Sunday Evening, June 10 - Memorial Service

Click here to listen to the Rev. Jent's sermon.

A Service of Remembrance and Holy Communion was the first service of the 225th session of the Virginia Annual Conference, meeting in the Roanoke Civic Center, June 10-14.

A processional of families of those who lost loved ones during the past conference year entered the civic center filled with the 3,000-plus lay and clergy members.  The processional featured the hymns "For All the Saints" and "In Unity We Lift Our Song." The choral music was provided by the combined choirs of Samaria Baptist Church and Tsena Commocko Baptist Church of Providence Forge, Va., under the direction of Arnette Adkins. They are the home churches of the Chickahominy and the Eastern Chickahominy tribes.

Larry Jent invites the congregation to sing Amazing Grace.

The Rev. Larry Jent, pastor of Amelon United Methodist Church, Lynchburg District, was the featured preacher for the service. Jent is a person of Cherokee and Sauk heritage who has always been involved in ministry to Native Americans.

Jent began his sermon by talking about the terrifying moment when you lose sight of your child. Fortunately most of the moments are false alarms, he said. When Jesus was 12, Mary and Joseph didn't find that relief. Jesus was a good sweet innocent child and they never had a problem with him. He wasn't with any of the family.

If you were alone in the big city at 12, where would you go? They checked in the dark alleys and other places they thought a 12-year-old might go.

"Finally," Jent said, "was out of desperation or inspiration, they came to the temple and there he is talking to Bible scholars.  He was listening to them, asking and answering questions. How often do you find children willing to listen so carefully to the elders."

If Jesus accomplished anything noble, Jent said, "it wasn't because he looked down on them but because he listened so deeply to the elders' hearts. He was on the shoulders of giants. It was a miracle in those days for anyone to take time to listen so carefully to the elders. How much more is it a miracle in our own day."

Two choirs from Baptist churches with members from the Chickahominy and East Chickahominy tribes provided special music.

He continued, "We gather here this evening to honor our elders. We honor our elders who listened so carefully they embodied the traditions for us and go on now in our lives. Their footsteps have ceased to fall among us but their heartbeats go on in our souls, our homes, our churches, and even in this place. We seek to be about the business of building up the kingdom of God. We honor those who are ever here in spirit. We honor, as well, the elders who were first entrusted with the sacred stewardship of this land. We honor those who helped forge this new creation. We honor those elders who, for 400 years, were silenced and squelched, whose voices, still, against all odds, continue to sound forth.  We pray God that their voices never again will be silenced in our midst.

"This is truly a miracle that God has raised up not only the elders who speak but those among us who listen. Christ himself was raised up by the listening. That's why you're here isn't it? Haven't you been raised up by the listening? You have been lifted up on their shoulders."

Jent said, "We thank God that He is in the miracle business because in this day and time it's harder than ever to listen to that voice.

Candles were lighted as each name on the memorial roll was read.

"Many people today want to embrace Native American traditions. We are here because God does the same for all of His people. He has continued to raise up the elders of Native American communities against all odds. They are here among and we are still hearing their voices. God has done the same for the Christian family and worked the miracle of embodying the miracles. We must embrace the traditions in such a powerful way that they lift us up. The voice will continue to go on and on and on. The only question is whether there will be anyone to listen.

Closing his service, Jent said, "I would like to share something that helps me listen. It's the song sung on the Trail of Tears, it's the song we sing that reminds us of the elders who paid the price to remind us of why we're here today." He played Amazing Grace on a flute and then sang it in his Native American language.

Bishop Kammerer blesses the Communion elements.

He then asked the congregation to join him in singing the song.

The Rev. Bob Blinn, conference secretary, led the "Naming of Those Who Have Entered Enternal Rest." As each name was read aloud, a bell tolled and a candle was lighted.

Holy Communion was served to all those in attendance.