January 30, 2010, 9:30 AM
Evergreen Mortuary, San Francisco
Call to Worship
God is gracious. God 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 are carrying heavy 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 147:1c, 3, 5;Matthew 11:28, 29; 5:4)
We gather here today as family, friends, sisters and brothers in Christ to remember the faithful child of God, Yoot Sun Chew Chin, born into this world on September 3, 1912 in China and returned to the Lord on January 25, 2010. God is gracious and blessed Yoot Sun Chew Chin with a long life of 98 years according to the way Chinese count so that she may serve as a true blessing for her family and future generations.
On behalf of the Chin family, I welcome you here to this time of celebrating and remembering the life of Mrs. Chin. By your presence and your many prayers, the Chin family is thankful for your care, support and love especially during this time of loss and grief.
For the past 9 years, Mrs. Chin was tenderly cared for by Auntie Wong or Wong Sim. Wong Sim served as Mrs. Chin’s constant companion, staying overnight with her and meeting all of her needs. The family believes that as the result of Wong Sim’s loving friendship, Mrs. Chin lived longer and had a quality of life that was filled with goodness and joy. They appreciate you and thank you for your love and gentleness.
Later in the memorial service, there will be an opportunity for you to come forward to share words and stories of remembrance. Today, we pray that you will hear about how our loving God is ever-present wherever life’s journey may have taken us and in the end, we can affirm that God is truly gracious and life is good.
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. Be gracious with us in our anguish. Grant us the comfort of your rest. Assure us with the confidence that your faithful servant, Yoot Sun Chew Chin 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.
Reading: Sandalwood Hills and Mountains of Gold James Chuck
Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6 (English & Chinese) Pastor Peter Lee
Life Story: English Victor Chin
Chinese Pastor Peter Lee
Hymn: “He Leadeth Me” Joy Shih Ng
Words of Remembrance
Victor Chin
Message—“Paying Ahead”
Mrs. Yoot Sun Chew Chin lived a long life. She came from a family of people who lived long lives and she valued and enjoyed every minute of it. When one lives long, you don’t panic or become anxious because you know that there will be time to do everything you set out to do. With time on her side, Mrs. Chin spent it wisely by loving and caring for her large family.
Every year around the Fall time, our church invites its members and friends to pledge to support the ministries of the church. According to her son, Bill, Mrs. Chin did something different last October. Instead of giving her offerings on a monthly basis as she has done for over 40 years, this time she paid ahead. She instructed Bill to pay up her promise to the church ahead of time, all at once, perhaps knowing that she won’t live too long into 2010.
While Mrs. Chin’s history in the village in China and how her husband, Bing Chin worked in the U.S. and served in the U.S. Army are familiar and similar to many Chinese from Taishan who immigrated to America, Mrs. Chin knew how to plan ahead. She ran the laundry business successfully while also taking care of her children and 5 grandchildren. She opened the laundry for her customers and at the end of the day; she closed it until the next day. She was envisioning and planning ahead in order to maintain her growing household.
In retrospect, Mrs. Chin knew ahead that she was completing her work in this world. When she entered the hospital last week, she said she might not be so lucky this time. In the past couple of months, she started to give away her things to her family. She knew that her time was coming to an end. With God’s grace, she was able to see ahead.
Mrs. Chin was able to see ahead because God has gone ahead of us already. In the Old Testament, there was a faithful man named, Job. He was inflicted with all kinds of problems and challenges. When he finally complained to God for all his sufferings, God told Job that he’s been around a long time before Job was created. God said, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” God asked Job, who do you think created the heavens and the stars, the seas and the clouds, the light and the days, all the animals on land, in the sea and sky? God was ahead of us. Mrs. Chin knew that what was in store for her in the future was okay because God went ahead.
Mrs. Chin’s favorite hymn was “He Leadeth Me.” She would sing it or hum it when she was doing her daily chores. Her children played this hymn when she was in the hospital that gave her peace and comfort. Mrs. Chin loved this hymn because when there were troubled waters, she reached out her hand and clasped Jesus’ hand. She was his faithful follower and by Jesus’ hand he leadeth her. Mrs. Chin planned ahead confidently knowing that Jesus’ hand was there for her to hold.
