Joan Ray 10-16-20

We have gathered to remember and thank God for the life of Joan Ray. We also come to celebrate the faith that she possessed and the comfort that brings to us today.

In 1 Corinthians 15 we read this:

Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

Jesus said,

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:2-3)

Let's pray together

Our Father you have blessed us greatly through Joan's love, faith and encouragement. Because of that, this day is really hard. We ask you to help us to see past the loss to blessing that Joan has walked into. Help us to celebrate her victory even as we mourn our profound emptiness. Stir up our faith and our confidence. Help us to look to You. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Joan's grand-daughter, Heather wrote such a beautiful and loving obituary/eulogy that I know you all read but I still want to read it for you as our starting point for our reflection.

Joan was a wonderful, deeply caring and beautiful person to the very core. Her desire was never to take the spotlight but to shine it back to the One from whom she drew her refuge and strength. She was a most loving mother, a devoted wife, a joyful grandmother, a trustworthy sister and a peaceful beacon of faith to anyone who knew her well.

Joan was born at Mercy Hospital in Burlington, IA, one month premature, on August the 31st, 1935, to loving parents Russell and Frances Sanderson. Her presence shone even as a young girl as her father, Russell, nicknamed her “Dutchy.” Though the name denotes regality, her humility defined her. She cared deeply for her younger sister, Mary Ann, who knows how much indeed she could be relied upon. Mary Ann remembers:

Once the teacher told Mary Ann, “Well, if you feel ill just pull out your desk drawer and go ahead and get sick.” Then they called Joan down to clean it up. Oh, she’ll never forget that. She said, “that was terrible!”

This was an early, and humorous, example of the many times her family came to her knowing that she would make everything better.

She attended MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL, Monmouth College and graduated from Southeastern Community College with an Associate's Degree in Nursing in 1978. She then earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Western Illinois University.

Above all, Joan wanted her children to know Jesus. She said that she did not wish them wealth, power or even happiness but that they would know the Lord. She encouraged her children to know eternal life, as she believed, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Phillippians 4:13)

Love was paramount to her and she truly embodied the essence of Jesus’s message. She made the gospel real and pertinent to her children and grandchildren. She guided them toward a deep understanding of the Lord, the sort that could bring tears to your eyes.

She raised responsible people who know the importance of parental love and was almost magical in her ability to let her children know that, no matter what was happening, they were loved. Her smile, her giddiness at your call, her gentle pat on your arm bathed you in knowing that all is and will be well. Her optimism was irresistible.

She knew that he who sings prays twice and was a beautiful pianist and organist. She studied with the internationally respected organist Robert Glascow and remarked that she never understood why he spent so much time with her. However, those who've heard her know that she didn’t just play notes, she understood how to interpret them as music.

Her true relationship with God helped her to weather many a storm, to become a teacher of confidence and an unwavering source of peace for those who sought her counsel. Her faith was based in a dynamic relationship with God and she credited her Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Wilhelm, who brought the gospel to life. She passed that living gospel on to her family.

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Joan Ray was hard to dislike. She had loving brown eyes, a seemingly ever present smile, and was always measured in her speech to make sure she was saying what would build up rather than tear down. She also had a laugh that was infectious.

I'm told her parents were demanding. Joan however, exuded this warm personality. It is a personality even an underclassman by the name of Gene Ray noticed.

Joan married Dr. Loran Allaman. She served as his nurse. Dr. Allaman battled Depression and took his own life leaving Joan alone with her children.

Joan worked hard to raise her children in the Lord. As a family, they would read the Upper Room each night together. Joan wanted her children to be who God created them to be and handled each child as the unique treasure they are. She stressed how important it was for her children to love one another. She never tried to make them into someone they were not. She accepted them as they were and worked to help them be the best they could be. She didn’t play favorites. She was a wonderful mom and grandma.

Joan loved her family and loved the times they were all together. When she called someone or knew who was on the phone before she would often laugh even before she said anything!

She felt so fortunate to meet and marry Gene. They had a great marriage and had a lot of fun together. They traveled some with the card club. They also both served as chaperones together for one of our Service Mission trips. She loved it when the two of them started to have a devotional time together when they prayed for others. I always knew when Joan said she was praying for me . . . she was.

There is some question though as to how Gene and Joan started dating. Lynn was encouraging both her mom and Gene to go out together. Gene remembers visiting with Joan at a benefit supper. Gene however contends that this is not where or how the relationship began. Let me tell you the rest of the story!

Gene was an EMT and he was not on call the time he got a call from Joan saying her mom was on the couch in distress and she asked if he would come over until the ambulance could get there. so Gene went. When he came in he saw Granny on the couch writhing in pain but before he could attend to her, Joan invited him to the kitchen for some coffee!! They visited until the ambulance came and then grandma refused to be transported. That is when Gene suspected he had been part of a ruse. The family does not confirm or deny such allegations.

