PAY ATTENTION!

Of course, I think of our friend Kirstin Paisley, but it doesn't have to end that way.

Thanks to Paul (A.)

'IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE - KIRSTIN'S MEMORIAL SERVICE'

From Andee at Barefoot and Laughing:

On July 30, 2011, family and friends of Kirstin Paisley gathered together at Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento, California, to remember the gift she was in their lives. This gathering was a time for remembering, celebrating, loving, joking and sharing.

With many, many thanks to videographer Sean McConnell....

Here is the gorgeous two-part video that intertwines Kirstin's July 30, 2011 memorial service, with the tributes that were offered during the reception afterwards, and photos of her life.

Join us in remembering...

View or download the full worship bulletin here.

Remembering Kirstin: Part One from Sean McConnell

Remembering Kirstin: Part Two from Sean McConnell

 

Click the links above the image to view the vimeos.

REMEMBERING KIRSTIN - PART ONE

The first segment of Kirstin Paisley's memorial service, put together by Sean McConnell, is now available online at vimeo.

Kirstin passed away after a long battle with melanoma. She touched the lives of many with her courage, honesty, faith and compassion. Kirstin blogged at Barefoot and Laughing.

UPDATE: I just now had time to watch Part One in its entirety. The service is powerful, indeed.

FROM DAVID@MONTREAL

beloved Giants

as corny as it may sound,
sitting here, having given heart-felt thanks for the life, ministry, and brave articulate example of our Kirstin

i'm very mindful of what an extraordinary circle of grace and faithful lives we've all been a part of in accompanying our treasured friend

our loose, loving interconnectedness via the internet, which has been a source of grace/love/prayers/strength and support to so many over the years, and the incredible network which grew to surround our Kirstin-

'by their fruits' Scripture tells us- and i can't help but feel that what the Holy Spirit works/worked through this blessed interconnectedness says something of how/where our Church is called to grow.

so this morning, i'm deeply, profoundly grateful for each one of you - remembered by name, with gratitude and love

I am sending out one great Montreal hug- a group hug, in dear Kirstin's honour as we hold the memory of her, her life and example close to our hearts

and strive to live Life even more intentionally, more......... unconditionally present in our slow waltz with Ruach, all to G-d's greater glory.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Group hug))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

thank-you my beloved Giants

love always-always Love

David@Montreal

Thank you, cher David. You made me cry, but that's okay. I've been teary throughout the day anyway.

Love to you.

GOOD NIGHT, SWEET KIRSTIN

From Andee:

Kirstin died a few minutes before 8 p.m. After a day of many of us singing to her, she is now singing with the angels. Rest in peace, my little one.

And the angels sang thee to thy rest, dear Kirstin.

From Kirstin at Barefoot and Laughing:

And this will be the psalm at my memorial:

The Rev. Virginia Going, “Today”

Let me live today.
Let me be open to the miracle of this day.
Let me breathe the best of today.
Let me not miss the heart of today.
Let me find the gift of today,
hidden like a jewel in rubble of care, duty, and detail.

Let me pause to hear
the steady beat of the heart of God—
hoping, aching, sorrowing, expectant, patient,
despairing heart of God.

Listen, listen.
Do you hear it?
Ever so faint but steady, steady,
rhythmic organ, strong muscle,
thumping, beating, pumping, sustaining, encompassing,
wildly dancing heart of God.

Let me live this day, aware, open, listening, breathing, alive.

Also from Kirstin's blog: The Indigo Girls - "The Wood Song"



I send prayers, love and blessings to all who cared for Kirstin, especially to an angel named Andee.

May God give comfort, consolation and the peace that passes understanding to keep the minds and hearts of all who love Kirstin.

"TURNING POINT": DEAR ANDEE ON OUR DEAR FRIEND KIRSTIN

Read Andee's post at Barefoot and Laughing.

The time is very soon.

Read the beautiful fairy tale which Kirstin's friend Carol Bower Foote wrote for her. Kirstin reached so many of us, many who had never met her face to face, with her loving touch, her godly touch. Kirstin, we love you.

PRAY FOR KIRSTIN AND ANDEE

From margaret at Leave It Lay Where Jesus Flang It:

Speaking of revealing the Kingdom --Courageous and Compassionate A sent me this response to the prayers I sent her yesterday:

D and I anointed Kirstin, using your prayers, this morning. She was sound asleep when we started, and immediately woke up, sat up, and said, "I want to be awake for this!" She loved it.

