January 20, 2010

On April 28, 2002 my aunt Kate gave my brother Chris written instructions for her funeral, part of which read: Jon: Preach 15-20 minute succinct sermon on salvation, heaven and hell choice and “Thank God for Salvation” John 3:16. Kate died yesterday afternoon.

Kate was my father’s sister, youngest in a family of seven, and the last of the siblings to pass away. I don’t know if funeral plans have changed since April 28, 2002, if she revised, updated, or simply forgot about it, but there is a chance I will be asked to preach that “15-20 minute succinct sermon”. I think I know the kinds of things that Kate would want me to say. I could look in her father’s sermon notes, from which the phrase “Thank God for Salvation” comes, and dig out material to use.

It’s a strange thing to have someone ask you to preach at their funeral and then instruct you on what to talk about. Am I to be “Kate’s voice”….what she might want to say from the other side?

Well, perhaps I won’t be asked to speak. Plans might have changed.
I will miss Kate.