They had a good life together. Gene supported Joan through her illness and walked his beloved to the door of eternity, faithful to his vows. He then handed her over to the strong hands of our wonderful Savior.

Joan Ray was a humble person. She never forgot that she is just a sinner who is saved by grace. If you asked about her you could bet she was going to deftly turn the conversation back to you. She was a skilled musician but didn’t brag about it. I’m told she could sight read almost anything. She often played the organ at the Presbyterian church in Stronghurst. The only time Gene remembers her crying was when he told her he was buying her a piano for Christmas. She loved her Lord. She participated in a Bible Study in Burlington.

Joan was always dressed in a dignified way and she was a great listener. She was NOT an early riser and she didn’t like the heat. She also was a little on the Naïve side. She would say something naïve and the card club would give her all kind of grief because of it. Joan just laughed.

It has been my incredible privilege to be her Pastor for nearing 20 years. Joan was faithful in her attendance and eager in her service. Her warm personality drew people to her and she greeted everyone with the grace that so epitomized her life.

It was our great privilege to know her. We were blessed because of her. We will miss her greatly.

* * * * * *

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians while he was in jail. He knew his life hung in the balance. One word from the people in power and Paul's life would be over. Paul had time to think about the prospect of dying and this is what he concluded,

it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

I am drawn to this text because it seems to reflect the same kind of faith that I saw in my friend, Joan Ray. She lived her life seeking to honor the Lord in all circumstances. And yes, she had time over these last couple of years to think about the reality of death. She never seemed afraid to die. Her concern was more to be faithful while she lived. She was an inspiration.

In these last weeks she started to look forward to seeing her Lord and Savior. She didn't want to leave her family or friends, but she felt the draw of Heaven more and more. She became increasingly ready to see her Lord.

Joan knew her Bible. She was confident of who Christ was and believed Him to be the only one who could save her. She knew she could not get to Heaven by her goodness. She needed His grace and she had taken hold of it and never let it go.

Joan had examined the resurrection of Jesus and was convinced it was a historical reality rather than a made-up story. Here's what Paul said,

For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. (1 Corinthians 15:13-20)

Joan found her strength in several key Christian truths

1. God is real and He cares about us.

2. We are loved

3. Those who put their trust in Christ are forgiven.

4. God will provide the strength for any circumstance we face

5. He has spoken to us clearly and truthfully in the Bible

6. This life is not all there is

7. Our future with the Lord is more wonderful than we can even begin to imagine

These are truths that fueled her life. They are what made it possible for her to endure the death of her husband and her granddaughter. They are the strength she drew upon as she faced pancreatic cancer. They are the reason she was always more concerned about others than she was about herself. It is the reason she taught her children and shared her faith with anyone who would listen. She shared that faith not only with her words, but also with her actions. He faith was one of the reasons she enjoyed playing music . . . it was an offering to the Lord from her hands, to His ears.

It is not easy to say good-bye to Joan. In fact, we are NOT saying good-bye to Joan . . . we are saying, "Until we meet again." We will likely hear her giggle before we hear her voice but . . . those who likewise have put their faith in Christ will indeed see her again.

I know if Joan had one thing to say to you it would be this: "the Lord IS faithful. He will cleanse you and make you new also. He will strengthen you in life and welcome you in death. And someday He will put us back on a new Heaven and a new Earth and we will see and experience the life He not only meant for us to live . . . but the life that motivated His own sacrificial death on the cross. She would urge you to commit yourself to Him and assure you that will find Him to be absolutely faithful.

C.S. Lewis described the new life after death in his book The Last Battle, the last of his Chronicles of Narnia,

What was the fruit like? Unfortunately, no one can describe a taste. All I can say is that, compared with those fruits, the freshest grapefruit you’ve ever eaten was dull, and the juiciest orange was dry, and the most melting pear was hard and woody, and the sweetest wild strawberry was sour. And there were no seeds or stones, and no wasps. If you had once eaten that fruit, all the nicest things in this world would taste like medicines after it. But I can’t describe it. You can’t find out what it is like unless you can get to that country and taste it for yourself.

I love that image. I conclude with these favorite words found at the end of the Chronicles of Narnia,

The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.”

And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

Joan Ray is now where she always wanted to be . . . home with her Lord.

Let's pray,

Our Father, we temper our personal sadness with the joy we feel for Joan. Help us to love one another. Help us to live with the kind of faith that she had. We ask you to wrap your arms around this family. They know they have been richly blessed. Help them now to go and bless others as Joan would have done. Enrich our faith and deepen our trust. Give us an appetite for Heaven for we ask it all in the name of Jesus. Amen.