As a pastor, I never thought preaching a sermon should happen at a memorial service.
All I can say is clearly you didn't get that memo. Thank God.
What a gift to all of us in the world who have come to love Rachel's writing or her personhood or those of you who got to love her in person...what a gift this message was, and is, and will be over and over.
I've been known as a pastor folks may not agree with always, but "he does beautiful memorials, especially if it's for your family's loved one". But clearly, i Haven't learned all the ways to do this well. My tears rolled freely through this marvelous gift of love. My deepest thanks.
I loved what you said in Pastrix as related to grief - how God does not just suffer for us but with us. How God does not initiate suffering, but transforms it. I am sure God will take this world suffering immense grief and will transform it - especially in the presence of open hands and loving hearts.
I loved this when I watched it on YouTube and I love it again today. I am not sure if I still am a believer but reading this sermon makes me long for the days when I was one and that is quite something because I usually just want to run from anything faintly religious at the moment. Thank you.
As a fellow minister I love the way you see and interpret scripture. I love it that you live And think outside the 9 dots. It’s where it’s happening. We have to explode the box and you are a trailblazer...or the dynamite...Thank you for sharing your story. You give credence to our stories.
Thank you for sharing this. My Dad died on 3/10 in CO and I came back to Fairbanks AK on 3/23 and as a nurse have been navigating the COVId-19 world. Today I allowed myself time to grieve and this made me sob... finally
I thought I’d watch the funeral, more interested in listening to the music and your sermon, but found myself pulled into every moment feeling a bit like Maude from “Harold & Maude” ...witnessing and crying through the whole service not knowing a soul there...but being moved to tears by everyone’s words. Thank you for sharing this. And bless you, bold woman of God. Preach on...
Oh my! I have drifted far from my christian upbringing. And yet I knew Maude was my Saint. I started a group called Siisters of Maude. I am glad to be still a member. I have found this sweet voice after she had died. And now I am trying to pray christian again. Even though Gos says I don’t have to.
Thank you for encouraging me to watch the sermon being preached. Thank you so much. My sister who shares the same name died on Feb 25 last year. So to hear her name as you preached touched me deeply. Thank you so much. This was church for me this morning. God Bless you, Nadia.
Your powerful message for Rachel, her family and friends sparks intense feelings for me as I watch and wait during COVID-19. God is suffering with us and will use this suffering to transform us as human beings, and when the light shines at the end of this tunnel, we will emerge as a people of God, more loving, more forgiving, and more appreciative of all that has been given to us by the grace of that God.
oh my god, thank you Nadia, these are the words that I have been seeking, I believe as I personally have taken a willing peek inside the darkest door of my life and it hurts so fucking bad, I have had this strange sense that I am on the right path because I am indeed closer to resurrection. Thank you my friend
This couldn't have come at a better time while a dear friend mourns the sudden loss of her brother. She is blessed to know that he is singing with Jesus, but it still stings. Thank you for helping me understand why it stings and that it's ok to be sad.
I paused in watching this. Having just barely recovered from illness and depression, from losing my two pillars, two souls whom the word "friends" doesn't seem to touch in the complexity of who we were in this life - having (finally) a sunnier day today, there was the temptation "not to go there". But I realized that your grief is our grief, and that our faith is not in our moods - so recklessly fleeting - but in the power of the Spirit to direct us where we most need to be. And I am so glad that I did. This was healing and a powerful testimony of the work in the darkness, the places we are sent unbeknownst, and what it is that we find there: Angels, not laundry.
Thank you for allowing yourself to be broken, for the light of Rachel which shines through, and being a reminder of how holy a calling Love is.
This post made possible the tears that I've been keeping inside and really needed to let go. Thank you. Thank you thank you. Thanks for the reminder that we can love in grief, too, not just in joy.
As a pastor, I never thought preaching a sermon should happen at a memorial service.
All I can say is clearly you didn't get that memo. Thank God.
