News and Views

‘Like the stars, let your light shine,’ bishop tells mourners

Posted by Linda Worthington on

This article was updated on June 8, 2016.

By Linda Worthington
UMConnection Staff

Rev. Joseph Daniels assists a family in lighting a candle in memory of a loved one during the Memorial Service.
Rev. Joseph Daniels assists a family in lighting a candle in memory of a loved one during the Memorial Service.

Bishop James King Jr. of South Carolina preached Friday at the Memorial Service to remember  the 29 clergy, 27 clergy spouses and lay members of the conference who have died since the last annual conference. He called his words of comfort, “Twinkle.”

Family members, friends and pastors representing the deceased ones processed in to “God be the Glory” and “For All the Saints.”

Leading the audience to recall the past, Bishop King asked them, “What would Jesus say to you today? Or to those we remember this day, what would Jesus say?”

“I don’t know,” he answered himself, “but I think Jesus would say, ‘Twinkle.’”

Bishop King grew up in Ashland, Ala., and, as a child, sometimes walked home from his father’s dry cleaning business across a cornfield after dark. His mother placed a light on the porch to guide him through.

“In the name of the saints who have gone before us, is your light shining bright so someone can see the way home?” he asked.

As is the tradition for the Memorial Service at annual conference, the Rev. Mary Jo Sims, conference secretary, read each name as a portrait of the deceased was projected on the screens; family members or representatives came forward to light a candle as friends in the audience stood in silence.

“The saints were born to shine,” Bishop King had said earlier, “and I believe they are shining and living on through the light in our faith community.”

All sang “This Little Light of Mine” as the guests departed.

 

Comments

Name: