June 30th, 2007 – Bethany’s Memorial Service
Community, family and friends of Bethany came together for this service beginning early in the morning to set up chairs in the sanctuary that was cleared for Day Camp the day before. It ended with the effort to change to the morning worship configuration for Sunday's service.
Between those tasks there were so many volunteers, lending hands and hearts to help with so many jobs. Setting up and cleaning the worship space for a large attendance. Bringing together the audio visual components together with the final pieces of planning and preparation for the service itself were all tasks to be completed.
This was not to mention the gardening, preparing the Fellowship Hall, bringing desserts and myriads of tasks that were done throughout the day. The family brought tokens and personal effects and displayed them on tables to help us focus and remember Bethany. What first caught my attention was a Winnie The Pooh book
I was close to what was going on with the musicians and I marveled at how David and Kelly resolved immediate needs that presented themselves while pulling together time to rehearse during all the activity. The purposefulness of everyone doing what needed to be done overwhelmed me.
The choir arrived for rehearsal at 5:30. The unexpected happened. Lisa, an oboist who played with Bethany, volunteered to perform on Stay With Us. Later she alternated with Geoff, who was playing viola, on the prelude music. Her gifts, together with Geoff’s and Kelly’s as accompanist, set the mood for the service to the packed church.
The choir all seated together up front, were gathered to give leadership to others in singing. The sound of so many in the congregation with that leadership singing towards the musicians was a powerful experience. Performing the music with David and Kelly, I felt the holiness around us. The lyrics to Kelly’s Kyrie, changed for the occasion, only heightened that feeling.
I have tried before in this blog, to capture in words how unique the Holden Evening setting is for so many people. Bethany chose two beautiful and evocative pieces from this service for her memorial. They took on new meanings, given why we gathered and I am sure many people left with a changed experience of those pieces.
The words in the service gave all of us pause, to think about what we would miss. Susan touched us with her Eulogy, and the memories and the messages of Bethany she shared. Bethany’s friend Ashley gave us a glimpse of Bethany in her college years and the impression and appreciation of her life from a peer.
Toni’s letter was filled with pride and love, a mother’s mediation for that close community of family and friends that captured the spirit and voice of her daughter well.
Community, family and friends of Bethany came together for this service beginning early in the morning to set up chairs in the sanctuary that was cleared for Day Camp the day before. It ended with the effort to change to the morning worship configuration for Sunday's service.
Between those tasks there were so many volunteers, lending hands and hearts to help with so many jobs. Setting up and cleaning the worship space for a large attendance. Bringing together the audio visual components together with the final pieces of planning and preparation for the service itself were all tasks to be completed.
This was not to mention the gardening, preparing the Fellowship Hall, bringing desserts and myriads of tasks that were done throughout the day. The family brought tokens and personal effects and displayed them on tables to help us focus and remember Bethany. What first caught my attention was a Winnie The Pooh book
I was close to what was going on with the musicians and I marveled at how David and Kelly resolved immediate needs that presented themselves while pulling together time to rehearse during all the activity. The purposefulness of everyone doing what needed to be done overwhelmed me.
The choir arrived for rehearsal at 5:30. The unexpected happened. Lisa, an oboist who played with Bethany, volunteered to perform on Stay With Us. Later she alternated with Geoff, who was playing viola, on the prelude music. Her gifts, together with Geoff’s and Kelly’s as accompanist, set the mood for the service to the packed church.
The choir all seated together up front, were gathered to give leadership to others in singing. The sound of so many in the congregation with that leadership singing towards the musicians was a powerful experience. Performing the music with David and Kelly, I felt the holiness around us. The lyrics to Kelly’s Kyrie, changed for the occasion, only heightened that feeling.
I have tried before in this blog, to capture in words how unique the Holden Evening setting is for so many people. Bethany chose two beautiful and evocative pieces from this service for her memorial. They took on new meanings, given why we gathered and I am sure many people left with a changed experience of those pieces.
The words in the service gave all of us pause, to think about what we would miss. Susan touched us with her Eulogy, and the memories and the messages of Bethany she shared. Bethany’s friend Ashley gave us a glimpse of Bethany in her college years and the impression and appreciation of her life from a peer.
Toni’s letter was filled with pride and love, a mother’s mediation for that close community of family and friends that captured the spirit and voice of her daughter well.
Bethany's Life In Photos was a photo montage that Mary edited; shown with music that Bethany had picked out herself, namely Joni Mitchell's orchestral performance of Both Sides Now. The lyrics and the contemplative complexity of this songs meditation brought tears to my eyes. This woman's connection with the life she led and those who were important to her was so evident and overwhelming.
Denise gave the reading from Revelation. The choir sang Stay With Us and emotion caught up with me again during the piece. The way the Choir Anthem came together for this service carried me to a different place than past performances, an aspect of a request 'Stay with us' that will may not befulfilled in the way it is asked.
Pastor Dayle gave the homily. Her remarks were personal, poignant and profound. She pulled up memories of Bethany overcoming fear of a roller coaster, Bethany’s love of Winnie The Pooh and Bethany’s love of the swam as a totem of beauty, wisdom and transformation.
The commendation by the pastor who baptized Bethany was moving. His quiet words filled our hearts as he said simply that all of us did what we could for Bethany both personally and as a church to acknowledge her baptism keep her in the knowledge she was a child of God. Those earthly efforts were at an end and we commended her to God’s care.
The Nunc Dimmitis ended the service. The musicians and the choir blended in the raised prayer / knowledge that is at the heart of these words.
The commendation by the pastor who baptized Bethany was moving. His quiet words filled our hearts as he said simply that all of us did what we could for Bethany both personally and as a church to acknowledge her baptism keep her in the knowledge she was a child of God. Those earthly efforts were at an end and we commended her to God’s care.
The Nunc Dimmitis ended the service. The musicians and the choir blended in the raised prayer / knowledge that is at the heart of these words.
Tonight's goodbye to someone close to our hearts.
Labels: Bethany Memorial
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