Honoring David

We set a special place for David at today's Wednesday Community Meal.

In addition to serving 238 lunches, we held a memorial service during today's Wednesday Community Meal for our friend and regular guest David, who we lost two weeks ago.

David was very fond of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and told me many times how much he loved the community meal, the church and how nice everyone was to him. He was a kind and gentle man who was very easy to love and care about. We had to acknowledge him.

So during the lunch service today, we honored David with a short and sweet memorial filled with song, prayer and homemade cookies.  In attendance were family members and friends from Trinity, the community meal and the street. The Reverend Jim Bethell officiated the service and accompanied by Sandy Norcross on the piano, community meal volunteers Cheryl Richardson and Ukiah Hawkins led us in singing the hymns "Morning Has Broken" and "Amazing Grace."

The service also included an Irish Prayer chosen by The Reverend Raggs Ragan that couldn't have been more perfect for our dear friend:

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother David. We thank you for giving him to us, his Church family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

David, may you always walk in sunshine,

and God's love around you flow.

For the happiness you gave us,

no one will ever know.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

but you did not go alone.

A part of us went with you,

the day God called you home.

A million times we've needed you,

a million times we've cried.

If love could only have saved you,

you never would have died.

So, David, rest now in God's peace-

that peace which passes all comprehension.