What a gift to all of us in the world who have come to love Rachel's writing or her personhood or those of you who got to love her in person...what a gift this message was, and is, and will be over and over.
I've been known as a pastor folks may not agree with always, but "he does beautiful memorials, especially if it's for your family's loved one". But clearly, i Haven't learned all the ways to do this well. My tears rolled freely through this marvelous gift of love. My deepest thanks.
I loved what you said in Pastrix as related to grief - how God does not just suffer for us but with us. How God does not initiate suffering, but transforms it. I am sure God will take this world suffering immense grief and will transform it - especially in the presence of open hands and loving hearts.
I loved this when I watched it on YouTube and I love it again today. I am not sure if I still am a believer but reading this sermon makes me long for the days when I was one and that is quite something because I usually just want to run from anything faintly religious at the moment. Thank you.
As a fellow minister I love the way you see and interpret scripture. I love it that you live And think outside the 9 dots. It’s where it’s happening. We have to explode the box and you are a trailblazer...or the dynamite...Thank you for sharing your story. You give credence to our stories.
Thank you for sharing this. My Dad died on 3/10 in CO and I came back to Fairbanks AK on 3/23 and as a nurse have been navigating the COVId-19 world. Today I allowed myself time to grieve and this made me sob... finally
This took my breath away and had me weeping all at the same time. Thank you!
I thought I’d watch the funeral, more interested in listening to the music and your sermon, but found myself pulled into every moment feeling a bit like Maude from “Harold & Maude” ...witnessing and crying through the whole service not knowing a soul there...but being moved to tears by everyone’s words. Thank you for sharing this. And bless you, bold woman of God. Preach on...
Oh my! I have drifted far from my christian upbringing. And yet I knew Maude was my Saint. I started a group called Siisters of Maude. I am glad to be still a member. I have found this sweet voice after she had died. And now I am trying to pray christian again. Even though Gos says I don’t have to.
Praying and sending love to all of Rachel's friends and family this week.
Thank you for encouraging me to watch the sermon being preached. Thank you so much. My sister who shares the same name died on Feb 25 last year. So to hear her name as you preached touched me deeply. Thank you so much. This was church for me this morning. God Bless you, Nadia.
Thank you Nadia ... and Rachel 🕊
Your powerful message for Rachel, her family and friends sparks intense feelings for me as I watch and wait during COVID-19. God is suffering with us and will use this suffering to transform us as human beings, and when the light shines at the end of this tunnel, we will emerge as a people of God, more loving, more forgiving, and more appreciative of all that has been given to us by the grace of that God.
oh my god, thank you Nadia, these are the words that I have been seeking, I believe as I personally have taken a willing peek inside the darkest door of my life and it hurts so fucking bad, I have had this strange sense that I am on the right path because I am indeed closer to resurrection. Thank you my friend
This couldn't have come at a better time while a dear friend mourns the sudden loss of her brother. She is blessed to know that he is singing with Jesus, but it still stings. Thank you for helping me understand why it stings and that it's ok to be sad.
I paused in watching this. Having just barely recovered from illness and depression, from losing my two pillars, two souls whom the word "friends" doesn't seem to touch in the complexity of who we were in this life - having (finally) a sunnier day today, there was the temptation "not to go there". But I realized that your grief is our grief, and that our faith is not in our moods - so recklessly fleeting - but in the power of the Spirit to direct us where we most need to be. And I am so glad that I did. This was healing and a powerful testimony of the work in the darkness, the places we are sent unbeknownst, and what it is that we find there: Angels, not laundry.
Thank you for allowing yourself to be broken, for the light of Rachel which shines through, and being a reminder of how holy a calling Love is.
Thank you 💗. The service, especially your words, was truly a gift today. Love and peace to you.
This post made possible the tears that I've been keeping inside and really needed to let go. Thank you. Thank you thank you. Thanks for the reminder that we can love in grief, too, not just in joy.