Sermon Tone Analysis

Eulogy

Eulogy of Taylor

On July 30th, 2018, Taylor Ann Williamson-Sanchez lost her battle with depression.We are gathered here to day to remember, to honor, to celebrate; we are looking for hope, comfort, and peace; an opportunity to grieve and mourn the untimely death of a friend, a daughter, a wife, and a mother.

Taylor was born on june 11, 1991at maxwell AFB, AL

She graduated through chugiak HS 2009 and received an assoc.

degree at Charter College CMA, billing and coding

She is survived by her parents, Kathy & JP, her brother and sister in Law, Jonathan and Remi Williamson, her two boys, Dorian & Rylan, and her Husband Manny Sanchez.

She was love by many other family and friends.

Those that knew and remember Taylor can attest to the gentle and caring heart.

She was a fiercely devoted young woman with a kind heart.

Friends I have talked to remember her smile, her fun personality, and her loyalty to her family and friends.

She was a bouncy, giggling, lovely young woman.

Her love for animals, dogs, and nature is well known; She loved camping trips and 4-wheeling with family and friends.

Above all she loved her boys, her parents, Jonathan and Remi, Manny…and so many other family and friends.

Today we are gathered to to remember and celebrate a life that was dear and precious to so many here.

Eulogy of Taylor

On July 30th, 2018, Taylor Ann Williamson-Sanchez lost her battle with depression.We are gathered here to day to remember, to honor, to celebrate; we are looking for hope, comfort, and peace; an opportunity to grieve and mourn the untimely death of a friend, a daughter, a wife, and a mother.

Taylor was born on june 11, 1991at maxwell AFB, AL

She graduated through chugiak HS 2009 and received an assoc.

degree at Charter College CMA, billing and coding

She is survived by her parents, Kathy & JP, her brother and sister in Law, Jonathan and Remi Williamson, her two boys, Dorian & Rylan, and her Husband Manny Sanchez.

She was love by many other family and friends.

Those that knew and remember Taylor can attest to her gentle and caring heart.

She was a fiercely devoted young woman with a kind heart.

Friends I have talked to remember her smile, her fun personality, and her loyalty to her family and friends.

She was a bouncy, giggling, lovely young woman.

Her love for animals, dogs, and nature is well known; She loved camping trips and 4-wheeling with family and friends.

More than anything, she loved her boys, her family, JP, Kathy, Jonathan Remi, Manny…and so many other family and friends.

Today we are gathered to to remember and celebrate a life that was dear and precious to so many here.

I have been wrestling with what to share this afternoon and after much thought and prayer, I kept coming back to a story in the gospel of John that I believe has elements which speak to this moment and what life will look like after today.

,

5-7,

,-12.

11:17-27,

31-37

Woven into the narrative of this story is a theme that I believe speaks to us today.

It speaks of a God that has entered into the pain and sorrow of our life.

Jesus Christ, the son of God, according to the Christian faith walked this earth as we have walked.

Experiencing the joy and sorrows of life.

Not from His lofty perch in heavenly realms, but amidst the dust and the grime of our present condition.

He didn’t just enter into the place of His friends, but he heard their anger and their sorrow.

He let them question and wonder why He didn’t take away their pain, let alone make it not happen.

I love that section of the story, where he hears the heartache of Mary and is grieved deeply, so much that scripture simply records—Jesus wept.

Moved by sorrow and a higher purpose, He walks to the grave of His friend.

Left out of the story is the myriad of people looking to capture and be rid of Jesus—He is a threat.

Yet, He fearlessly enters the space of sorrow and grief, the grave sight of a friend that has been dead for 4 days.

He miraculously speaks against His greatest foe, not those that can take life, but the power of death over humanity—the great equalizer.

His purpose was not to defend himself against the powers of man, He purpose was to show His creation the way of Hope and life and Peace.

In order to accomplish, He had to go to the source of evil and death.

This God who created the world out of love and made the pinnacle of His creation with the gift of Free will, followed up His deep desire to make a way for an abiding relationship with any who would receive him.

To create a hope in the face of evil and death, he had to become that hope.

In order to be that Hope he had to make peace by overcoming evil and death.

This story of Lazarus is a foreshadowing of what was to come.

Not two weeks later, Jesus would be the one grieved.

Having sacrificially surrendered to the powers of man, to die so that He could be the first to overcome death and create an eternal pathway for humanity to experience the hope and peace, not of this world, but of the one to come.

That’s why Jesus foretells the outcome of the miracle of Lazarus’ coming back to life—if we look for signs and wonders, we will miss the point.

If we look to avoid pain and sorrow, we will be let down every time.

However, it is through the pain and the sorrow, that we discover hope and peace and life.

I speak of this story b/c it is through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ that I have come to know and experience hope, peace, and life.

I have walked many dark valleys and witnessed some wonderful mountain peaks, but through it all I can testify, that Jesus is a God of hope and peace and life.

This story capsulated the nature and character of God.

He is one who will hear our sorrow and he our cries.

He will let us be angry and doubt and question; he will walk with us through the valleys of the shadow of death, he will be with us in the midst of our enemies and he says he will never leave or forsake.

While the fragility and sorrow of our human condition pervades and infects every soul, this Jesus invites us to Hope in Him; This Jesus speaks of a Life in Him, This Jesus says that in the midst of grief and pain and anguish, peace can be known.

One day evil and death will be eradicated and entirely destroyed, in the mean time, I encourage you to experience the ongoing journey with the one who has walked this earth; who has felt the soul crushing power of evil and sorrow; who has faced the worst that life could throw at him; YET death could not defeat Him.

He offers the gift of life freely to any who would receive the gift.

It is no strings attached come as you are, an invitation to discover an existence in union with the Resurrection and the Living One.

I have seen and witnessed the power of hope and peace in JC this week.

I have seen it alive in my interactions with the Williamson family; I have seen it in the friends that have rallied around the Williamson’s and Sanchez’; I have seen it in the people of this church and others that have faith in Jesus; I have seen a profound amount of hope and peace as many family and friends have rallied amidst the deep sorrow of Taylor’s passing.

I would be amiss if I didn’t make myself available if you want to talk about the hope and peace of Christ.

I would encourage you to talk to JP, Kathy, John, Remi, Norm, or others that have been leaning heavily on the peace and hope of Christ.

This invitation is not a coercion or a guilt trip, but a desire for all present here to ensure that these moments of grief and pain, can be infused with hope and peace.

If these sort of things are weighing on your heart, I encourage you to not let this moment pass w/o talking to someone.