Remembering John.

 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

In this week’s readings we hear references to grace, gift and welcome.

This past week has been a time of grace and gifts and welcome here at  Christ Church as we celebrated the life of our rector emeritus, John Walsted.
Friday evening’s vigil for Father John was filled with moments of real grace as family members and friends shared warmest memories of  his life and work among us haring with us wonderful examples of a faith-filled journey.

Person after person rose to speak about how their encounter with John had made a real and moving difference in their lives.  Some spoke about how his love and faithfulness to this parish was a gift of grace.  Others spoke about the honest and open welcomeness he offered to many at his wonderful home. Still others offered thanksgiving for his work in the church and society for those who suffered undue discrimination in our society.

And the Saturday morning memorial service was a wonder to behold! Over 350 filled this glorious pace and clergy from across the diocese and across denominations gathered to process together in honor of his memory.  The heart-felt singing of our talented choir and the gifted sounds of Voyces, the vocal group he so loved and belonged to, brought an angelic quality to the whole proceedings.  The rousing and robust congregational singing was a wonderful testimony of the faith-filled gathering making a joyous sound unto the Lord in Father John’s honor.

And there was a feeling of welcome and celebration as we gathered at his house to remember him in word and music at the home he so loved.  Good food, good sounds, good conversation and many laughs as family, friends and colleagues sat and chatted about fond and funny memories woven into a sort of verbal quilt, or dare I say it, a vocal icon of a live well lived: a faithful life, a caring life, a life of love and a life of service.  A life lived in such a way as to be worthy of God’s free gift to us. 


May we all be able to live our lives to be so worthy of that great gift.