Sunday Evening, June 11 - Memorial Service

Listen to Young Jin Cho's Sermon

A Service of Remembrance and Holy Communion was the first service of the 224th session of the Virginia Annual Conference, meeting in Hampton, Va., June 11-14.

A processional entered the Hampton Coliseum filled with the 3,000-plus lay and clergy members along with the families of those who lost loved ones during the past conference year. The choral music was provided by a Virginia Conference Massed Choir directed by Sandra Billy of the Center for Sacred Music, Virginia Wesleyan College.

Young Jin Cho

The Rev. Young Jin Cho, superintendent of the Arlington District, was the preacher for the service. He based his message on Matthew 25:14-30, the story of the talents, "For to all those who have more, more will be given, and they will have abundance..."

As Cho began his sermon, "Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant," he said, "We have gathered to praise God and remember those who have finished their earthly journey. Now they are resting from their labors. For some of us the loss of a spouse, parent, or grandparent, was very painful. We pray that the comfort from our Lord Jesus Christ will bring comfort."

Talking about success, he said it's a popular word, but a very vague word. "What is the meaning of it?" he asked. "We must answer what, who and when."

What is the criteria of success? How much money do we have?

Who set the criteria of success? Who makes the decision if our life was a success or a failure?

When can we call a life a success or a failure? No one stays on top forever. There's a time to be on top and a time to come down from the top.

Cho continued, "We find out when we stand before the Lord. If our Lord does not praise our life, it will be a failure. If we live the life of a good and faithful servant, our Lord will be pleased.

Lighting of the memorial candles.

"Sometimes maintaining a church is not easy, but maintenance is not enough. Hiding our resources in the ground is not acceptable to our Lord. We must move from maintenance to mission, from preservation to production. We need to work hard to multiply our talents."

In doing our best there is one thing to remember. "Our God not only asks to do our best," Cho said,  "but gives us help. It is the gift of prayer. It is the source of inspiration, wisdom and power.

"Our best should include asking God to help us. Of course we pray but it is more than just saying 'hello' to God once in a while. When we pray, do we really have high expectations about prayer?" he asked.

"We need to wrestle with God," Cho said. "We need longer, harder and deeper prayer. If we do not pray we cannot be the best."

Bishop Kammerer breaks bread.

Following a Canticle of Remembrance, those who had "entered the church triumphant" were named, led by the Rev. Bob Blinn, conference secretary. As each name was read, family and friends were asked to stand, a bell was rung, followed by the words, "Thanks be to God," and a candle was lit in their honor.

Communion was served to all those gathered.