.

OUTREACH AND OBSERVATIONS

This painting filled the entire wall above the chancel and altar at the SC Church

The mosaic of the ascending Christ at St. Peter's

The outreach of both churches to the grieving families was very apparent.
Both churches used art of the ascending Christ as their reardos, One as a larger-than-life painting, and St. Peter's in a beautiful mosaic.
Both families chose to receive friends after the services. This custom is much better than the "visitation" that was common to Southern funerals a few years ago. It is much less taxing on the family.
My prayer for both families is that they will remember the vital, happy times with their loved one and as they experience their grief, they will draw support from their faith, friends and families.

THIS WEEK'S EXTRAS
Usually I call this space a "funny" and put a cartoon or humorous article here. Somehow that didn't seem appropriate to a blog about 2 funerals (tho there is no scarcity of "funeral cartoons" on Google!).

However, going to funerals was not the only thing going on in my life this week. On Wednesday David, Tommi, and I went to Covenant Presbyterian's lecture series on "Race, Culture, and Opportunity" and were challenged to think about implicit racism. On Friday President Trump was inaugurated and on Saturday I was one of 10,000 women (and men, and children of all races!) to march in Charlotte, to make sure President Trump and everyone making policy knows that women's, racial, and gender equality and justice are issues we care about and will speak up and out about.

So in those two veins, I offer you these extras. First Sunday morning I woke up (as you may have guessed this is my Sunday routine) to Krista Tippet's On Being. She was interviewing Eula Biss "On Being White". Here is a quote from the introduction that made me listen to the entire interview. I thought the imagery was very poignant:
"She reflected on race in America through the metaphor of going into debt while buying a house — how surprisingly comfortable debt can be in the right circumstances, and how easily we forget that we have not quite paid for what we feel we possess."

You can listen to or read the entire interview at http://www.onbeing.org/program/eula-biss-lets-talk-about-whiteness/9147

And as far as the march goes... a few pictures speak more eloquently than I ever could. I especially liked the pictures and signs of the children (even if they were helped and guided by loving adults)... and Elaine and I were a little silly walking back and took this picture of me by the police car (thank you, men and women in blue who kept us safe!!... and I did thank them several times along the route!!)... When we texted it to David... he replied, "I'll bail you out tomorrow!!" LOL