Even so in Christ shall all be made alive

As we enter this new year, once again we take a moment to reflect on the passing of another long-time choir member, Jemé Crouse. A faithful singer, superstar volunteer, and head librarian – she did a lot for us, and we’re all really going to miss her.

When I told my mom, she sent me a passage to read to the choir – one that comforted her when her mother, my grandmother, passed away this past year. 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 13-18 reads: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died, so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

“We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.”

Last Sunday we sang that same encouragement: “For in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Last week, the Lord called Jemé up to that heavenly choir, and we’ll all miss her, but as the passage says, we don’t grieve like those who have no hope, who have no promise. We know that someday we will sing with her again. So “Hallelujah!”

Let’s pray. Dear Father, we thank you for Jemé, for the many ways she served you, particularly with this choir, and we thank you for your promise of heaven. We lift up Ray and family – comfort them in this time of loss. As a choir, we give you tonight, this weekend, and this entire new year – it is all for your glory. In your name we pray, Amen.