Introduction to Requiem
We are gathered in Chapel to give thanks to God and to pray for Eve Wiseman. We have come from near and far to salute a friend and priest whose passing leaves us all the poorer. Weeks back I was at the altar with Eve and many of you to pray for Derek Goodrich and months back, again with Eve, for our mutual friend and former resident Allan Buik. Now for this eucharist Eve herself is on the other side in this celebration as her picture by the Paschal Candle reminds us. In penitence and faith therefore let us prepare to celebrate the sacred mysteries central to our life as Christians, central to Eve’s life and ministry, welcoming through them a pledge of the glory which is to come.
Sermon Romans 8:35-39
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. Words dear to Eve from Job Chapter 19 verses 25 to 27
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Eve Wiseman died January 8 a few days after suffering a stroke. My wife Anne prayed with her just before she was taken from College to hospital. Eve is survived by her niece, Helen Clay of Caernarfon, Wales and nephew, Simon Clay of Vancouver.
Eve was born near here in Coulsdon, baptized at St. Francis Church and confirmed at St. Andrew’s Church. As a child, she was awarded a scholarship to Purley County Grammar School for Girls. She studied for her school certificate and higher school certificate at London University, and went on to obtain a Teaching Certificate from Cambridge’s Homerton College. Her main subjects were physical education and educational psychology. Eve taught for four years on Cable Street in Stepney, London, in the school in which “To Sir With Love” was based.
Eve had a distinguished academic career. She obtained a Master of Education from Western Washington State College in Bellingham and a Master of Divinity from the Vancouver School of Theology. She lectured and taught at CF Mott Training College in Liverpool, the University of Birmingham’s Faculty of Education and was an associate professor at Western Washington University. In the 1970s she was considered one of the top ten experts in the field of movement education in the United States. Eve once said that “a child dancing is often worshipping God”. She also coached the women’s field hockey team at Western Washington University as well as being on the Senate there and later at Vancouver School of Theology. Eve spoke at conferences and seminars around the world.
She was ordained to the diaconate in 1984, and to the priesthood in 1985 by Archbishop Douglas Hambidge. Prior to ordination she had been active at St. James, Vancouver and St. John, Shaughnessy. In the late 1970s she served as a lay minister at Nooksack Indian United Methodist Church near Bellingham.
As a student, deacon and priest Eve held positions in many parishes in the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster including St. Matthew, Abbotsford; St. Francis in-the-Wood, West Vancouver; St. Richard, Norgate; St. Mary, Galiano Island; St. Christopher, West Vancouver; St. Thomas, Chilliwack and St. David, Tsawwassen. She was Rector of St. Anne, Steveston from 1988-1992. Eve was deeply involved in Healing Ministry. It was always a joy to pray with her, so warm and so convinced of the power of God.
After Eve’s retirement in 1996, she had a number of “House for Duty” appointments including Ullapool (Northwest Scotland) and Scotshouse (Irish Republic) and as interim priest at the Parish of Thurso and Wick in the Scottish Episcopal Church in 2000 and 2001. She then settled more permanently in England where she occasionally presided and preached at St. John the Baptist, Hove, at her local church, St. Peter, Henfield near Terry’s Cross, The Point and here at the College.
Eve was generous to many of us including Anne and I who enjoyed visiting her house near Corinth and discussing with her the ins and outs of deacon Phoebe. An avid gardener, a voracious reader, she loved music and loved to sing so it's good we can sing this morning as part of her Christian farewell.
There is one thing and one alone that is stronger than death - the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As St. Paul wrote in the passage Anne read, 'neither death, nor life...nor things present, nor things to come...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’.
Christians believe God himself has entered our human condition to live and die, a man like us in all things but sin.
We believe that by dying Christ destroyed the power of death, and by rising again opened up a new and imperishable life to all believers.
The love of God in Jesus - this and this alone is stronger than death. When the Spirit of Jesus comes into our lives we know this for sure. As the Lord said himself, the very hairs on our head are numbered - God, the very source of life, cares for us all with an infinite love, a love stronger than death.
We commend Eve to God with this faith, faith built upon the Risen Christ. There alone, in the love of Jesus, is a sure foundation that death cannot shake.
Yet we should not presume upon that love.
As we come to say farewell to Eve purple vestments challenge us to remember our own mortality. As our friend has departed this life, so most certainly must we, and which of us knows the day or the hour the Lord has for them?
Scripture makes plain the need to prepare for that day. The surest preparation comes as we welcome the love of Jesus into our lives. This is the sure way to a purpose for living and a reason for dying.
Gathering with the Lord's people around the Lord's Table fits us to gather in our eternal homeland, in the house of the Lord for ever
Come close to God, scripture says, and he will come close to you!
Today as we come close we have the people of Ukraine on our hearts. Let us not doubt that God sees that concern and through the eucharist will impact that perilous situation as we come to him this morning.
Commit your way to him and he will act for you, in this life and the next!
God immerse you in his endless love through this eucharist, strengthen in you the hope of heaven and grant the soul of Eve Wiseman purification for the vision of himself.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord - and let light perpetual shine upon her!
Prayers
Priest: For our sister Eve, let us pray to the Lord Christ who said ‘I am the Resurrection and I am Life’.
Reader: Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress: draw near to us who mourn Eve and dry the tears of those who weep.
All Hear us, Lord.
You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend, comfort us in our sorrow.
All Hear us, Lord.
You raised the dead to life: raise our sister Eve, to eternal life
All Hear us, Lord.
You promised paradise to the thief who repented: bring our sister Eve to the joys of heaven
All Hear us, Lord.
Our sister Eve was washed in baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit. Give her fellowship with all your saints.
All Hear us, Lord.
Eve celebrated your mysteries and was nourished with your body and blood. Grant her a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom.
All Hear us, Lord.
We pray your blessing upon the churches and communities dear to Eve: St. Francis and St. Andrew, Coulsdon; St. James, Vancouver and St. John, Shaughnessy; Nooksack Indian United Methodist Church; St. Matthew, Abbotsford; St. Francis in-the-Wood, West Vancouver; St. Richard, Norgate; St. Mary, Galiano Island; St. Christopher, West Vancouver; St. Thomas, Chilliwack and St. David, Tsawwassen; St. Anne, Steveston; Ullapool in Scotland and Scotshouse in the Irish Republic, the Parish of Thurso and Wick in Scotland; St. John the Baptist, Hove; St. Peter, Henfield; Terry’s Cross; The Point and we pray a blessing upon our life together here at the College.
All Hear us, Lord
Let us commend Eve to the prayers of the holy Mother of God, St Barnabas, deacon Phoebe and all the saints as we pray in our own words keeping silence:
Reader: Merciful Father,
All accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
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