Truth be told, I merely took an ancient ritual of anointing --thanking God for every part of the body and sanctifying it, taught me by my teacher --and Kirstin's teacher too --and morphed the ritual a little.

I find myself this morning, doing more of that... taking the ancient bones in the garden.... There used to be whole books to guide one through the waiting for the time of death. Now, in our BCP, there is only a single paragraph --the only transition from Ministration to the Sick, to Ministration at the Time of Death. It reads (p462)

Almighty God, look on this your servant, lying in great weakness, and comfort him with the promise of life everlasting, given in the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please read margaret's entire wonderful and beautiful post about our dear Kirstin and commentary on the readings in Morning Prayer.

PLEASE PRAY...

Please continue (or begin) prayers for Andee and Kirstin, pictured above. Their story is at Kirstin's blog, Barefoot and Laughing.

Kirstin, may God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

We pray, O Lord, for those whom you have called to care for Kirstin, especially Andee. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their loving ministries Kirstin may be comforted and her suffering alleviated. Grant, O Lord, your peace that surpasses understanding to Kirstin and her caregivers, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

UPDATE: Kirstin wrote a new post at Barefoot and Laughing.

From Mark Brunson:

I don't really know this person, have never personally met him. I don't even know if he's a Christian, or what. I do, however, know what it's like to watch someone devoured by pancreatic cancer.

David is being tested for pancreatic cancer. I haven't told him I'm praying for him, and I haven't asked; my father died of pancreatic cancer, and it is a horrible, horrible way to go, so I don't care whether he wants my prayers or not. He has a wife, children and grandchildren, and is loved by people that I love - that's all the permission I need.

*UPDATE*

My brother, Jeff, the middle son, has cancer of the bladder and needs surgery.

Please remember both David and Jeff in your prayers.

BAREFOOT AND FOREVER LAUGHING - PART TWO

My very own copy of the video by MadPriest
(inspired by Bishop Clumber) with images of our dear friend, Kirstin Paisley, set to music.

Your very own copy awaits you at YouTube.

BAREFOOT AND FOREVER LAUGHING

Watch the video set to music of images of Kirstin Paisley by MadPriest at Of Course, I Could Be Wrong...

PRAY FOR KIRSTIN AND ANDEE...

...and read Kirstin's post at Barefoot and Laughing titled The right decision...at the right time.

A and I looked at each other, and we both teared up. We knew. And it was okay. I looked back at the doctor. I knew the words were mine to say: “Not in our hearts, really.” She, God bless her, cried with us. And she got us connected with a palliative care doctor, who is working with us until he can get us connected with hospice.

This is the care I need. This is the care I finally had the readiness, and the courage, to ask for. I’ve been fighting for three years. That’s enough. Just saying, “I want hospice,” gives me so much peace. I don’t need to fight to the bitter end. I don’t need to be a warrior anymore. I can let go as my body wants to, into as much comfort as possible.

Please visit Kirstin's blog and read her beautiful and eloquent words which come straight from her heart.

Kirstin, may God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

We pray, O Lord, for those whom you have called to care for Kirstin, especially Andee. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their loving ministries Kirstin may be comforted and her suffering alleviated. Grant, O Lord, your peace that surpasses understanding to Kirstin and her caregivers, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PS: I love the picture of Kirstin. I hope she likes it, because I use it over and over.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KIRSTIN AND ANDEE

Kirstin is experiencing a very bad and painful time of it right now. Please pray for her and for Andee who is caring for her.

Kirstin, may God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

We pray, O Lord, for those whom you have called to care for Kirstin. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their loving ministries Kirstin may be comforted and her suffering alleviated. Grant, O Lord, your peace that surpasses understanding to Kirstin and her caregivers, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

UPDATE: Ann asks for prayers for the best outcome for her friend who begins medication treatment today for her tumors.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY...

...for Ann's friend who is awaiting surgery/treatment for tumors:

seeing a specialist.

Thanks for your prayer connections all over the world. I do feel a certain united energy pulling for my return to health. Actually, in my mind, I feel quite healthy but the body begs to differ from time to time.

Almighty God our heavenly Father, graciously comfort your servants in their suffering, and bless the means made use of for their cures. Fill their hearts with confidence that, though at times they may be afraid, they yet may put their trust in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Update from Ann:

Had a call from my friend. She saw the specialist in her type of tumors. He thinks he can treat it with a medication which is specific for these. Will shrink them and keep her in remission.

