Remembrance of life lived well

One of our church family, Rosemary, passed away unexpectedly just after Christmas, so this morning's service was a remembrance of her life with us, our memories of her and it was wonderful to hear about a life well lived in all it's details:

Rosemary looked after the hall and was a force to be reckoned with if you left it in a mess - it came from her love of the hall as an expression of her love for the community. She cared that the space was well looked-after because it meant that it could then be welcoming.

Everyone from her yoga teacher, the vicar, the meditation group, our alt-worship community, the lunchclub she'd helped run for 20years - everyone remarked on her commitment and faithfulness. She never missed a week, regardless of the weather. In fact she was usually the one clearing the snow on the paths. Her neighbours voted her the best neighbour in the world last year, because she was always there for everyone.

So many people remembered her encouraging words to them, on the service they'd led, the sermon they'd preached or the project they were starting. Those small words of kindness and encouragement meant so much to us, and it served to remind me that living out Grace and Peace can be most effectively done by being faithful and paying attention: to the small details, to the individual, to the efforts and offerings of those around us.

We will sorely miss her efficiency and commitment to keeping our church running smoothly, but more than that we will miss her thoughtfulness and self-giving, her kindness and above all her example of how to live for God, faithfully and in detail. I'm glad we know she is resting in God's Peace.