Sunday, October 8, 2006, 12:00 PM
Green Street Mortuary
Call to Worship
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecc. 3:1-8)
Thanks be to God for giving us a time for everything.
On behalf of the family of Mr. George Jang, son Bill Jang, his wife Sarah and their children Michelle, Christopher, Danielle, and Gabrielle, daughter Marilyn and her husband Richard and their son James, and daughter Amy and her daughter Grace, I welcome you here to remember and celebrate the life of George Jang who was born on May 17, 1911 and returned to the Lord on September 29, 2006. Mr. Jang lived a long and productive life of 95 years.
We thank you for your presence today and pray that in your act of respect for Mr. George Jang and your love, encouragement and support of the Jang family that your own life is blessed and protected by the love and power of God, the creator of everything in the world.
Let us pray.
Creator God, we trust you to guide us through every season of life. You carry us from death to life, from weeping to laughing, from mourning to dancing, and from silence to speaking. Inspire us to experience every season in it fullness, and to trust that nothing lasts forever—except for your eternal love. Assure us with the confidence that your child, George Jang has been received into the arms of your mercy, in the blessed rest of your eternal care. May our lives hereafter bear witness to the hope that is ours in the crucified and risen Christ, who defeated death for our sake and now reigns victorious in your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 40:27-31 (They who wait for the Lord)
Matthew 11:25-30 (Easy yoke, light burden)
Biography—Relative
Words of Remembrance
Open sharing
Message—Honorable Service
Most of us expect excellent customer service. In fact, there was a recent article in the paper about how the U.S. is losing in customer service when compared with the rest of the world. We often say how great Asian airlines are in comparison to U.S. airlines when we fly to Asia. Perhaps the reason why America is losing its edge in excellent customer service is that we would rather be the customer instead of the servant. Not many of us would choose to be serving when we can be the ones being served.
When we reflect on the long life of Mr. George Jang, the one word that can adequately define his life according to his daughter, Marilyn is “service.” He was not afraid of performing excellent customer service so he chose a life of service to help others, take care of his family, and to serve his new country.
During World War II, George Jang enlisted in the US Army Air Corps to transport cargo to the Burma/China theatre supplying the necessary equipment and materials to win the war. As a young child age 11, he came to America. He must have loved his new country because he traveled extensively around the country to live with friends and family and proudly admitted that he was a “free-loader!” He went to school in Bakersfield, took odd jobs, traveled to New York City and grew to appreciate the freedom that allowed him to be adventurous. I suspect that serving in the Army was just one way for George Jang to give back to his new country that has given him the gift of freedom. There is nothing more honorable in this world than to serve. I know that Bill is very proud of his Dad for serving honorably in military service.
In work, George Jang proudly served his customers. He sold keno tickets along side with roasted peanuts. He opened a take-out restaurant and even delivered food by car. But what stand out for his children is his 30 years of service at the University Club on Powell and California Streets. He first made sandwiches and then became a bartender starting out making only $12.50 a day. He was proud to work at the University Club because as long as he knew that he was helping to make these members have a good time, he was satisfied. He worked there until he became sick at the age of 75 years old.
George Jang never thought that his serving merited any greatness—he truly was a humble man. He served in the Chinese family benevolent associations earning the trust of their members for him to serve as their treasurer. Without formal education and training, Mr. Jang wrote poetry and even published a book of poetry. His knowledge of Chinese and culture led many parents approaching him to bestow upon their new-born children Chinese names that reflect a family’s aspirations and intentions for the child. He was respected by others and admired by his community as one of their leaders.
Mr. Jang proudly served his family with love and generosity. He sent large sums to relatives in China and watched over his resources so that there was always enough. He served his family by taking care of his beloved wife, Evelyn when she was sick. Coming from humble beginnings, George Jang was never extravagant but always thought first of his family, friends, and the community. He worked hard all his life and today, we know that he is resting well in the arms of our merciful God. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
The life of George Jang reminds us of the sacrificial and life-redeeming service of Jesus Christ. In Mark 10, we see that Jesus’ disciples James and John were asking Jesus if they can sit on the right and the left sides of Jesus. But Jesus questioned their motives and wondered if they really know what they were asking. James and John were not at all interested in serving; they wanted to become VIPs by being in close association with their teacher. And when the other disciples heard of this, they became angry at James and John because they thought they should be VIPs too.
Then Jesus called them together and said, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
When we remember the life of George Jang, we know that there is nothing more honorable in this world than to serve. Jesus came as a servant and taught his disciples to do the same. Greatness in the kingdom of heaven is being humble in service to others.
When Winston Churchill planned his own funeral that took place in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, he included many great hymns of the church. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of the cathedral, sounded “Taps” after the benediction, the universal signal that the day is over. But then came the most dramatic turn. As Churchill instructed, as soon as “Taps” was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of “Reveille”—It’s time to get up. It’s time to get up in the morning.” That was Churchill’s testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be “Taps,” it will be “Reveille.”
As people of faith, we believe in the everlasting love and grace of God who gave his only Son, Jesus Christ to the world to defeat death. The day on earth may be over for Mr. George Jang but it is a new morning for him in heaven. It’s time to play “Reveille!”We thank God for Mr. George Jang’s honorable service for 95 years and pray that we too may serve God, our loved ones, and our community as Mr. Jang has done so well.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son to this earth to serve, rather than to be served, we thank you for the life and witness of George Jang who has served his country, his community, his friends, and his loving family. Thank you for his dedication and sacrifice with the intention of always helping others.
We thank you for all the stages of our lives, from birth to death and beyond death. We praise you for the freshness, the innocence, the wide-eyed curiosity of childhood. We thank you for the exciting trials of adolescence. We praise you for all of the right choices we made in our early maturity and we seek your forgiveness for making so many wrong ones. We thank you for the satisfaction of our later maturity; for teaching us how to give more and expect less in return. And we praise you for as many sunset years as you may have in store for us: for insights and wisdom, for grandchildren, and for the courage to face our own life strengthened by the promise of a more perfect life, thanks to the love and willing sacrifice of your blessed Son.
Thank you, Father for the life of George Jang, ended here, but resumed with the Lord. We pray in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Announcements
The Jang Family deeply appreciates and thanks you for your presence to remember the life of their loved one, George Jang. Your prayers and thoughtfulness have comforted them during this time of loss and grief. Thank you for your many kind words and especially your prayers that have lifted their spirits to know God’s grace.
Following this service, the interment will be at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo on Route 92 going west toward Half Moon Bay. There will also be a Memorial Dinner at the Tong Palace Seafood Restaurant at 933 Clement Street between 10th and 11th Avenue. The family looks forward to greeting and meeting you at the meal.
Benediction
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
I challenge you to believe that George Jang is enjoying that peace right now and that, if you keep the faith, this peace shall await you, too. So keep the faith.
And now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Committal Service—George Jang
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)
God so love the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we commend to God’s merciful care our brother, George Jang and we commit his body to this resting place: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Let us pray.
God, our Maker: You made our brother, George Jang, in your own image; you set his feet on a sojourner’s trek; you watched over him along the way. We know that George Jang was an avid walker who can out-walk even younger people and as he traveled across this world, we thank you for always caring for his every step. As you lovingly received and welcomed him to the ranks of the redeemed, we pray that you will continue to guide our sojourner steps so that, at the appointed time, we might join George Jang in the communion of the saints—forgiven, transformed, and fit for our new life with the Lord, in whose name we pray.
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen.
We invite you to the Memorial Dinner at the Tong Palace Seafood Restaurant, 933 Clement St, between 10th and 11th Streets in Richmond District of San Francisco.