January 3, 2003
McAvoy, O’Hara, Evergreen Mortuary
6:00 PM
Call to Worship
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us this ministry of reconciliation…So we are ambassadors for Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17-18,20)
In the name of Christ who has reconciled us to each other and on behalf of Mrs. Mee Yuk Wong and the entire Wong family, I welcome you here tonight to remember and celebrate the life of Mr. Hing K. Wong who returned to the Lord on December 27, 2002. I am Don Ng, Pastor of the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco and along with Rev. Dr. James Chuck, our Pastor Emeritus, we are glad that you are here in the presence of God and in the fellowship of brothers and sisters to support and comfort one another as well as to proclaim the promised of everlasting life in Jesus Christ.
Let us pray.
Creator and Redeemer God, at a time of deeply felt loss, we turn to you for comfort. We glorify you for creating the universe out of nothing and each one of us in your image. Thank you for the life of Hing K. Wong who shared his love with his family and blessed each one of them with his wisdom. We acknowledge your sovereign wisdom in setting limits to our life on earth and for setting before us, through Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior, a limitless life in heaven. Being reconciled to you through him, we praise Christ for teaching us to bring peace and harmony in our world and commit ourselves to that ministry of reconciliation. To him, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all glory and praise. Amen.
Hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Scripture Readings
Psalm 23
Hebrews 11:1-10; 12:1-2
[Scripture Readings in Chinese followed by reading the Biography]
Biography
Open Sharing
Filling the Space in the World
Matthew 5:14-16
Barely into this year’s winter rainy season, we have already experienced some powerful wind storms and torrential downpours that have knocked out PG&E. Losing power momentarily or for some of us, over many hours has caused us to load up with fresh batteries and emergency candles. After that initial panic of searching for that flashlight or striking a match to light that candle, we are relieved even with wind and rain batting against your house to see light. The light fills the room and we begin to feel safe once again.
For the past 85 years or according to the Chinese calendar, 88 years, Hing K. Wong has been like a light that fills a darkened room. My only contact with Mr. Wong has been through his son, Harland as we see him faithfully every Sunday take his father down to Chinatown to have lunch at Uncle’s Café on the other end of Waverly Place where our church is located. Even toward the final years of his life, no physical limitations would prevent him from filling the space in one of Uncle’s Café’s booths.
Like many Chinese who were fortunate to have the chance to come to America, Mr. Wong filled a bed on a ship and came as a teenager to work with his father in the laundry business. He worked in Ukiah, Fort Bragg, San Francisco, and traveled to many places delivering laundry to places like Eureka and Santa Rosa. During World War II, he filled a spot in the US Army and was sent to South Africa and Europe. He returned to China to get married and to start a family. For a first time immigrant, Mr. Wong was unafraid to travel to new places. He bravely went out and filled these new places with his life and he discovered that his new world was very good.
I couldn’t help but to notice in reading the expressions of love and appreciation from the family members as well as from friends, that Mr. Wong not only filled the empty spaces in the world with his work but he filled the lives of his family with wisdom. He taught his family to excel and strive for a better life than the one he led. He modeled durability and endurance in his own life so that his children and grandchildren will learn that worthwhile things are worth working for. He showed tenderly love by personally caring for all the grand and great-grand kids. He proudly displayed his allegiance to his new country by showing patriotism during WWII and fulfilled the expectation of others that Chinese Americans are good citizens.
After marrying Mrs. Mee Yuk Wong, Hing Wong became active at her church, the Assembly of God. He provided leadership in different capacities but especially in the maintenance of the church’s facilities. He once again filled a need—able leadership at this church and performed it well.
When Jesus was preaching on the mount as recorded in the Gospel according to Matthew, he said,
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot
be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel
basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the
house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so
that they may see your good works and give glory to your
Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
In this sometimes darkened world that we live, God calls us to become lights that fill the whole house and then calls us to go outside to fill the whole world with light. Mr. Hing K. Wong lived a lifetime filling the empty spaces in your lives with his love and caring. As a faithful and humble servant, God has called him his child because he has let God’s light shine before others—in each one of you here.
The Old Testament Book of Micah answers the question of “Why are we here?” with another question, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Lord?”
God has created each one of us to witness his creation by filling in the spaces in the world with justice, love and wisdom. We are here to notice when it is necessary to light up the dark places in the world. We are here to fill the need to lead and work with others for worthy causes. We have been created by God to witness God’s wonderful world because otherwise, creation would be playing to an empty house.
We pray that as God has guided Mr. Wong’s life to be a light that fills the world with love and caring that you too will go from this place to be a light not hid under a bushel basket but sitting high on a tall lampstand so that others will also see God’s glory in your daily lives.
Let us pray.
O God, our light and our salvation, we praise you on this night for your gift of light and for your twin gift of darkness. You created them both. You separated one from the other. You ordered our lives so that we need both: the light to enjoy your creation, to do work, to serve you and one another in love; the darkness to rest, to enjoy the blessing of sleep, to expand our souls in dreaming.
Merciful Father, we thank you for pursuing us with your love so that there is no darkness that can hide us from you. We thank you above all for your Son, our Lord Jesus, who visited the darkest depths of sin, who descended even into the darkness of hell, to seek and to save the lost.
We glorify you for the light that shines from his face, exposing and overcoming the powers of darkness, sustaining and proclaiming, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Announcements
The Wong Family is most appreciative and thankful for your presence here tonight. We pray that your expression of respect to Mr. Hing K. Wong and your condolences to the family will also grant you peace and prosperity in the New Year.
If you would like to make a memorial gift in Hing K. Wong’ name, the family has requested that gifts can be sent to the Assembly of God on 20 Legion Ct. or the First Chinese Baptist Church on 1 Waverly Place both in San Francisco.
You are also invited to the Funeral Service at 1:00 tomorrow here at McAvoy O’Hara Evergreen when we will also have Rev. Paul Yue of the Assembly of God sharing in the service.
Benediction
Remember, beloved brothers and sisters, God has promised to bless us and keep us in this life and in our new life with the Lord. The same God whose face now shines on our friend, Hing K. Wong, has promised, through our Lord, to forgive us and to shelter us throughout eternity. Let us find comfort and peace in these gracious promises of a living God.
Now, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen.