Tuesday, May 4, 2010

PRAYERS PLEASE


For Katherine, a member of my church who died suddenly last Sunday. Katherine was the matriarch and heart of her family. Her husband, John, to whom she was married for many years, will miss her terribly, as will their three children, Mary Katharine, Grace, and Carolyn, her 7 grandchildren, and her great-grandchild.

Katherine was also a matriarch in the community of St. John's Episcopal Church. She was baptized as an infant at St. John and served for many years in various roles in the church, including being available and present to help whenever and wherever she was needed. She was well-known for welcoming newcomers to the church into her home, and those who did not have family in the area, she made part of her family.

May Katherine rest in peace and rise in glory.

May God give comfort, consolation, and the peace that passes understanding to her family and to all who love Katherine.

UPDATE: Katherine's funeral was lovely. The service was just as it should be to honor and celebrate the life of a wonderful lady. I'm certain that God received Katherine with open and loving arms. Fr Ed, our rector, spoke beautifully about her. He noted that the overarching theme of her life was service to others in the name of Christ. I think many who knew Katherine, including me, agree with the words someone once said about her, "I want to be like Katherine when I grow up." Another of her favorite sayings was, "NIS - Nothing is simple".

Don't picture Katherine with hands together, head bowed, always in prayer. She was about doing the works of the Lord. Katherine loved to laugh; she had a fine gift for and appreciation of irony; and she wasn't above the occasional cuss word. She was human in the very best sense of the word, all that God would want her to be.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Katherine. 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.

11 comments:

  1. I will definitely pray, and thanks for letting us know. She sounds like a really neat lady.

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  2. God bless her --and may the angels greet her, she who made a home for others, is now home herself.

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  3. Prayers for Katherine and for all who loved her. She sounds like she was quite an amazing woman.

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  4. Katherine was quite a woman, and we shall miss her.

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  5. I added an update about Katherine's funeral service.

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  6. RIP/RIG!

    wv, "alike". As in, "You and she sound rather a lot..."

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