Music of the Night

David Rushing is one of my best friends.
His mother Carol passed away last week after cancer returned aggressively.
Her memorial service was this afternoon at Shawnee Park Christian Church.

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Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care
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A pianist played a prelude. To show Carol’s love of theatrical music, a recording of “Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera formally began the service.

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A family friend led the Call to Worship and read an excerpt from Isaiah 40, Carol’s favorite passage. A Prayer of Invocation has offered, and “My God and I” was performed live. The Reverend began the eulogy with a reading of Isaiah 40:25-31.

Bible Gateway passage: Isaiah 40:25-31 - Common English Bible
“So to whom will you compare me, and who is my equal? says the holy one. Power for the weary - Look up at the sky and consider: Who created these? The one who brings out their attendants one by one, summoning each of them by name. Because of God’s great strength and mighty power, not one is missing. …”

Obvious to anyone who ever knew Carol was her most defining characteristic: her deep and loving devotion to her son David and her mother Juanita. The importance of religion to her was illustrated: It was that her son was born on a Thursday and first went to church on the following Sunday on his mother’s insistence. This suggestion elicited laughter from all those in attendance. She ‘put down roots’ in the area of Kansas City, both for her son, and to provide live-in care to her mother. Carol was active in her church’s choir.

David does improvisational comedy, and his mother frequented his shows. One of the favorite memories of everyone at the Roving Imp, Carol volunteered to play opposite John in a format called “Special Guest Star,” ahead of the set John asks someone without experience in improvisational theatre to join him on stage. John has great ability to support his fellow player, Carol had some great come-backs, and captivated the audience for half an hour.

Source: George Takei

“There is a Redeemer” was sung, the pastor gave a Benediction, and a postlude was played. I remained long enough to speak with David, his grandmother, and one of the vocalists who I had met before the service. My friend will more often need me to be there for him as he enters a new and unfortunate phase of his life. I will next see him tomorrow evening for rehearsal at the Roving Imp Training Center.