Toen Tang Wake Service
August 12, 2004, 6:30 PM
Sunset View Mortuary, El Cerrito
Prelude
Welcome
The Psalmist said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong, and let your heart take courage;
Wait for the Lord!” (Ps. 27:1, 14)
On behalf of the Tang Family, I welcome you here tonight for a time of remembrance and celebration of Mr. Toen Tang’s life. We have come seeking comfort for the lost of a loved one who has been dear to us. We have also come to affirm the truth that in God’s house, there are many rooms. So believe in God, believe in Jesus Christ and do not let your hearts be troubled. We pray that by your presence here, you would bring consolation to one another and God will look favorably on you.
Let us pray.
Most Patient God, we humbly pray to you to make your presence felt among us and within us. We need courage to control our fears, and they are many, Lord. We are afraid of times when we are disappointed and sometimes even when we have overwhelming joy. We are afraid of life and even more afraid of death. Help us during this time of worship to gather up fresh resources of faith and assurance. Let the spirit of Toen Tang, who is now beyond fear, safely at home with you, inspire us to live bravely, trusting in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and his victory over fear, sin, and death. We pray in Christ’s powerful name. Amen.
Hymn How Great Thou Art
Scripture Readings Psalm 23 Pastor Kin K. Mak
Romans 8:31-35, 37-39
Biography
Special Music Amazing Grace Wendy Quan
Message Waiting Patiently
God could have come into the world as a commanding military hero or popular governmental official or a high-standing religious leader, but God came as a carpenter in Jesus Christ in order to teach us the virtue of patience. In our fast-paced and instant gratification society, we prefer quick results. But God wants us to learn the meaning of patience when it comes to our faith.
Patience is perseverance. Both in his work in Joseph’s shop and in his ministry with people, Jesus stayed with the task at hand until it was finished. I can imagine how Joseph taught Jesus to carefully work on a piece of wood for a long time until it was finished. We all know that to get a beautiful finish on a piece of cherry wood requires patience. And we know that even after teaching Peter and the disciples and modeling for them what it means to follow him, Peter still betrayed him at the end. But Jesus came back to Peter and for three times, Jesus patiently invited Peter to feed and tend his sheep.
Mr. Tang’s children told me that their father was a very patient man. He was gentle and never said anything that would be hurtful to others. And when there were disagreements, he would patiently wait until everyone comes to terms with one another. Patience was a virtue that Mr. Tang not only applied in raising his children but also in his work. As a civil engineer in China, Taiwan, and in the United States, he was patient to construct freeways, dams and airports. These modern day wonders of the world require patience and careful thought so that people can hurriedly move about their lives. Isn’t it interesting that without the virtue of patience that is necessary to go into the building of freeways and airports that we wouldn’t be able to live in the fast-paced culture that we have today!
Mr. Tang trusted his wife to do most of the talking and disciplining. When there was a need for this, Mr. Tang would ask his wife to talk with their daughters. He was patient with his children and knew that in time, they will realize the truths of life.
I am reminded of the Parable of the Prodigal Son and his Brother told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. We know that the younger brother couldn’t wait to find adventure and try his luck to be successful only to end up destitute and lost in a distant country. But his father knew that in time, he would come to his senses to come home and he did. The loving father waited patiently for his prodigal son to come home. And just as friends and family were celebrating the safe return of this wayward son, the older brother became jealous and felt left out of his father’s attention. And once again, we see that the father patiently waits and encourages the older son to join the party and celebration. Toen Tang was always patient with each of his children and we can believe that just like the father in this parable accepts and loves each one of you.
From the prophet Isaiah, we read that God is the everlasting Lord and never grows faint or weary but rather gives strength and power to those of us who are tired and exhausted. And usually when we are spent, we become impatient and want to finish up the tasks that we are doing right away or wanting to see fast results in our lives. Isaiah said,
“Those who wait for the Lord
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
We cannot know when or how the day of the Lord comes when he returns to earth. But what we do know is that we are to be patient. Before Mr. Tang passed, Pastor Mak was invited to baptize him in the hospital. After living for 88 years, God received Mr. Tang into his arms and welcomed him into the kingdom. God patiently waited for Mr. Tang and God will wait for all of us too.
From the book of James 5:7, we read,
“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer
waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it
receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen
your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
As Toen Tang learned to be patient, he has taught you to be patient as well. Be gentle as he was and never say hurtful things. Be polite and patiently wait until everyone comes to terms with each other. It is God’s grace that Mr. Tang was able to teach his family what patience and perseverance mean for us today.
Let us pray.
We praise you, Creator God for making us in your image, for instilling in us the need to pray, no mater how dimly felt, and for enabling us to pray, even when we have been estranged from you and unworthy of your attention and love.
We thank you for being a God of great patience and forbearance, welcoming an embarrassed and timid prayer as much as a skilled, trusting one. We give thanks for our Lord’s closeness to you, for his patience with his disciples and with us today.
We thank you now for all who sincerely and faithfully prayed for Toen Tang whom you saw fit to call to his eternal home with you, where he is alive forevermore—beyond our prayers, and surrounded by our memories and our love. In the name of Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray. Amen.
Announcements
As noted in your bulletin, there will be a funeral service for Mr. Toen Tang tomorrow at 11:00 AM followed by a committal service at Sunset View. You are invited to attend.
The Tang Family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the El Cerrito Chinese Christian Church or the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco.
We thank you for your gifts in memory of Mr. Tang as well as prayers and support during this time of grief and loss. And again, on behalf of the family, we thank you for your presence tonight and wish you peace and prosperity.
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 Toen Tang is enjoying that peace right now and that, if you keep the faith, this peace shall await you too. We are called to keep the faith.
And now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. (Philippians 4:7)