Nancy Pinkerton celebration of life

Intro

April 26, 1947 —February 15, 2022

2 Corinthians 2:14–3:6 NIV

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Pray.

It is an honor to be a part of today. Nancy and Jim have meant so much to me and my family. Thankful to Burt and to Kingwood for the invitation to be here and celebrate the life of someone that is so loved. More importantly someone who loved so deeply.

1. In my office is a reminder of my friend Nancy. When I was considering a calling into pastoral ministry I was serving as a youth director. Had no idea what I was doing and Kingwood UMC came to my church for UM Army. A mission trip that Nancy was so invested in. I was just the host but I was drawn to this church and spent a lot of time just hanging around. I got to know Nancy and others and when the week was over they had made a signature book for me and wrote these wonderful notes in them. Nancy left the most encouraging note in that book and little did i know that some day I would get to serve as her pastor. That book is a reminder of God’s community and the humor of God.

2. Yesterday I grabbed a T-shirt to go for a run in. It was the Kingwood UMC Vine Worship Home Team shirt. This is code word for hospitality team on Sunday mornings. When we started that ministry, Nancy was the first to sign up. People loved serving on her team because she would get here 15 minutes early and DO ALL OF THE TASKS THE TEAM WAS SUPPOSED TO before they even got here.

3. The other day my son got ready for soccer practice and he grabbed the first jersey he could find and it was the beloved Messi jersey that Nancy and Jim got for him knowing that his mom and dad were massive soccer fans and would be indoctrinating our children.

4. Two nights ago we grabbed one of 100 children books for nighttime reading. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. And when we opened it, realized it was a book she had given to us.

Here is what is special....it is not that she loved the McManns deeply but that she loved everyone that deeply. I know I am not the only one…look around…that has lasting memories and reminders of her love.

From Aldine ISD, to Humble ISD…Bear Branch Elementary, Lakeland Elementary, Willow Creek Elementary. To sporting events from past students 15 years after she taught them, to UM Army Kitchens that smell of her banana pudding, to organizing weddings in this sanctuary.

She loved deeply. Hundreds and thousands of kids, she called all of them “one of her favorites.”

Family Favorites

She had some real favorites too though and that was her family. Never missing a sporting event. I knew more about you all just from hearing Nancy share her deep love for you. All of your soccer games, ball games, even about a pig that someone was raising.

A couple of years ago I had the honor of standing here for their 50th anniversary as they renewed their vows. I had to look back over my notes because i just remember being so blessed by that day. My favorite part of it all was when I asked them how they made it this far, they told me emphatically...

“We don’t just love each other, but we actually like each other.”

Amen.

Yall come up in every one of my premarital counseling sessions. When we get to the finance part when we talk about joining together our finances or keeping everything seperate, I tell them about you....because you are the only couple I know that did that and didnt kill each other. Serious. They sent in two checks for things. Split the cost, mailed seperately. Hahaha yall did it your way and it was beautiful. Jim, brother, she loved you so much.

The lingering question for me…is where did she get it from? Where did this contagious and grandiose love come from?!

I think our passage today might help.

2 Corinthians and letter from Christ

I chose our passage today, a section of the letter that Paul is writing to the people of Corinth because I could not let go of imagery here that reminded me of Nancy.

This is a letter that Paul is writing to the people of Corinth. He is describing the nature of his mission and journey thus far. Talking of his eagerness to come and visit them as well. Upon this mission Paul writes that he and the other fellow missionaries are “God’s aroma that brings life to people.”

In our section he makes the case for the mission they are on. He makes it clear that all of this is not to boast about himself or the human work they are doing but rather the work God is doing through them.

When the people of Corinth act as if he needs proof of credibility that God is at work, Paul responds by saying something intriguing....he says the people are letters of recommendation.

2 Corinthians 3:2–3 NIV

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Now what does he mean by that? How can people be recommendation letters that prove God’s efficacy and authority in the world?

Well there is a little OT background that is helpful...

See in the OT (which Paul is referring to here) there is a covenant that is made between God and God’s people. A literal and physical contract that is made to prove that the people of Israel belong to God and God belongs to the people of Israel. It is this contact that is the “proof” of credibility and authority. They took this everywhere they went. They worshipped around it as a way of worshipping God. But it was only a shadow of what was to come.

Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 11 give us a hint of something beautiful in the future.

Jeremiah 31 says “The day is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people.... it will not be like the old one, but I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.

Ezekiel 11 says

Ezekiel 11:19 NIV

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Through the Spirit, I will put myself in their minds, and write myself in their hearts. The actual contract, the actual proof, the outward sign of authority from God will be the actual people....and not some tablets. Not religious symbols or buildings or steeples, but people will be the indicator of the covenant.

Or as Paul says here, recommendation letters. Paul does not need some noble to write a letter proving that he is a minister of the gospel of Jesus....he says the people are the proof. They are the letters from Christ.

Nancy, a letter from Christ

When I asked Jim this week… what kept her going. She was always on the move. He said love of God and love of life. Jim reflected on all the hobbies he has found over the years. Golf soon Jim? And then said this “she didnt have hobbies, her hobby was loving people.”

I put before you, the reason that Nancy’s life was so special is because she was a letter written to us from God.

Of something greater.

Of a love that is inexhaustible.

Of a love that knows grief.

Of a love that know suffering and hardship and perseverance and draws near to it.

Of a love that does not reduce you to your greatest mistake, but actually cheers louder when you get up and try to run again.

Of a love that says “you are one of my favorites.”

Today we honor our sweet Nancy by remembering those beautiful memories that testify to this love. You will have the opportunity even to write down a story on that card you received when you came in. So that the family in due time can share them with you.

But we also honor Nancy by becoming the very letters to the world that point to a greater love.

Closing

I spent a lot of time this week seeing all your responses to her passing on social media. So many testimonies of her at the church or at your school. First time teachers getting to teach alongside her or people that got married here in this space and were loved intentionally by her.

One person said that she was the “queen of Kingwood.”

Yes she was and that makes today brutally hard.

But two things can be true at the same time....this can be brutally difficult and today can be full of joy.

How? You might ask....

(Change to her)

2 Timothy 4:6–8 NIV

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

She was the queen of kingwood. She is now crowned in Glory. She was a letter from Christ to the world. She is now with her Christ for evermore.

Thanks be to God.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.