On Saturday, October
29, the Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community accompanied Kim Panaro, ARCWP,
as she and her family celebrated the life of their mother, Terry Panaro
Wardrop. In August, Kim and Kathie Ryan, ARCWP, flew to Florida to bring Kim’s
mom home to Albany for her final days on this side of the thin veil. While here, in Albany, Kim and her
extended family and friends surrounded Terry with the love and care she needed
to transition peacefully to life beyond life as we know it. Terry’s celebration
of life was held in the sanctuary of the New Covenant Presbyterian Church at
916 Western Avenue in Albany, NY (the new home for the Upper Room).
A Celebration of Life
Terry Panaro Wardrop
12/18/1939 - 10/22/2016
"May the angels lead you into paradise!”
Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community
916 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
October 29, 2016
2:00 p.m.
Welcome
Opening song: Holy
Angels by Sara Thomsen
Opening Prayer
Presider 2: O Holy
One, we gather to remember and celebrate Terry’s life. We believe that she is
now at peace with you and we believe that she continues to walk with us as one
of our guardians. We are grateful for her life with us. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A
Reflection by Michael Morwood
Adapted and read by
Mary Theresa Streck
Terry's death speaks to us of the wonder of being human
in a universe so vast and so
magnificent and of our existence within a mystery and a power that we cannot
understand or put into words.
magnificent and of our existence within a mystery and a power that we cannot
understand or put into words.
In a very real sense, this vast and magnificent universe of ours came alive and became aware in Terry. She gave God a way of coming to expression, here in our lives, here in a way that reached out and touched us, as a mother, a grandmother, and a loyal friend. She lived and loved in God, God lived and loved in her, and in death she lives on in God and in us.
Sung Alleluia
Second Reading:
Philippians 3:12-14
read by Debra Trees
It's
not that I have reached it yet, or have already finished my course; but I'm
running the race in order to grab hold of the prize if possible, since Christ
Jesus has grabbed hold of me. Sisters and brothers, I don't think of myself as
having reached the finish line. I give no thought to what lies behind, but I
push on to what is ahead. My entire attention is on the finish line as I run
toward the prize – the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: Kathleen
Ryan
These two readings that we just heard and Kim
so prayerfully chose bring us to a new understanding of the mystery of life.
Did you notice that the first reading from
Philippians is written in the present tense. We heard: It’s
not that I have reached it yet, or have already finished my course; but I’m
running the race….I give no thought to what lies behind, but I push on to what
is ahead. Many of us only got to know Terry in the last few months of her
life. She modeled for all of us
how to keep running the race, she looked forward, laughing and loving as she
ran.
In the second reading we heard “death speaks
to us of the wonder of being human within a mystery that we can not understand
or put into words.
So what is this mystery? What could this
mystery of life mean? Perhaps the
real mystery is how can it be that we are made in the image and likeness of God. In the opening of Genesis we are told
that each of us is made in the image of God. Being made in the image and likeness of someone usually
means we have similar qualities. For example, people will say look Walter has
his mother’s eyes, Tommy has his mother’s sense of humor, Kim has her mother’s
smile.
So what are the qualities of God that we each
have…we know we try to love one another as God loves us, we know we don’t
always succeed but we keep trying.
We do not stop we keep
running the race. But there is one quality of God’s that
we each have and we are absolutely guaranteed success, we can not fail.
We don’t even have to try we just have to
believe…the quality that is exactly like God is the ability to live forever. God is eternal and so are we. We live forever…we live eternally …we
cross over from this life into the arms of God. Sure it is another mystery not knowing exactly what it is
like…but we know this to be true because we are made in the image and likeness
of God. We live forever.
We can only imagine how wonderful eternal
life is, we know Terry and so many others that we
love live eternally, and we know we too, just like Terry, will cross over into
the arms of God but for now we live in the present tense, laughing and loving,
running the race, pushing on to what lies ahead.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Presider 2: During
our liturgy, it is traditional at the Upper Room to bring to our friendship
table blessings, cares and concerns. Today, I bring to the table all who loved
Terry deeply, especially Walter, Tommy,
Kim, Nicole, Matthew and, Sam.
