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June 21, 1950 - September 12, 1994
Pastor: The Reverend Dr. Robert J. Stamps
Organist: Dr. J. Reilly Lewis
| THE GATHERING | |
| THE PRELUDE "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" | Dr. Lewis |
| THE WORDS OF GRACE | |
| * THE HYMN No. 89 | "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" |
| THE PRAYER | |
| THE EPISTLE READINGS | I Thessalonians: 5:12-18 |
| II Thessalonians: 3:13-16 | |
| THE PSALTER, page 754 (read in unison) | Psalm 23 |
| * THE GOSPEL READING | John 14 |
| * THE HYMN No. 117 | "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" |
| THE WORDS OF TRIBUTE FROM JOHN'S FRIENDS | |
| A POETIC READING | Mr. Richard Latham |
| A MORE PERSONAL WORD | Mr. Jon Larimore |
| A MUSICAL OFFERING | |
| THE HOMILY | |
| THE PRAYERS AND LORD'S PRAYER | |
| * THE HYMN No. 145 | "Morning Has Broken" |
| * THE BENEDICTION | |
| * THE PIPER | "Amazing Grace, How Sweet The Sound" |
| * A TIME OF SILENCE | |
| * THE POSTLUDE | Dr. Lewis |
(* The congregation will please stand) |
And a woman spoke, saying, Tell us of Pain.
And he said:
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy.
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician with you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.from "The Prophet"
by Kahlil Gibran
John had earlier made three requests;
- That he be laid out in a sea of flowers
- That he be given a "Celebration of Life" rather than a traditional funeral
- That a piper play "Amazing Grace" at that Celebration
He got his wishes.
The "Musical Offering" was a recording by Dolly Parton called "Whenever Forever Comes". John loved country music, and Dolly Parton in particular.
The Piper played one verse of "Amazing Grace" at the front of the church, then slowly marched up the aisle and outside, as John's friends and loved ones heard the pipes fade slowly into the distance.
