We’re in the process of packing to move right now so I’m going to be relatively scarce this week as I’ve been the past few weeks. I did, however, want to talk about my weekend.
Last week, I received the news from Margaret (my former church choir director in San Jose) that one of the choir members had passed away. Winnie stood next to me in choir for a year and a half until I left for college and then on any Sunday I happened to be home. She and her husband Jack adopted me as their surrogate daughter when I was 17 and they were at my wedding 12 years ago, the last time I had been in the sanctuary at ECA. The funeral was on Saturday and my parents were delighted to watch Daniel so I could go.
It was sad to be back at ECA for the first time in 11 years and to know that Winnie wouldn’t be there. I got big hugs from her husband Jack and I got to see people again that I hadn’t seen for years. One of them was Andy the folk choir director (the folk choir provided the music for the liturgy) and he invited me to come and sing with them on Sunday. I didn’t have any amazing plans for Pentecost so I decided to take him up on the offer. It was the first time I had been in the choir loft in years and I was also pretty amazed (as I had been the day before) that Andy’s musical setting for the liturgy was still present in the recesses of my brain and that I could recall it.
As I was standing in the choir loft on Sunday morning, I realized that the reason I know Rite II of the BCP so well is that I had Winnie praying it in my ear for so long. While I’ve been gone from the Episcopal Church for a long time now, the Book of Common Prayer still remains one of the sources for the words I use to express myself spiritually (the other being the Lutheran Book of Worship) and it all started in that tiny second floor sanctuary in San Jose.
I offer all this to demonstrate that you don’t have to say brilliant things, offer advice at every turn (in fact, don’t — I mean it), or be the perfect Proverbs 31/Titus 2 woman to bring someone to Christ. In fact, all you really have to do is love them and show them the faith that sustains you daily. I’m grateful that Jack and Winnie and really the entire choir at ECA adopted me back then — they are a large part of why I am a Christian today.
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Winnie. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.