PRELUDE	Ms. Natalya Knyashansky

THE WORD OF GRACE

Jesus said, I am the Resurrection and I am Life. Those who believe in
me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and
believes in me shall never die. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the end, the first and the last. I died, and behold I am alive
forever more, and I hold the keys of hell and death. Because I live,
you shall live also.

GREETING

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our
faith as we celebrate the life of Sarah Davenport. We come together in
grief acknowledging our human loss. May God search our hearts, that in
pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.

Dying, Christ destroyed our death.
Rising, Christ restored our life.
Christ will come again in glory.
As in baptism Sarah Davenport put on Christ, 
	so in Christ may she be clothed with glory.
Here and now, dear friends, we are God's children. 
What we shall be has not yet been revealed.
But we know that when he appears we shall be like him,
	for we shall see him as he is.
Those who have this hope purify themselves as Christ is pure.

PRAYER

*HYMN	In the Garden	No. 314


OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Eccl 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 
a time to be born, and a time to die; 
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up; 
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; 
a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; 
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 
a time to tear, and a time to sew; 
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; 
a time for war, and a time for peace.

PSALM 23

Leader:	The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

People: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me
	beside the still waters.

Leader: He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
	righteousness for his name's sake.

People: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
	I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy
	staff they comfort me.

Leader: Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies:
	thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

People: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
	life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.


GOSPEL LESSON: John 14:1-10,18-21,25-27

	"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe
also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it
were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for
you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be
also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said
to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the
way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me,
you will know my Father also.  From now on you do know him and have
seen him."

	Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be
satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time,
Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the
Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that
I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to
you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his
works. (John 14:1-10)

	"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a
little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me;
because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I
am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my
commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love
me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself
to them." (John 14:18-21)

	"I have said these things to you while I am still with you.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have
said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not let them be afraid. (John, 14:25-27)


SERMON		Rev. Brian White

Today, we come together as family and friends of Sarah Davenport. I
know for many of you, particularly family members, she was Sallie. I'm
going to call her Sarah because that's how I knew her.

Sarah was a person who found great satisfaction in her family
relationships. She was a devoted wife and mother. I was always struck
by how John and Sarah's personalities blended together so well. In the
past few months they have had to deal with a lot of pressures, with
the Thomson plant closing announcement, with Maggie's surgery, and
Greg and Maggie's anticipated move to Bloomington. John, we can't
replace Sarah in your life as you move into your future. But I hope
you know you are not alone.

Sarah was so proud of the accomplishments of Greg and Andrew.  She
would talk often about different things that Greg and Maggie were
doing. I know she was excited that Greg and Maggie were moving back to
Bloomington. Part of what we grieve today is that the experiences that
we anticipated, and that Sarah anticipated, will not be quite the
same.

Sarah got so much vicarious enjoyment from Andrew's college
career. Even though she missed him during the past couple of summers
she was happy for him to have the experiences that he was able to
have.

One of the symbols of Sarah's love for not only her immediate family
but also her larger family was the family history that she was working
on. It was, in fact, one of the primary reasons she and John were in
Macon. And it is comforting in some way to know that she died at a
time when she was in her element, doing something that she enjoyed
with someone she loved.

Sarah was a person who found great satisfaction in her work. She was
the Treasurer of the Indiana chapter of the Church & Synagogue Library
Association and was newsletter editor for several years. She was a
vital link in the association in her friendship and her devotion to
developing libraries in many churches.

I know that we were blessed, here at St. Paul, by her devotion and
determination in the church library. Sarah was constantly researching
new resources and finding materials that would enhance the ministries
of our church. She enjoyed her work at the South Indiana Conference
Media Center and worked as a C.A.T. team member for Cokes bury. All of
these activities just highlight how much she did, not out of duty, but
because she believed in what she was doing and loved doing it.

Since I have been pastor at St. Paul, John has served as treasurer,
and often he would be finishing up his work in the church office after
worship and Sarah would be in the library.  I don't know how many
times she would draw me into the library to show me some new book or
tape. Invariably I would leave with a book or two under my arm, which
she made sure I checked out properly! (As a matter of fact, I remember
the last time very distinctly. She had handed me a couple of books to
read. I started to walk out of the library without checking them out.
She playfully said, "You pastors are all alike. Jack used to come down
here and take things all the time. But I guess you're in good company
there.") I must confess that sometimes I read the books she handed me
and sometimes I sheepishly put them back in the library book drop
unread. One thing I do know, that our church, and my life, was richer
because of her devotion to teaching us about the many resources for
growth and study. She helped me be a better pastor and Christian and I
am grateful for it. I don't think I am alone in that.

Sarah was a person who found great satisfaction in her faith. She
loved the church and her church friends. Sarah was a person who had
struggles in her emotional life and her faith journey through the
years. She was not a socially polished stone but to many of us who
knew her she was a gem nonetheless. I always knew how Sarah felt about
things and I always knew that she cared how things were done. Without
a doubt, Sarah was not a passive bystander in life. She was determined
to be involved.