…and for all who
tenderly cared for and loved Terry, we speak words of gratitude. Amen.
Presider 1: Great
Mystery enfolding us, you have been called by many names by many people in the
centuries of our planet’s life. Yet, no name truly defines you or describes
you. We celebrate you as the
marvelous, loving energy of life who caused us and our world to be. We
celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your
presence and all-ways care.
Presider 2: Your
wisdom moves among us like the wind, and we are blessed. Your presence
transforms every ordinary moment of ours into a sacred place where you dwell.
You are the stirring in our hearts and you beckon us to join in your divine
dance of life-giving love. Joined with you and with all companions on this
journey, we sing a song of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy by
Karen Drucker
Presider 1: Please
join in praying our Eucharistic Prayer:
O Holy One, we are
grateful for those who have come among us pointing to your wisdom, those who
have come as our mirrors, our advocates, our friends.
We are grateful for
Jesus, our brother, who taught us about you and your great love. Through him we
find our truest selves and our way back home.
Before he walked
towards his greatest challenge, Jesus called friends together around a table.
Unfinished, unsure, uncommitted, they gathered with him, as he reminded them of
their oneness with you and the fullness of life.
Presider 2: Please
extend your hands in blessing:
On the night before
he faced his own death and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at the Seder
supper with his companions and friends.
He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory
clearly within them, be bent down and washed their feet.
(pause as Presider 1
lifts bread)
When he returned to
his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke
the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat; this is
my very self.
(pause as Presider 2
lifts the cup)
He then raised high
the cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered them the wine saying:
Take and drink of the
covenant made new again through my life,
for you and for
everyone,
for liberation from
every oppression.
Whenever you do this,
Re-member me!
(pause)
Holy One, your
transforming energy is always moving within us and working through us.
Like Jesus, we will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and our
small circles. Like Jesus, we will live compassionate lives.
For it is through
learning to live as he lived,
And why he lived,
And for whom he
lived,
That we awaken to
your Spirit within,
Moving us to worship
you truly,
Life-giving God,
At this time and all
time and in all ways.
And we say yes to
You!
Presider 1: Let us
pray together the prayer of Jesus:
Source of all Life,
you are within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever, Amen.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever, Amen.
Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter
Sign of Peace
Presider 1: May the
peace of the Holy One be with you always.
Please offer each
other a sign of peace
Song: May the
Longtime Sun
by Sara Thomsen
Presider 2: Please
join in our prayer for the breaking of the bread:
All: Loving God, You call us to live
the Gospel of peace and justice.
We will live justly.
Loving God, You call
us to be Your presence in the world.
We will love
tenderly.
Loving God, You call
us to speak truth to power. We will
walk with integrity in your presence.
(Presiders hold up
bread and wine)
Presider 1:
"This is the bread of life. Through it we are nourished and we nourish
each other.
Presider 2: Our
Eucharistic celebration is all-inclusive. You are a spark of the Divine and
nothing can separate you from God’s love. All are welcome to receive at this friendship
table.
Communion Song: Peace
Be With You by Shaina Noll
Communion Meditation:
My Way adapted and sung by Dennis McDonald
EULOGY: Kim and Kristen
BLESSING
Presider 1: Please
stand for our final blessing, a poem written by Edwina Gateley:
May God wrap her
warmth around you like a shawl to hug you tight;
God’s light glow
bright within you to guide your steps at night;
God’s strength flow
sure all through you-hold you up against hurt and fear;
God whisper in your
heart, dear friend: My love is
always near.
Presider 2: Please
join in singing our closing song:
On Eagle’s Wings
By Michael Joncas
The Upper Room
Inclusive Catholic
Community
916 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
The Upper Room is an
intentional Eucharistic community living Gospel equality and justice in an
inclusive, non-hierarchical model of church. Our community embraces a
contemporary theology that celebrates each of us as an “original
blessing.” Come join us for
liturgy each Sunday at 10:00am. For an updated schedule, visit our website at
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