On remembering and Forgetting

Please visit the Sermons 2 page to see Rev Dr Wes Campbell's latest sermon "On remembering and forgetting."
"....THE CHALLENGE OF DEMENTIA - PASTORAL IMPLICATIONS FOR LOSS OF MEMORY

 With this talk of remembering we are brought into the experience of forgetting, forgetfulness, dementia. The recalling of the texts as we have heard today will be less possible for those who are now forgetting. Some will continue to connect with hymns and other music or reading favourit stories. action.

Notice that there are two experiences here:

one for the person whose memory is being lost and lose a sense of self.,

the other for those who live with and see the effect of forgetfulness in their partner or other loved one.

Thinking about this from the side of Jesus there are two experiences here too.

First, Jesus went into the darkness alone . He died. He  did not ‘experience his own death. The dead Son was in the darkness with others threatened by death.The Son  died.

Second,  His Father experienced his death. And the Spirit carried the death of the Son to the Father, who grieves his Son.

Does that speak to the forgetting of dementia? Will it give resources for us to live through this experience? Will we together share memories as we remind each other.?

Those whose memories are now fragile or lost may nevertheless take confidence that they are known and remembered by the Spirit of life, and their loved ones..

When memories disappear for the carer, let the community of Christ gather, surround all those affected by love, and embrace them with care that springs from the eternal life of God. Let the reading aloud of Scripture draw us into the Story of God’s care for us.

We will be able to share life with others, in spite of dementia.

When the confusion has passed for the forgetter, there is still the confusion and questioning in the one who remembers. Those who are partners and carers will not forget; they will experience the distance that grows between them and their partner.

.May they (may you) likewise receive the consolation and comfort of the community of Christ and his meal.

The word of comfort here is offered in the figure of Jesus, our brother, who went into the darkness of being removed from us, into darkness and death, and is with us in the darkness. There his promise of eternal life offers his deep and unending care for all, won for us in cross and resurrection.  

Simply put, in all this, we are in the company of him who came, not to condemn but to give his life for the world. 

May we remember his gift of life to us, so that we may find in him that which generates new life here and now, and entrust ourselves to him who is both beginning and end for the world."

Rev Dr Wes Campbell

Myth, par excellence.

Myth, par excellence.

Our intention is to gather

some suitably approved historians;

direct them to collect the stories,

interrogate the documents,

and compile them into a seamless narrative

(We will, of course,

be downplaying the embarrassing bits

and other parts that might discomfort us.)

Thus we shall create for ourselves a History

that we can be proud of.

With some further prodding and kneading,

some teasing-out and coaxing,

and with suitable invocations of the Divine,

we shall recite our story and rehearse it

until it solidifies into a Myth.

A real one, grand and inviolate,

upon which we can build

our tribe / religion / nation.

In ancient Israel,

a remembering meal

is appointed, prepared

and written into law.

This annual repast,

laden with food and symbol,

commemorates a journey

to freedom and nationhood;

one which is tragically interleaved

with dying and grief.

A Passover meal,

to celebrate a divine passing over;

salvation and life for the chosen ones.

For others, sorrow, bitterness

and death.

But that’s okay,

we will cope;

as long as nobody questions

the Myth.

© Ken Rookes 2014