Our Lord is the good shepherd who shows us where there are green pastures. He leads us besides the still waters. He leads us in right paths according to his plans for our lives. When we may be experiencing the darkest times, the Lord extends out his staff for us to clasp and then we are not afraid. The Lord goes ahead of us to prepare a table and blesses us with so much that it overflows. Because Mrs. Chin allowed the Lord the good shepherd to lead her, she has seen goodness and mercy and all 98 years of days on this earth and now in heaven dwelling in the house of the Lord.
In John’s gospel, Jesus said, “In my father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you.” Jesus has gone ahead so we are able to anticipate what is ahead of us. Mrs. Chin is now in heaven with her husband and their son and the many relatives who are with God.
Heaven is a real place where you are in the presence of God. Heaven is a place of rest where our burdens are no more. Heaven is a safe place where there are no locks on the front door. Heaven is a place without sorrow where all our tears are wiped away. Heaven is a place for those who have trusted Christ because for Christians, death is not just an exit, but an entrance into a place made by God. Heaven is a place where we get to see Jesus face to face and having him reach out his hands to lead us into eternal life.
Before Mrs. Chin passed on to be with God, she was planning ahead for her loved ones. She taught them the importance of providing for the family when she would teach them how to pick out the freshest vegetables or teaching them how to make jin doi or different varieties of joong for each person’s particular tastes. She taught them the value of a penny earned is a penny saved; whether it was at the penny slot machines that she loved to play or getting the very best price for whatever she bought.
Mrs. Chin left a rich legacy to all of you, her family and in a big way to all of us who have been fortunate to have known her. She wants you to be nice to each other and to help out. She learned from Jesus that it was more blessed to give than to receive. As the matriarch, she wants you to stay together as a loving and caring family and perhaps one of you will become as sassy as she was with her oldest grandson Albert.
Mrs. Yoot Sun Chew Chin followed the Lord as he clasped her hand and led her through her long and blessed life. The Lord knew her and consecrated her before she was born. She paid ahead because she believed that Jesus first paid ahead for us on the cross so that our sins are forgiven. Mrs. Chin showed us both in life and in heaven with the Lord that what is ahead of us, we do not need to be afraid but rather what is ahead is a heavenly place with God.
I was told that Mrs. Chin had her own designated seat when she was in Sunday school in the church library. She probably had her same seat in the sanctuary when she worshiped. She had her same seat and no one dared to sit in it at the senior center. Mrs. Chin won’t be sitting in her seats anymore because she has paid ahead, looked ahead, planned ahead knowing that the Lord was leading her.
Let us pray. O gracious God, how we thank you for the gift of life. We know the Scripture is true that teaches us that in you we live, and move, and have our being. But even as we give thanks for life, we acknowledge, O Lord, that death is a part of life. Even though death always feels like an intruder, we know it is really part of the path we all must walk. We are grateful for those whose lives encourage us on the path of life. This loved one, Mrs. Yoot Sun Chew Chin, whose life we celebrate today, has been faithful in life and now in death. May we learn from her courage and faithfulness to embrace the totality of the gift you have given us, and accept by grace the hope of eternal life. In the name of Christ our Lord, whose life, death and resurrection are the first fruits of eternal life. Amen.
Acknowledgements & Announcements
The Chin family expresses deep appreciation and gratitude for your presence here today. They hope that you have been blessed because you have come. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Mrs. Chin, you may give to the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco to support the senior ministries of the church.
After you have come forward to express your last respects and to greet the family, our service here concludes. The entombment service is private and will be attended by family members only.
Benediction
Beloved, in the midst of sadness, I charge you to rejoice.
Rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God!
Rejoice even in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope!
Rejoice above all that this hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:2-5)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Committal Service
Yoot Sun Chew Chin
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even 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 of our sister, Yoot Sun Chew Chin; and we commit her body to this final resting place.
“Blessed are the dead who…die in the Lord…they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.” (Revelations 14:13)
Let us pray.
God, our Maker, you made our sister Yoot Sun Chew Chin in your own image; you set her feet on an immigrant’s journey; you watched over her for 97 years of life. As you lovingly received and welcomed her 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 Yoot Sun Chew Chin in the communion of saints—forgiven, transformed, and fit for our new life with the Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Announcements
Following this service, you are invited to a lunch gathering to meet and greet one another in celebration of Mrs. Chin’s life. Reservations are made at Moonstar in Daly City for 1:00 PM.
Benediction
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.