Early Fall last year Sarah and I were asked to be a team to make
presentations at several local churches about the South Indiana
Conference's Outdoor Ministries Capital Funds Campaign. My schedule in
the Fall became pretty complicated as I tried to get to know people
here at St. Paul. Sarah took care of so many details with those
meetings - finding out what holes were in my calendar, calling
churches, making sure materials were where they ought to be when they
ought to be there, and sometimes rescheduling when things fell
through. I gained a great insight into her persistence and attention
to detail while working with her on those meetings. Sarah was really
good about taking care of those kinds of details and making sure
things were right.

She was a person who not only professed but lived her faith.

In the presence of a life cut short, the words of Bishop Woodie White
came to my mind. I'd like to share his reflections on a friend's
death:

		Death sometimes comes too quickly. It does not allow
	us time to brace ourselves for its devastating impact. It
	arrives when we least expect it, at a time when the last thing
	on our calendar is death. We are busy living and enjoying the
	fullness of life. The awareness of our mortality is not
	uppermost in our consciousness.
		At other times, death comes so slowly. One lingers in
	great pain and suffering, praying for relief; yet death takes
	its time. It does not arrive on schedule. The waiting is
	difficult for all. There is a sense of paradox, for it comes
	as the welcomed unwelcome guest.
		Sometimes death comes too early. It snatches a little
	one, a young adult, a promising student, a person at the
	height of his or her career when there's so much of life to be
	lived and enjoyed and anticipated. While, intellectually, we
	know that death will make its visit sooner or later, we don't
	expect it to come too early.
		For the most part, death is kind, even considerate; it
	comes to us in the appropriate cycle of life. It comes as the
	mind and body begin to wear out, when dreams have been
	fulfilled and we have glimpsed a future not to be ours, when
	contributions have been made, love given. It becomes time to
	make room for another, who will experience the joy of life as
	we have experienced it. It is then that death comes on time.
		Yesterday, death came too quickly. No one was prepared
	for it. Rather, no one expected it. My friend was full of
	life. We sat at the same table for lunch. We talked, joked,
	and laughed together and looked forward to our next visit. We
	did not in our wildest imaginings expect death to come so
	quickly. Not the next day!
		Although death is as constant as night and day, it
	still seems an intrusion. We tolerate it but are not
	accustomed to it. When death does not touch us, we are apt to
	be more philosophical, more accepting of its reality. Perhaps
	its democratic character causes us the greatest stress;
	ultimately it touches all of us.
		A part of life's definition is death; the question is
	when and how - not if. We prefer that it come on our schedule,
	but death has its own timetable.
		The Christian life is one lived in the Lord. It
	prepares us for life, but it also prepares us for death. To be
	Christian does not make us oblivious to the pain of death, but
	rather helps us to understand its reality. There is the
	assurance that whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. This
	has a way not of decreasing the sting of death, but enabling
	us to endure it. Having endured it, there is the promise that
	we shall overcome it.
		Although death comes too quickly sometime, often when
	we least expect it, the Christian is always prepared for it.
	We are bewildered, confused, and devastated when it comes,
	because we don't expect it, not because we are unprepared for
	it.
		The whole Christian journey is one of preparation for
	life as well as for death. I know this with all my being; I
	believe it with all my heart. But yesterday death came too
	quickly. (Woodie W. White Confessions of a Prairie Pilgrim,
	pp. 132-134)

For the family and friends of Sarah Davenport, death came too
quickly. There were library books yet to be purchased and
cataloged. Family lines to be traced and documented. Hugs to be
given. Graduations to attend. We know that there was more to do and
yet death has come, final and resolute. But what has not died is the
legacy of love that Sarah left to us. Let it be the cord that binds us
to her in this time of pain and sorrow. In time it will be what leads
us to joy.

We will still weep but we have, in the end, gathered to affirm our
faith in the eternal nature of God. Jesus said, "Do not let your
hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's
house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have
told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so
that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3, NRSV)

For now, Sarah has gone ahead of us, but we shall be reunited.  Our
grieving is not forever. In another place and time we will feel the
hugs we long to feel and hear the familiar voice that is burned into
our memory's ear. It is our prayer that we will one day join Sarah in
God's perfect presence.


AFFIRMATION FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-57

Leader: Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we
	will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
	at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead
	will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

People: For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this
	mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body
	puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on
	immortality, then the saying that is written will be
	fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

Leader: "Where, 0 death, is your victory? Where, 0 death, is your
	sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the
	law.

All:	But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord
	Jesus Christ.

PRAYER OF COMMENDATION

God of us all, your love never ends.
When all else fails, you still are God.
We pray to you for one another in our need,
and for all, anywhere, who mourn with us this day. 
To those who doubt, give light; 
to those who are weak, strength; 
to all who have sinned, mercy; 
to all who sorrow, your peace.
Keep true in us the love with which we hold one another. 
In all our ways we trust you.
And to you,with your Church on earth and in heaven, 
we offer honor and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.

*HYMN	Hymn of Promise	No. 707

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.

POSTLUDE	Ms. Natalya Knvashansky