Notes from a Funeral address for my mother, Evelene Alice Ruddock who died on 8th January 2011 aged 95
St John the Baptist Church Horsington
14th January 2011
Reading: Mark 6:30-43 – The feeding of the 5000
“The eternal picnic” was a family joke associated with many happy years of summer holidays in West Wales: everybody had a job making collecting or carrying something for these make-do banquets on beach or cliff (“but where’s the salt?!!)
I am reminded of the Church of the Multiplication in Galilee – built on the traditional site of the feeding of the 5000. On the grass there today is a big sign reading “no picnics!”
Hospitality was at heart of Evelene’s life
Everyone is welcome: there is room for all! Reg and Evelene’s home was known for its open doors and warm welcome, down many decades.
The feeding of the 5000 in Mark is a story about the hospitality of God – about a bigger deeper banquet, where there is room for all! Four things from the story link with Evelene’s life and are for us to reflect on as we give her back to God.
Jesus says to his grumbling disciples, when they are overwhelmed by the size of the hungry crowd before them “You give them something to eat”
Hospitality provides the context for encouragement
Evelene was ever the great encourager – believer in others; and of course the magnet for little children because she knew how to enter their world and share its wonder with them
Mark tells us: “Jesus’ heart went out to them… Where can we find food in this lonely place?”
Hospitality can be offered, even in a lonely (deserted) place
Evelene, since Reg’s death, lived with loss and transformed it with love for others
The story continues: “Jesus took the bread – and gave thanks”
Hospitality is not rooted in being nice!
Hospitality is rooted in committed thanksgiving – and Evelene’s quiet inner life of prayer and thankfulness opened her heart and home to others. In this age of instant everything it is easy to miss the secret that drives a deeper giving and loving – a quiet, inner feeding, on the deep love of God for each of his creation.
And our story concludes: “12 baskets were gathered of what was left”
Hospitality generates abundance! Evelene’s capacity to produce and reproduce puddings “ex nihilo” illustrates the point! (They were a temptation for a gastronomist’s archaeological dig!)
So in conclusion: We have seen in Evelene a glimpse of God – several glimpses in fact!
If ever it were true that God is not discovered in books, or sermons, or weighty words, then Evelene’s life points us to where God is found: in one another, in love given and received; in forgiveness freely offered even at a cost; in welcome, in patience; in compassion; in a deep belief in the value of the “other”, and in that wonderful gift of affirmation and encouragement…
Perhaps we can hear her saying to us today:
Go on, be yourself, take a risk, learn to love and be loved – and above all never forget that you are loved eternally and for all time by the one who is the source of all life.
Thanks be to God for an amazing lady, and for one amazing life!
Edgar Ruddock
These notes link with those of the tribute offered on behalf of the grandchildren and great grand-children by Lisa Wellesley, Evelene’s oldest grandchild. As that concluded the great grandchildren brought forward 6 red helium-filled balloons to adorn Evelene’s coffin. After the burial they were released at the graveside, to mark Evelene’s liberation from a worn-out body!
