“I Remember You” Reflection Service
by Barbara Hiura
All joking aside, the “I Remember You” Service, held on Oct. 27, really tugs at our heartstrings as all of our Wesley Family is impacted by the loss of loved ones whether it be grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and most sadly children and babies. We remember and we reflect on happier times. But what we do have is our good fortune to have the memories we have of our beloved, to recall the time spent together whether long or short, and where love flowed abundantly. This time shared because none of us are alone in our Wesley Family where we can hug, console, and reflect with one another. This is a spiritually uplifting time.
Many in our congregation shared photos of members now in God’s embrace and with whom we will someday join, but not today. Today we honor their memory and we “embrace our grief” according to Mark Teagle, who shared the one-year anniversary of the loss of his mother. Her passing is still very close to him, and what has transpired since with the coming together of his own extended family to share and to mourn. And he spoke of the kindness shown to him by members of the congregation. We are truly thankful to Wesley and our God, to have family time like this, in a dedicated church service to our loved ones.
I was particularly strengthened by words shared by Rev. Bobbie Corson, that our glimpses of those no longer with us are not mere figments of our imagination but can be viewed with a sense of realness. That the “wall” between them and us is wide she intimated, but for them to us is like film and more transparent. It warmed me to think just as God is in our lives, that our loved ones remain close and watching. And that what we see of them or what reminds us of them in our day-to-day lives, is. We are connected and that gave me solace.
Special music was presented in a beautiful solo performed by Ivan Vielma and we were of course moved by his lilting tenor voice singing “The Innocence” by Michael Dennis Browne and Craig Hella Johnson. What a treat.
A tribute of carnations was laid at the base of the photos, which provided personal time and prayer with those who are with us in spirit but not physically. This action, for me, was quite moving as I shared this moment with others as I remembered all my nuclear family now in God’s hands as they did theirs.
After, like at many of our memorial services, we were treated to a pot-luck but hosted meal provided by Judy Yasutake, who wanted us to spend this time together in remembering her husband Joe Yasutake, who had recently passed away. It was a nice gathering and homage to a Japantown community pillar.
All joking aside, the “I Remember You” Service, held on Oct. 27, really tugs at our heartstrings as all of our Wesley Family is impacted by the loss of loved ones whether it be grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and most sadly children and babies. We remember and we reflect on happier times. But what we do have is our good fortune to have the memories we have of our beloved, to recall the time spent together whether long or short, and where love flowed abundantly. This time shared because none of us are alone in our Wesley Family where we can hug, console, and reflect with one another. This is a spiritually uplifting time.
Many in our congregation shared photos of members now in God’s embrace and with whom we will someday join, but not today. Today we honor their memory and we “embrace our grief” according to Mark Teagle, who shared the one-year anniversary of the loss of his mother. Her passing is still very close to him, and what has transpired since with the coming together of his own extended family to share and to mourn. And he spoke of the kindness shown to him by members of the congregation. We are truly thankful to Wesley and our God, to have family time like this, in a dedicated church service to our loved ones.
I was particularly strengthened by words shared by Rev. Bobbie Corson, that our glimpses of those no longer with us are not mere figments of our imagination but can be viewed with a sense of realness. That the “wall” between them and us is wide she intimated, but for them to us is like film and more transparent. It warmed me to think just as God is in our lives, that our loved ones remain close and watching. And that what we see of them or what reminds us of them in our day-to-day lives, is. We are connected and that gave me solace.
Special music was presented in a beautiful solo performed by Ivan Vielma and we were of course moved by his lilting tenor voice singing “The Innocence” by Michael Dennis Browne and Craig Hella Johnson. What a treat.
A tribute of carnations was laid at the base of the photos, which provided personal time and prayer with those who are with us in spirit but not physically. This action, for me, was quite moving as I shared this moment with others as I remembered all my nuclear family now in God’s hands as they did theirs.
After, like at many of our memorial services, we were treated to a pot-luck but hosted meal provided by Judy Yasutake, who wanted us to spend this time together in remembering her husband Joe Yasutake, who had recently passed away. It was a nice gathering and homage to a Japantown community pillar.
In a solumn ceremony, flower tributes were laid before photos of loved ones.
Ivan Vielma's beautiful solo with backup provided by choir members.
Posted in Newsletter 2024-11-21