November 25, 2011, 11:00 AM, Sunset View Mortuary, El Cerrito, CA
Call to Worship
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)
Angels in Heaven
This week as I was preparing to be with you this morning, I reread the printed history of Ed Chan. I realized that not only was he unique, he was always on the move—restless. Because he didn’t like uncomfortable woolen clothes that his mother made him wear, he moved out of the house at age 16. At 18, he joined the Marines and went to Japan and Korea. He studied at San Luis Obispo. While living in El Cerrito, he traveled across the Bay Bridge to Chinatown to attend church. He took his family to Tahoe. He cycled, went horseback riding and probably didn’t sit still when he was fishing. He was always going downhill skiing and got all of his friends to do that too. When Helen wanted to help start a new church, he left Chinatown and went to Sunset. He traveled around the world. He kept his dancing shoes on to move with the beat. He kept his mouth moving at his karaoke parties. And even when he was older, he was walking on his hands, rafting on a lake, jumping in the water to pull a boat, doing 200 push-ups and even climbing trees. Ed Chan was always on the move—restless.
Whenever we have an interment service or a committal service, we talk about this being a final resting place. For sure, our bodies and remains are placed here to rest for a very long time. But as Christians, we accept the difficult reality that our physical part of ourselves has come to an end but our spiritual life is just beginning. As long as you continue to have memories of Ed Chan, he continues to live in your lives. It’s like he is still actively present and still on the move with you here.
In the Bible, there was an incident when some church leaders asked Jesus about people having more than one marriage on earth and what would happen to these relationships when everyone is eventually in heaven. Jesus told them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God being children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:34ff.)
We remember Ed Chan again at this time. Ed Chan was so active that he was blessed with two wonderful wives, Helen and Ruth. Both of these women tried to keep up with Ed who was restless and on the move. But we also affirm the truth that He is not here but in heaven with God. In heaven where relationships that were so cherished on earth are no longer in place is now where Ed Chan is. He is one of the angels probably flying around meeting his new friends and planning a karaoke party in heaven with all the other children of the resurrection.
Let us pray.
God of Time and Eternity, keep us mindful always of the brevity of our life, so that we may be more attentive to essentials and less preoccupied with trivia. Let us close each day, as far as we are able, forgiving and forgiven, since you may call us home before the next day breaks. Attached us ever more firmly to our family and all of the many members so that we may continue to pass down the stories from generation to generation. Enriched by the memory of our brother Ed Chan, a faithful servant of the Lord, let us move forward as he would of, with our trust in you deepened and our love increased. Amen.
Read the Poem: Finding by Ed Chan
Committal
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we commend to God’s merciful care our brother, Edmund Chan; and we commit his body to this resting place: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
“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 brother, Edmund Chan, in your own image; you set his feet on a sojourner adventure; you watched over him along the way. 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 Ed Chan in the communion of saints—forgiven, transformed, and fit for our new life with the Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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. Go in peace.