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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Grief

Krister is still alive -- I got a note from one of his children this morning -- but near death still, in that in-between passage, and I am grieving mightily. I cried on my walk in the woods yesterday, I cried today in church, I cried at the coffee hour (and left in a hurry), I cried in the car, I cried on the phone when I called my best friend from divinity school to tell her the news and ask her prayers. It's a good thing I wasn't doing much more than being a chalice bearer today. The readings were perfectly timed, too: shepherding, breaking bread and praying in community, the Twenty-Third Psalm. Everything reminded me of what a holy and pastoral person Krister Stendahl has been for so many of us, and how much his work has built up the Body of Christ and so many of us individually, in our various ministries. May Godde have mercy on us who will survive him, and help us do for others a fraction of what he has done for us and for the kin-dom.
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14 comments:

  1. KirstinApril 13, 2008 at 5:33 PM

    ((((((you))))))

    Prayers and love, my friend.

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  2. johniebApril 13, 2008 at 5:59 PM

    A mighty grief for the passing of such a one. I am beginning to hear some of the details of his greatness as he goes, continuing to feed the sheep entrusted to him even in his extremis. Godde will surely pour out comfort and grace for you, now and in the coming time. And by the grace to which he witnessed, will lead you to continue to be that grace to others.

    Christ continues to appear to us, and through us; thanks be to Godde.

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  3. June ButlerApril 13, 2008 at 8:52 PM

    Oh, Jane. Prayers for a peaceful passage for Krister. Prayers for his family and friends, and, dear Jane, prayers for you.

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  4. PaulApril 14, 2008 at 12:28 AM

    Amen and amen.

    I am grateful that you have had the gift of tears. There are times we need to be washed in that flood. May the Spirit uphold Krister and those around him, those he mentored, those who grieve, and specifically you, dear heart.

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  5. KirstinApril 14, 2008 at 10:30 AM

    I know you're not on Facebook--but Ann started a group to pray for him, there. Here's the link.

    It's clear what Krister means to you, and to many others. Lots of love.

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  6. Jane RApril 14, 2008 at 11:05 AM

    Thanks, Kirstin. I just signed up (only this could get me to go on Facebook!) to see it, but it was nothing new. It was a cut and paste from the post I got from the WATER (Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual) e-list on Friday. I know the writer, Ann Larson, we were contemporaries at Harvard Divinity School. She is a Lutheran pastor, now living and working in Vermont.

    She has misspelled Krister's last name, which is Stendahl, Swedish spelling, unlike the French writer, whose name is spelled Stendhal. The woman whose funeral she mentions --I wrote this to the WATER-list and Ann subsequently wrote me a kind note-- was named Emilie Sander. I remember that episode well. I wasn't there, but heard about it shortly after

    You will see more detail about Stendahl on my post from a year ago. There is a link to that post from a year ago on my Friday post announcing KS's imminent death. You will probably enjoy the essay on the Bible which is linked there.

    Thanks...

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  7. Jane RApril 14, 2008 at 11:06 AM

    And thanks, all, for your comfort and prayers.

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  8. FranApril 14, 2008 at 12:59 PM

    Prayers and more prayers dear Jane.

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  9. AnonymousApril 14, 2008 at 10:06 PM

    Dear ((((Jane)))), I'm keeping you in my prayers. Paul is right-- it is good that you have the gift of tears. But oh, it hurts.

    I did read the piece about the Bible the other day and it reduced me to tears of joy. What a gift. I wish I had not been so overawed by him when he came to Union Seminary in the mid-1960s as a guest lecturer; I might have kept up with his work. Now I have a lot to make up.

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  10. AnonymousApril 14, 2008 at 10:12 PM

    And let me add: you, dear Jane, are 'a holy and pastoral person' and a builder-upper, worthy of your great mentor. Do not doubt that he will live on in you and remain near to you.

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  11. pjApril 15, 2008 at 8:51 AM

    (((((Jane)))))

    This writer-grrrl is at a loss for words. Sorry.

    (((((Jane)))))

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  12. johniebApril 15, 2008 at 11:54 AM

    Mary Clara speaks my mind better than I did.

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  13. Jane RApril 15, 2008 at 5:43 PM

    Mary Clara, thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.

    And thank you, all, for being there.

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  14. Jane RApril 15, 2008 at 5:44 PM

    P.S. to MC: or perhaps you do! (Have an idea how much this means.)

    ReplyDelete

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