Nov. 18, 2018                     Remembering the Saints                      

Helen Wood – born January 22, 1935 and passed away on January 7, 2018. Sadly I have very few details of Helen’s life. In the times I saw her at Willowcrest, she had already slipped beyond the ability to communicate. She had devoted friends, who cared for her, visiting and feeding her daily at the nursing home. And then a few weeks after the memorial service for her husband James Woods, the family moved her to Michigan to be close to a family member there.

It is difficult to imagine that she did not share in her husband’s concern for others. I have been told, that she was very active in supporting his work at school, as well as driving the school bus. So it is that we mourn her passing, and give God thanks for the blessing that she was to those who knew her, and for the part she played in his life and in ours.

James “Jim” R. Kroening, age 66, passed away March 5, 2018. He was born March 21, 1951 to Carl and Ruth Kroening in Milwaukee, WI. Jim grew up in Lockport, IL. He retired from Caterpillar after 31 years. Jim’s family remembers him as an outgoing person, teaching his sons to fish, canoe, and camp. Taking them to concerts and sharing his passion for music, photography, car racing, and movies. He was someone that could talk to anyone, who was a good listener, held his own opinions, yet could disagree with others and still see them as persons.

Jim loved his church, enjoyed helping others and appreciated the opportunities the church provided for mission and ministry. He delivered Meals on Wheels, served on the Sharing Pantry board, participated in CROP walks, enjoyed going to Feed My Starving Children, served as a Trustee and Deacon, helped with the Ham Dinner, Pancake Breakfast, and 4^th Tuesday Feasts at church. Jim visited a number of people who suffered illness and cancer, and drove many of them to appointments and out to lunch.

Jim had a strong sense of God’s call for us to be involved in bringing God’s kingdom into the world, and the role that the church plays in that. And Jim told me that in the United Church of Christ, he found a home where the God revealed in Jesus Christ was proclaimed and present.

Pamela Sue Morton, age 55, of Sheridan, IL, passed away Saturday October 13, 2018 at her home. She was born June 16, 1963 in Sandwich, IL, to Wayne and Madeline Bagwill. She married John A Morton on April 24, 1981, at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, IL, where she was a member and served on numerous committees throughout her life. Pam was always very involved in her church, singing in the choir, as a deacon, a moderator, a Sunday School, teacher, a youth leader, and more.

     Pam ran the Stage Coach Shop in Northville, she was a cooker and baker extraordinaire, making wedding cakes for others. She was happiest working in her garden, or on the back of a horse. Pamela’s life work was service to others, and she did so quietly and humbly.

       In Pastor Maney’s remarks at her service, he spoke of how most people knew Pam through their relationship with her. Daughter who chose to live near the family home, Sister caring and listen in full without judging, Wife patient and faithful towards her husband, mother, grandmother, dog and horse lover, teacher, church member, and caregiver.

        Rev. Maney also spoke of how each of those relationships was rooted in the love we know in Jesus Christ, and compared that love in Pam’s life as a magnificent gemstone that Pam polished throughout her life. Each facet, in good times or bad, radiating the beauty of life that can be seen in someone who loves one another, as Jesus loved us. Showing forth the glory of God in ordinary everyday actions, whether decorating a cake, or cleaning horse stalls.

      Elvira Evelyn Knight, age 94, of Sheridan, passed Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Pleasant View Luther Home in Ottawa, IL. Mrs. Knight was born March 26, 1924 in Battersea, England to Frederick and Violet (Teche) Robertson. She met Virgil J. Knight during World War 2 when he was stationed in Southport, England. Virgil and Elvira married August 10, 1947 in Serena. Virgil passed May 27, 1998. 

       She was an active member of the Serena United Methodist Church and had been a Matron of the Order of Eastern Star. She was active in the Sandwich Hospital Auxiliary for many years and as a volunteer in the hospital gift shop, and reception for the emergency room. For a time before she went to the Luther Home, she attended services at Union Congregational, became a member and made a number of friends. She participated actively in the Sunshine Band, and we are grateful for the time she spent with us.

      This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, a traditional time of celebrating the harvest of the field, giving thanks for God’s blessing of our work, and being prepared to face the winter months that lie ahead. On this Sunday, we celebrate not only these gifts, but all the gifts of those lives God has shared with us, and who we have lost in this past year.  These people showed a variety of ways in which God makes his love known among us through the power of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives. The people have made us who we are and will never be parted from us. And through our faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they will be remembered and raised to life among us, even as they shall be raised to life in the kingdom of God that is to come!