With singing

One of Eleanor's continuing problems was her hearing that became more and more limited as the years went by, until in recent times family and friends had to use a white board to write messages to her, to which she could then respond.

It was slow, cumbersome, and marginally effective communication, which cut down on community.

It tended to isolate Eleanor, and was certainly frustrating.

Our life in the church is about community: first of all the community of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the conversation that is their life; secondly, the community our Lord Jesus establishes with us in Holy Baptism when he tells us “You are mine forever;” the community with himself and each other into which Jesus has placed us, the church.

A significant portion of these communities' communication is not just in word, but in song.

The book of Revelation describes the hosts of heaven surrounding the throne with singing:

“Blessing and honor and glory and might be to our God forever and ever,” they sing.

And our community called the church is marked also by singing that follows the pattern set by those in heaven.

Yes, we're really going to sing “Joy to the World” at the end of the service.

This paraphrase of Psalm 98 not just for Christmastime; the joy of which it sings is true at any time, in spite of the heartaches we face, and even at the time of death.

We're singing of a victory not our own, but that of the Lord Jesus which he then promises to share with us.

We don't need any better reason to sing than that!

Whether it is by a single voice, a choir, or the whole congregation together,

With a voice of singing,

Utter it even unto the ends of the earth;

The Lord has delivered his people. Alleluia.

declare ye this and let it be heard, Alleluia.

O be joyful in God, all ye lands,

Oh sing praises to the honor of his name;

make his praise to be glorious.

Of course that text is not a new invention; it is echoing scripture.

And it parallels the mood and intent of the heavenly host around the throne of God

All those who have died in the faith, together with the angels and heavenly beings are engaged in their first and proper job, the praise of God.

We get distracted so much of the time worrying about ourselves.

Our mundane problems seem so large to us that they may take all our time and smother our voices.

We need this reminder about the nature of our job in the fullness of time, which we are to start to practice now in joyful preparation.

With a voice of singing, and music of every kind, declare what God has done, is doing, and will yet accomplish.

Family members told me about gathering around the piano for lots of singing with Eleanor many years ago..

Those times together are the blueprints of a joyful life, and for that we give thanks to God.

When we receive the gift of Holy Baptism, we are thereby numbered with that multitude at the throne of God, even though we may have many things to do and many years to live before we arrive there.

We're already a part of the throng; we're already telling the story and singing the song, the story of God's love for us in Christ Jesus and what we are able to do in the meantime.

The community of the church in several local congregations was a key part of life and activity for many years for her, including serving on the church Council.

Thanks be to God that it was so!

Our Second Lesson today exudes a confidence and firmness, yet with warmth and even joy.

Yes, we're like clay jars, with much to do but easily broken.

Yes, externally we are falling apart all the time, but our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

For we can trust that promise from Jesus, good for 98 years, and forever.

That warmth, joy, and even laughter can be the marks of our lives.

Eleanor was plagued with cold hands, and so she carried those little packets of chemical hand-warmers with her all the time.

One of the last times she was in church, with a twinkle in her eye she slipped one to me, just in case I might need it.

(The family gave me a fresh one on Tuesday, as a memento.)

But she had not just warm hands, but a warm personality.

At the Gatehouse, when annoying itchiness was a part of her declining health, she declared firmly that a back-rub she received from Christine was the next best thing to heaven itself.

And she was able to acknowledge the presence of family and friends with a smile of thanks.

Because of the promises of Jesus, joy is possible for Eleanor and for us in spite of our battles with illness, separation, and death.

We're surely going to miss the things that made Eleanor a special person to us.

She had so many activities in family, church, businesses, civic organizations, and more.

People here today represent some of those different facets of her life.

But my last visits with her at Gatehouse and at home were not times of anxiety or anger that she was being required to lay those things aside.

Rather, it was a time of trust as she was living confidently in the promise of Jesus all the way through.

What a wonderful example for us!

How shall we honor the memory of Eleanor?

The best way will be to take all of these things which she passes to us, the objects, the attitudes, the love, and especially the story of Jesus,

and to use them well and share them widely,

knowing that with the voice of Christ's promises, with a voice of joy and celebration, with a voice of singing, Eleanor is joining with the host of heaven in the song that is to be ours as well.

In our society these days, families seldom gather around the piano to sing.

The Church is the key place where singing together still happens.

It connects us with the church of all times and places and the fullness of the church in heaven, too.

So we're singing lots today, in memory, in thanksgiving, and in anticipation.

Thanks be to God for all his gifts, including the life of Eleanor, the promise of Jesus that claims her, and her song now passed to us. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.