November 27, 2002, 10:00, McAvoy O’Hara Evergreen Mortuary
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 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 147:1,3,5; Matthew 11:28, 29; 5:4)
On this sunny day in November, I welcome you on behalf of Doris Yim, her two daughters, Doreen and Candy and their families to remember and celebrate the life of our dear friend, Robert Yim who returned to be with the Lord on November 22nd at the age of 85. God blesses us with long life and many years of strong bonds of love that stretches between husband and wife, father and daughters, grandfather and grandchildren, and good friends with good friends. We come this morning with a grateful heart to give thanks to God for these blessings of meaningful human relationships that have nurtured us through the years.
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 sadness. Grant us the comfort of your rest. Assure us with confidence that your faithful servant, Robert Yim 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 Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings James Chuck
Psalm 23
John 14:1-6
Words of Remembrance—Open Sharing
Message—Milk and Honey
Like many in Bob Yim’s generation, he was born into the world when life wasn’t so easy. He suffered with polio and yet overcame his disability. He learned to survive and function in two worlds—fully an American in his birthright and yet his parents wanted him to know that he was Chinese too. Unlike the volunteer military service we have now, Bob and Doris served willingly during World War II with the possibility of dying for their country. In our suffering and despair, we also discover faith and hope for a better life. In our struggles and perhaps even misery, we come to believe in God’s mighty power working in our lives.
When we read about the people of Israel in the Old Testament, they suffered at the hands of their taskmasters in Egypt. Then God heard the cries of his people and called Moses to deliver the people from Egypt and bring them up out of the land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Bob and his generation of Chinese Americans lived through a period of history that wasn’t so easy. And like the Israelites, God provided Bob opportunities to attend high school, start a family, buy a home, and to own a business in America. For Bob and for many of his generation, America is a land flowing with milk and honey.
Probably getting his business skills from his father who owned a poultry store, Bob and his brother, George purchased and operated a corner grocery store. These little “ma and pa” stores are almost gone with the impact of supermarkets and Costco. But when my wife and I lived on Arguello and Balboa for a year, we depended on the little corner store just a block away for our milk, a loaf of bread, the daily paper, and sometimes a little ice cream! The little grocery store was a place where the storeowner recognized you as a neighbor.
I can imagine that when Bob operated his grocery store with his broad Jack-O-Lantern smile, it was truly a store flowing with milk and honey. Customers and suppliers stayed awhile to chat and talk about the day’s front-page news. When he bought a meat slicer, he made deli sandwiches that were the best around. Even his daughters asked him to make sandwiches for them. His nearby neighbors worried about how he was working long hours, 7 days a week that they brought him meals to eat. Over the weekends, Bob allowed Doreen and Candy to fill the shelves and to dust the cans. Not only did his store sell Berkeley Farms milk and teddy bear honey, his store symbolized what a good neighbor should be—a place flowing with milk and honey for strangers to become good neighbors.
In may just be coincidental but I like to see it as providential that his store was called Golden Gate Grocery. Like the Israelites who was promised a land flowing with milk and honey, the name of Bob’s grocery store reflected the first symbol of America when Chinese immigrants sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge—a symbol of new opportunities, a new home, and a new life.
From meager and modest beginnings, Bob and Doris were able to struggle successfully and faithfully, and God provided them with life in San Francisco flowing with opportunities and meaningful relationships. One of Bob’s virtues that we all have been blessed with was his loving care for others. He was always ready to lend a hand and to help someone out. For Bob, he discovered the secret of life—when we give unselfishly, we receive abundantly. The more he gave to others, the more he realized that he was being blessed. Throughout his long life, he continued to give of himself for others.
One of the most remarkable gifts of unselfish love that Bob gave was at the end of his physical life. Knowing that the end was coming, he was still trying to witness the birth of his newest grandchild in order to give another blessing to the next generation. Although Bob wasn’t able to be present during the birth of Thomas Robert, his life still overlapped with the birth of his newest grandson. A blessing was completed because of Bob’s dedication to his family and the grace of God. This is a beautiful story for Candy and Sal along with the rest of the family to share with Thomas Robert as he grows up.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) I am sure that at Bob’s grocery store, he had all kinds of bread and many brands of soft drinks. But Bob didn’t need to eat of these things to live. Bob knew Jesus in his life and was never hungry or thirsty. We are grateful and thankful to God for giving us our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ so that when we believe in Christ, we have eternal life. The living bread of Christ has guaranteed us that we will live forever in the arms of our loving God.
Let us pray.
Gracious God, we celebrate and give thanks for the gentle spirit and kind heart of Robert Yim who served you faithfully as your disciples throughout his life. We pray that his memories and spirit will live on through our lives for years to come. As Bob was a blessing to many, enable us to also be blessings to others in this world. Grant us peace, O Lord, as we leave this place with the promise of a life flowing with milk and honey. Comfort us, O Lord, as only you can. Amen.
Announcements
The Yim Family is most appreciative and thankful for your presence here this morning. If you would like to make a memorial gift in Robert Yim’s name, the family has requested that gifts can be sent to the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco where a fund will be established in his name. Immediately following the time for you to come forward and to pay your respects and greet the family, we will proceed to the Committal Service at Green Lawn Cemetery in Colma. After that, there will be a Fellowship Luncheon beginning at 1:30-2:00 at the Yet Wah Restaurant on Clement Street between 23rd and 24th Avenues. Some limited parking is available at the lot on 24th and Clement. You are all invited to attend.
Benediction
May the God of the Lord Jesus Christ, who raised Jesus from the dead and forever conquered death in our world and in our lives live in our hearts that death no longer holds us in fear. Amen.
Committal Service
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)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may nor 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, Robert Yim; and we commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Blessed are those who…died in the name of the Lord…they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.” (Rev. 14:13)
Let us pray.
O God, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to bring life and immortality to light. We entrust Robert Yim to your everlasting care. Grant us the awareness that each of our days is a true gift from you, to be lived preciously and joyously in hopeful expectation of eternal life in divine presence with those whom we love. In the name of Jesus, the Lord of life, we pray. Amen.