What did you do during your quarantine? My wife went off to work feeding the poor in 16 counties in north central Indiana. I decided to meditate on what would happen if, because my wife went off to feed the poor in 16 counties in north central Indiana, she brought the covid 19 virus home, and I died.
This is what I came up with; my funeral service bulletin. (Click on the content and it will get bigger.) My family was not particularly amused. As I do not plan on dying tomorrow, I suspect there will be changes throughout the years. Some details will have to be filled in. (Should my daughters or their children read the lessons?) But on the whole, I am pleased with this forward looking memory. Here are some things that caught my eye.
I always loved that Mary Olson liturgical dance banner. I always thought Dr. Olson's story was an inspirational one. You have no idea how pleased with myself I was when I took Al Allen's Good Shepherd drawing and added a red door. Sharon Park's "mentoring community" was my gospel.
I hope she won't mind, but I would invite Bishop Cate lead the service. We were not close personal friends, but she was my bishop for twenty years and, with Tom Wood, a great benefactor of campus ministry. Credit is due her. You can thank the University of Toronto/University of St. Michael's College for the quotes on the inside left page. It was a great place to do theology. Some of you may remember when priests studied theology.
I never warmed to our standard liturgical expressions. I would like to thank Mike Bloy and John Van Brederode for showing me a way through the several pretensions of the Episcopal church.
Try and write your own obituary sometime! The Basilian Fathers motto is from Ps. 119,66. "Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I believe your commandments." (KJV). I may be giving my family short shrift in here. (Can you hear the chorus of "what's new"?) They can tell their stories at my wake. Obviously, they will write the definitive version. FYI: I put my will and the CPG's "Getting Organized After Losing a Loved One" in my far right bottom desk drawer :)
