The last time I saw Bob Graves in this life he had a smudge on his forehead. It was Ash Wednesday and I had called at the house to offer him, on behalf of the church, the ashes of repentance and the bread and wine of new life. "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." That visit was only the second time I had ever spent time with Bob and Barbara. Many of you know that I have been rector here with the people of St. John the Evangelist for exactly eight weeks now. Bob Graves came to this parish in 1957, the year before I was born. It strikes me that probably every single person in this room knew him longer than I did.

And yet I am glad and proud to stand before you today and to offer words of faith and, I pray, comfort on this occasion. I am glad and proud to be here as a representative. At the most basic level, I am a representative of this community of faith, that particular portion of the Body of Christ that gathers and worships as the church of St. John the Evangelist. And this was Bob’s community of faith. Not just the place where he attended services, or a building he helped maintain, or a cause he happened to support. This was his community of faith. There is a very long list of things he did here; but I am even more impressed by the great number of people who can and have told me about him… and not just what he did, but who he was. I don’t think anyone has described him as ebullient or effusively outgoing, and yet so very many people have stories to tell… stories, for example, about Bob’s leadership and shepherding of the vestry. A shepherd not only cares for the sheep, but also cares that the sheep are part of the flock, included in the fold. There are also stories about a spirited bass voice, a committed cooker of pancakes and teacher of teenagers, as well as adults. The word community is probably overused these days, but the reality of community is nonetheless very rare: a diversity of people who share a breadth of experiences as we travel a common journey. Community is one of God’s greatest gifts and blessings. People like Bob who cherish and nurture the community of faith are blessed indeed.

As the "new" rector of St. John’s I wonder if I don’t also represent a bit more than just the community. Perhaps I might also be seen as a representative of its growth, of this community’s budding forth into the future. I love both of the hymns we are singing this afternoon. I am thinking in particular of Harry Emerson Fosdick’s words we sang in our opening hymn. "God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy power. Crown thine ancient church’s story. Bring her bud to glorious flower." Bring her bud to glorious flower. Shepherding themes, as we just heard in John’s gospel, are common in Holy Scripture. So are agricultural and horticultural themes. It seems to be God’s desire for creation and for us that we grow, that new shoots come from old stumps, that new branches on the vine grow and bear fruit, that buds be brought to flower.

As part of God’s creation we human beings are both participants in and beneficiaries of this blooming and growth. We are called and blessed to be the fertilizer for others; and we are called and blessed to bear fruit and flower ourselves. Bob fertilized much here at St. John’s. There are many green shoots that were enriched by his presence and care. As perhaps the newest green shoot here at St. John’s, I am but a small symbol for many others. I was very touched when Ginny said that she thought her father would be pleased that through this very service he was helping me establish roots, my own new growth, in this place. I expect that everyone of you here is a testament to or could tell a story of a life that he helped to bloom or a program he helped to grow. Not just here at St. John’s, but also in the broader Flossmoor community and surely in the decades of dedicated service he offered to a great university he treasured.

God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy power. Crown thine ancient church’s story, bring her bud to glorious flower. We gather today not only to celebrate and give thanks for Bob Graves’ life among us. We gather today, even more significantly, to celebrate and sing praise to God that Bob is living now the crown of his life’s story. For him, no growth has stopped; no buds have dropped; no bloom has faded. It is a wonderful hymn to sing at a burial service. It is our prayer and our affirmation. God of grace and God of glory, on your servant Bob, pour your power. Crown his faithful life’s story. And now, now, bring his bud to glorious flower.

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