photo by Patrick Scriven for WJ Communications
by Kristen Caldwell and Selby Ewing, WJ Communications
On Thursday evening, those gathered for the Western Jurisdictional Conference in Spokane, WA held a Memorial Service to honor those who passed since the last convening of the jurisdiction in 2022.
The scripture chosen for this service of gratitude and remembrance focused on God’s abundant love as a shepherd of all and the strength God provides for endurance in our collective journeys on this earth. Scripture readings included Isaiah 40 28-31, Psalm 23 and several passages from the gospel of John.
Bishop Karen Oliveto preached a message of the importance of the everyday saints among us, who, through their own lives, cultivate transformative love. These saints, our neighbors, help to restore our faith and enable us to love and trust more deeply and live more courageously.
She challenged those gathered, asking if they were ready to be about the business of love in this time when love is not in generous supply. To love as Jesus did – to be willing to stand up and speak out, to risk everything for the transformational power of love.
Candles were lit in honor of each departed soul as Bishop Warner Brown spoke their names.
Those honored included Bishop Melvin Talbert, Bishop Calvin McConnell, Velma McConnell, Rev. Guadalupe “Lupita” Alonso-Redondo, Richard Marsh, Vernon (Jim) La Bau, Thomas (Tom) Wogaman, Rev. Paul Jennings Beemer, Rev. Bill (Willfred) Leeroy Johnson, Bob Meyers and Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr.
Those gathered departed singing the recessional hymn “Soon, Very Soon” with the steadfast faith that we will all gather again one day with those that were honored.
“Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.”
