December 30, 2006, 11:00 AM
Evergreen at McAvoy O’Hara
Call to Worship
God is gracious. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heaven burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Psalm 147:1,3,5; Matthew 11:28,29; 5:4)
On behalf of the Family of Albert Hong Hom who was born on March 12, 1925 and returned to the Lord on December 20, 2006, I welcome you to this service of remembrance and the celebration of Mr. Hom’s life. I am Rev. Don Ng. Senior Pastor of the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco and Dr. James Chuck, our Pastor Emeritus will be assisting. Our prayer for you is that your presence here today will be blessing for you and your household in the New Year.
Let us pray.
O God, your care is like that of a father who has compassion for his children and a mother who comforts her child. We cast our heavy burdens of grief on you. Deal graciously with us in our anguish. Grant us the comfort of your rest. Assure us with the confidence that your faithful servant, Albert Hong Hom 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. Through his name we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings Gregory Hom
Chinese Translation Dr. James Chuck
Biography Catherine Hom
Words of Remembrance Franklin Hom
Message—Watching Over Life
When we were children, we like the idea that someone loved us so much to watch over us. Our parents or grandparents would walk us to school and meet us when school is over to walk us home. We look out for our parent to be there waiting for us as they promised. Our parents would watch over our shoulders to make sure we completed our homework before we went out to play or for today’s children playing video games. And when they had to leave us at home, a sitter would come over to watch over us so that we wouldn’t burn down the house! It is reassuring to have someone watch over you because it means that someone loves you enough to give up his time and life for you.
The one defining memory that the family of Albert Hong Hom has of him is that he watched over his family. His family was the most important part of his life; especially his grandchildren. He wanted to see them work hard so that they can be successful. He looked forward to participating in their graduations because they symbolized personal achievements that he himself didn’t have an opportunity in doing. He watched over them to make sure they can get the proper education that he didn’t have.
As a waiter at Johnny Kan’s Restaurant for 35 years, he must have watched over hundreds and hundreds of customers as they come to San Francisco Chinatown to have a bite of good Chinese food. His hospitality of making visitors feel welcome and entertained would be the kind of rich experience that visitors would write home about. Mt. Hom watched over his customers just like he watched over his family.
His family told me that Mr. Hom was always ready to run to the aid of those in need of help. He looked out for other people with a helping hand. When his neighbors needed some groceries to be picked up, he was there to do it. He ran errands for others. And one time when a U.S. Census taker was in their housing unit, he invited his neighbors into his own apartment so that they can participate in the process of being counted. He took time to assist others with their immigration papers and paper work even though he did not have a formal education himself. Lacking any degrees did not stop Mr. Hom from doing what he felt was right—to watch over his neighbors and to make sure they were okay.
In the Bible, when the people were worried about life’s concerns, Jesus told them to not worry because God was watching over them. Listen to Matthew 6:25-34,
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil or spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ Indeed your Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Mr. Hom lived out his life reassuring his family to not worry because if there was anyone needing to worry, it was him. He was always watching over them to ensure that they were healthy and financially secured. In some small way, he watched over his new found country when he served in the Army during World War II. He watched over his father’s dry cleaning business as a youth. He helped to watch over the local chapter of the family association as a daily member. And as an avid sports spectator, he literally watched over the San Francisco 49ers when they had winning seasons as well as the losing ones.
In our Matthew passage, Jesus tells us to not worry because God watches over us and will provide all that we really need. We don’t even need to worry if God will follow through on his promises because if God gives attention to the smallest details like the birds in the air and the lilies of the field, then how could God not care for human beings? It is this caring that brings us hope today. God has provided the ultimate message in the resurrection of Christ. We are not to worry about our future, our own provision, our own death, our own resurrection. God is watching over us and has cared for all these things already. We know this because God told us in sending Jesus Christ to us, to let us know that God walks with us through death and resurrection.
We believe in God’s loving mercy and eternal grace that in God’s plan for all of his creation that he welcomes everyone into his kingdom. Albert Hom watched over life caring for his family, friends, and neighbors just as Jesus taught us that God watches over us both in this life as well in the next. Someone once said,
“I cannot alleviate poverty, but I can feed one hungry person;
I cannot end war, but I can extend a branch of peace to my neighbor;
I cannot prevent death, but I can hold the hand of a dying man.
That may not seem much, but it is everything.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) Albert Hom watched over life with a passion to care for others and in so doing, care for Christ himself.
All of us can learn from the life of Albert Hom and become caring for others as he was. We can face tomorrow not worrying what to eat or what to drink or what to wear. We believe God will provide for all of these things. But like Mr. Hom, we are called to watch over life so that the whole world can be taken care of. If there is a legacy that Mr. Hom leaves to his family and to us, we are to watch over others as he did. Let us go and watch over each other: to make sure no one is lonely, to check if everyone has enough to eat, to look both ways before crossing the intersection, to see that everyone has an opportunity to finish school. Let’s continue to remember Albert Hom by carrying on what he did in his life—watching over life.
Now that Mr. Hom is with the Lord, we believe that the “Lord watches between you and me when we are absent one from another.” (Gen. 31:49)
Let us pray.
Creator and Provider God, at this time of all times, we thank you for the precious gift of life. We thank you for the precious life of our friend Albert Hong Hom and how he watched over life. We thank you for health and for the skill and compassion of those who care for us when our health falters and fail. We thank you for home: for the roof over our heads and the dining table where our families gather each day to give thanks for life’s blessings; and for loved ones who make our homes into a true place to know each other in love. We thank you for this past year with all of its joys and struggles and look forward eagerly to the promises of good things in 2007 that will bring you favor according to your plan for us. And we thank you for hope: hope for the pursuit of the next goal when one goal has been reached; hope for recovery and a fresh start when the goal has eluded us; hope at the last, when all hope seems lost, except for the one shining hope set before us in your raising our Lord Jesus from death. Amen.
Announcements
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 Albert Hong Hom is enjoying that peace right now and that, if you keep the faith, this peace shall await you too. So, keep the faith, my brothers and sisters.
“And now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) Amen.
Committal Service
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 loved 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, Albert Hong Hom; and we commit his body to this final resting place, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Let us pray.
God, our Maker, you made our brother, Albert Hong Hom, in your own image; you set his feet on our sojourner trek; you watched over him along the way. You led him to discover his true passion as one who watches over life like the way you watches and provides for all the needs of your creation. As you lovingly received and welcomed him to the ranks of the redeemed, we pray that you would continue to guide our sojourner steps so that, at the appointed time, we might join Albert Hong Hom in the communion of saints—forgive, transformed, and fit for our new life with the Lord, in whose name we pray.
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.