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June 2021
OBITUARIES

future, Jesus brought comfort to those he loved by telling them of his
own plans. To go and prepare a place for them, where they would
be with him forever. A place with infinite space and welcome, as a house or
mansion with many rooms or dwelling places. Our God is a God of love and a
God of provision, and when Thomas, that great doubter of the faith, sought
clarification from Jesus ’Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can
we know the way?’ Jesus continued to give reassurance, ’I am the way, the
truth and the life.’
That was the call upon Carol’s life, and which led her ministry, trusting in the
Lord of the way, the truth and the life. The love of God shone out of her, in her
interaction with others, her willingness to go where God was calling her to
serve, and all that she shared in, her preaching, teaching, outreach and
pastoral care.
And in that Carol, in turn led others to Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. It
was a joy to share with her in confirmation services, the interaction with families
at Holy Angels, and in the commissioning of lay ministries in the benefice here,
something which will be a joy to do again on Sunday evening.
Carol will have preached herself on this passage on many occasions however
for our reading today we have added verse 27.
A verse about peace.
‘Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.’
Carol was a person of love, but also very much a person of peace. I am
aware that it has been difficult these last few months, for all of you who have
been alongside her in her suffering, hoping and praying that she would know
God’s true peace.
There was a peace about Carol’s ministry, which she carried with her, rooted
and grounded in a strong faith in Jesus Christ, which meant that even though
things may have been stressful or challenging, she
would never let that get in the way of her
responsibilities and care for others. People always
came away from spending time with her with a sense
of peace whenever they needed reassurance, help or
comfort. And those of us who engage in it day after
day, know that ministry is not always easy, and the
challenges of people of places can be immense.
Carol knew this, always sought Counsel about it and

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