Keep praying. She says thanks and feels the power bearing her up and strengthening her.

Update 2 from Kirstin at Facebook:

Kirstin Paisley

Just home from first infusion of Yervoy. I go back in three weeks, if I tolerate it. Chemo nurse was wonderful. Also got some decent pain and nausea control, which I'm glad for, because my leg threw a fit (no I don't mean a seizure) on the way home. My hope isn't on fire, but it's curious.

PRAYER REQUEST FROM DAVID@MONTREAL

dear beloved Giants:

before anything else, I'd ask for your ongoing prayers for our cherished sister Kirsten. as you can read in a post on Kirsten's blog by her primary caregiver Andee Barefoot and Laughing. there are now concrete needs in addition to our prayers which are required, and any of you- extraordinary beings that you are- who know of any possible resources..... well you know what to do.

i'd also ask for traveling mercies for our cherished margaret. margaret is about to take a sabbatical month away from her parish in Virginia to visit the Great Leonardo (another radiant Episcopalian, an awesomely talented artist and articulate gay man) living a life of real grace in Guatemala.

traveling mercies this week-end for Christopher also please

i'd ask your prayers please for the repose of my very dear friend and former colleague Louyse, and for the comfort of her family. shortly after my project and employment were cut for financial reasons at the university, Louyse underwent major brain surgery, to remove a large tumor, and essentially since then she has been living with the challenging outcome. a truly beautiful soul of amazing integrity and generosity, Louyse had both the courage and grace to embrace and to live beyond the woundedness of her past and loved nothing more than to invest in the future of her students.

So, beloved giants, you know what to do.

ANDEE AND KIRSTIN NEED HELP

From Barefoot and Laughing:

Written by Andee, posted by Kirstin

We have just reached the point where Kirstin can no longer stay alone while I am at work. (This is Andee - the infamous "A," her roommate, writing.)
For those of you who may not be up-to-date with the latest--the pain from the "strained ligament" in her left knee turned out in fact to be from another melanoma metastasis in her left tibia. The various pain meds she has been given, while not helping much with the pain, have made her loopy, nauseous or both. She had been able to hobble from the bed to the bathroom with the aid of a walker, but Friday night, the pain meds made her lose her balance. She caught herself before falling, but simply putting weight on that leg fractured the front of that bone.

I haven't had an uninterrupted night's sleep in weeks, and am exhausted. Although I have some vacation time remaining, I'm trying to save that for the times I need to accompany Kirstin to doctor's appointments. Family leave laws don't apply when you are the primary caregiver to a roommate instead of a close relative.

To all of you who have wondered how you can help: HELP!!!!

Read the rest at Kirstin's blog, and please help if you can.

PRAY FOR KIRSTIN AND READ HER POST

I can’t commit to living with my full heart, and I can’t turn my full being to dying with intention. I have one foot in each possibility. The choice won’t be mine; it will be dictated by biopsy results. I can do either. The waiting is what’s hard.

Kirstin's post at Barefoot and Laughing is eloquent, moving, and very beautiful.

PRAY FOR KIRSTIN

From Kirstin at Facebook:

Brain mets "progressing." [unprintable]

Unprintable!

O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant Kirstin the help of your power, that her sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HELP KIRSTIN RAISE FUNDS FOR ACS RELAY FOR LIFE

From Kirstin at Barefoot and Laughing:

I'm doing the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Sacramento on April 16. I signed up two weeks ago, and finally tonight got it together and finished my fundraising page. (I'm still feeling the sleeplessness from a four-week course of steroids that went with radiation.) I'd been thinking about it since I was first in treatment, while I was still in seminary. I went to their website more recently, clicked the "Survivors" tab, and started crying. I also know that if I'm going to do this sort of thing, it needs to be now. I'm capable, mentally and physically competent, and in the lightest course of treatment (oral chemo only) that I've ever had.

Please don't feel pressured to contribute. Your love is enough. But please do feel welcome to. Money raised doesn't go to me; it goes to the American Cancer Society. You're helping to fund research, and support patients in any number of ways.

You are also welcome (very welcome) to walk the survivors' lap with me. The event begins at 10am at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 6151 H Street, Sacramento.

Thank you. Love to all.