Today we gather to celebrate the lives of those who
have been received into that “House Not made with
hands—eternal in the Heavens.”
Let us call
ourselves to worship as we pray. Let us pray.
Eternal God, we
acknowledge the uncertainty of our life on earth. We are given
a mere handful of days, and our span of life seems nothing in
your sight.
We bless you for the great company of all those who
have kept the faith, finished their race, and who now rest from
their labor. We praise you and we thank you for the lives of
our brothers, whom you have now received into your presence.
Help us to
believe where we have not seen, trusting you to lead us
throughout our years. Now we pray that you bring us at last
with all your saints into the joy of your home.
Almighty
God, we pray that the words of our mouths and the mediations
of our hearts are found acceptable in your sight—you who are
our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
Our Psalm of the Day is the Sheppard’s Psalm—Psalm
23.
The LORD is my
shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me
to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still
waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of
mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth
over.
6 Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and
I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Amen.
Our Old Testament Scripture Lesson is from Isaiah, Chapter
25.
This scripture reminds of us a resurrection banquet—A banquet
our brothers must be enjoying right now. You are invited to
listen to a word from our Lord.
6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud
that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He
will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe
away the tears from all faces; The LORD has spoken.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice
and be glad in his salvation." These are the
words of God for the People of God. THANKS BE TO GOD.
When we suffer the physical absence of those we
love, we can be resentful,
or we can do those things that honor our brothers.
V
Good
positive things that will be our brothers’ legacy.
And, today, we
gather to remember those brothers.
We thank
Illustrious Sir Thornton Holt
for his diligence in gathering these names. I will NOW call the
names of the SASA Member-Temples.
And, when the name of your Temple is called, would you
please reflect for a moment on the life or the lives of
those you remember so well.
During this year, the Black Camel has called at ACCA 32
times, including two Past Potentates: Ill. Sir Leslie “Lee”
Bradshaw, Jr. and Ill Sir Boyd Griggs.
This year there have been 17 deaths at ALEE SHRINERS,
including Past Potentate, Ill. Sir., Sidney Jenkins.
ALHAMBRA
Has suffered 65 deaths including three Past Potentates: Ill Sir
Ralph Williams, Jr., Ill Sir John Noll and Ill Sir James
Parrish.
AMRAN
SHRINERS have lost eleven Nobles.
BENI KEDEM
has suffered the deaths of 44 Nobles.
And, EL HASA has had the Black Camel to call 31 times,
while HEJAZ, has experienced 41 deaths.
JAMIL
has lost 32 Nobles through death, including two Past
Potentates: Ill Sir William N. Bowen, and Ill Sir Harold
Palmer, as well as a HIGH PRIEST AND PROPHET, James Dean
Strickland.
The Black Camel has called at JERICHO for 26 Nobles,
including two Past Potentates, Ill Sir Charlie Hodge and Ill Sir
Willard Nicholson.
KAMZI
has had 41 deaths, and KERBELA, 30 deaths.
KHEDIVE
has lost 54 Nobles by death, including Past Potentate, Ill Sir
Herbert Wade “Buddy” Curran, Jr.
KOSAIR
has experienced 63 deaths, and NEMESIS, 31 deaths.
OASIS
has lost 92 Nobles through death, including Past Potentate, Ill
Sir Rolla Rogers, Jr.
There have been 31 deaths at OLEIKA, including two Past
Potentates, Ill Sir Chuck Kendrick and Illustrious Sir Robert
Turley. Illustrious Sir Turley also served as Imperial
Recorder.
Also, the 2013 Grand Master of Masons in Kentucky, MW Richard
Nation laid down the working tools of life during the year.
OMAR,
33 deaths, and RIZPAH, 22 deaths.
Sudan has experienced 84 deaths and YAARAB, 105 deaths
including five Past Potentates: Ill Sir Grover Carnes; Ill Sir
James F. Lamb, Ill Sir Stratton Zelack, Ill Sir Stephen Padgett
and Ill Sir Michel E. Hulsey.
A few days after the events of September 11, 2001,
during the Day of Prayer and Remembrance from the
National Cathedral in Washington we heard Billy Graham say that
we can all have hope.
Hope for the present and hope for the future.
Dr. Graham
concluded his message then by saying:
“My
prayer today is that you and I will feel the loving arms of God
wrapped around us, and we will know--even with our broken
hearts—we will know that He will never forsake us as we trust in
Him.”
Let us pray. Almighty God, Our Father in Heaven, we
come to you, thanking you for the lives of our brothers.
We pray now that you look down upon our sorrow, and
enable us to so hear your Holy Word, that through patience and
through the comfort of the Scriptures we may have hope.
And, we pray that the memories of our loved ones bring
us joy in our sorrow. Help us to believe what we have NOT seen,
trusting you to lead us throughout our years.
Bring us at last with all your saints into the joy of
your home. Help us to know that neither death nor life, nor
things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us
from your love.
Now we pray
together Your Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And, forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors. And, lead us not into
temptation but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory, forever. Amen and Amen.
And, now
go out into the world in peace;
have courage;
hold on to what is good; return no evil for evil; strengthen the
fainthearted; support the weak. Honor and serve everyone; love
the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love
your BROTHER as your love yourself.
And, now may the Lord bless you and keep you, may he cause His
face to look down upon you, and grant you His peace now and
forever more. Amen and Amen. |