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Susan Owen Inurnment

Sentences of Scripture

Our help is in the name of the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose great mercy gave us new birth into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!

The inheritance to which we are born is one that nothing can destroy or spoil or wither.

Opening Prayer

Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth: You formed us from the dust of the earth, and by your breath you gave us life. We glorify you.

You created the earth and the stars. What are we that you care for us? And yet, you love us, you so love the world, that you sent the Only Son to teach us and to lead us to life eternal. On this Easter weekend, on this glorious spring day, especially, we hear your Word and see your majesty, and we praise you.

Be present with us today. Comforting us, uplifting us, giving us good hope in Christ Jesus Our Lord. Help us to remember Susan well, and to live as she lived, to face each day with energy, enthusiasm, determination, and love.

We pray these and all things in the name of Christ Jesus, who teaches us to pray, saying:

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The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Scripture

Our scripture comes from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Chapter 4. Listen for the Word of God:

Therefore, my brothers and sisters (my friends, my family),

whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,

stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Let your gentleness be known to everyone.

The Lord is near.

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God….

…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Committal

In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty God our sister Susan Moss Owen,

and we commit her body to its final resting place,

ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says the Spirit.

They rest from their labors, and their works follow them.

[Urn is placed.]

Homily

I was looking through some notes and found the most beautiful journal entry, written by Susan, about the Kaleidoscope.

I asked if I could read a part of it.

Susan wrote of a quote by Karen Salzberg.

“Life is like an ever shifting kaleidoscope: a slight change and all patterns alter.”

Susan said: I was struck by the absolute truth of this statement.

A single step, word or breath can change an entire family, generation, or world.

We have a lovely kaleidoscope - she wrote - made for us by a dear friend….

[Late one night after everyone as well as the dog as asleep] I took the kaleidoscope into the darkened living room, turned on one light, and gazed at the shifting patterns for almost an hour.

I just could not put it down.

Each and every turn was different, each and every turn was beautiful in its own intricate way.

There was no way to repeat a pattern, no way to see it again unless it was a slightly changed image of its former self, but still vivid and fascinating.

I guess basically this is trying to say that life changes,

whether we want it to or not, that is what life is about.

What might be around the corner can be altered

with a flip of a switch, a left turn instead of a right or simply a glance in a mirror.

There is no way to prepare for these changes in life,

we just have to deal with them in our own way.

She concluded:

So, put something in a crock-pot tomorrow morning,

go outside for a moment or two,

pet the dog (kids, husband, wife)

and pull up that big weed you have been stepping around for a week.

Get on with life,

enjoy it and every twist and turn that comes along with it.

When the bumps come, and they will,

just do the best you can with what is handed to you.

Susan’s words reminded me of what the Apostle Paul told the Philippians.

The Lord is near.

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God….

Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

We pray that the God of peace will be with us.

We know that Susan is now at peace.

Perhaps looking through some heavenly kaleidoscope of where we are, and what we’re becoming.

My we reflect the Susan’s gentleness and goodness,

and lift up her memory through our actions and by our words.

Prayer

O God, you have designed this world, and know all things good for us. Give us such faith that, by day and by night, in all times and in all places, we may without fear entrust those who are dear to us to your never-failing love, in this life and in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Benediction

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

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