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A Word from the Dean

UPDATE: Katherine’s memorial service will be held at the Advent on Saturday, January 28, at 3:00 p.m. The visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m.

Dear Parish Family:

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53). Those are the words of Paul to the Corinthians as he proclaims the victory of Jesus, the defeat of death, and the certainty of our Christian hope. 

Today our beloved friend Katherine Jacob – the Reverend Canon Katherine Jacob – went to be fully with the Lord. Her final days have been a continuation of her witness as she ministered to those who were able to spend time with her. She remained strong in the Lord, joyful, peaceful, certain of her destination, ready to no longer see in a mirror dimly, but ready to see Jesus, face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Her fellow parishioners and staff have cared for her amazingly well, and her family has done the same. I invite your continued prayers for her family.

Her death was as good as any we might hope for ourselves or those we love. God repeatedly revealed his graciousness. For that, thanks be to God. 

When the time of her service is established, we will let you know through this same medium. She was adamant when she spoke with me that she did not want us to talk about her, but about Jesus. We will honor that, mostly. Her regret was that she would be unable to return to the church and serve, reading the Gospel in the midst of our gathered worship. We will deeply miss that, too. She believed the words she read; she knew her Lord, the Word made flesh; and she held out the Living Word to us for decades.

Paul goes on to write: When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 54-57). Thanks be to God for Katherine Jacob and her ministry at the Advent. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory, who gave her the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Lord be with you.

A Word from the Dean 3
The Very Rev. R. Craig Smalley
Dean and Rector

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