Sermon, Trinity Methodist, Newport
Burial, St.Peter’s, Edgmond

Written and read by Revd Preb Helen Morby, Rector, St.Peter's, Edgmond.

John was amongst the first people I got to know when I came to Edgmond five and a half years ago.  Firstly as part of the Chaplaincy Team at Harper Adams where I very quickly recognised John’s long commitment to both staff and students.
The other connection with John was at St. Peter’s where for some years he had led a monthly Healing service and he continued to attend along with Sue right up until we suspended worship due to Covid.  But John kept his links with Edgmond and when we began a Bible Study via Zoom he soon joined us and continued to be part of the fellowship right up to just a few days before he died.

It was through the Bible Study that I really got to know John. Yes, he would make us smile as he repeated several times key stories from his life and how I often had to put him on mute because he was unaware of how noisy his shuffling of papers could be over zoom. But what always shone through was his unwavering faith, his care of others and his solid moral stand, which he spoke of having been put to the test on more than one occasion in his working life. I’m sure I speak for all who attend the Bible Study that John was a much loved and respected member of the group and we already miss his insightful contributions.

So when we hear the great passage from the fourth Gospel with Jesus saying, I am the bread of life, I am sure, like me, you cannot but help feeling how apt this reading is as we do indeed give thanks for the life of our brother in Christ, John Fowler. But for those of us who knew John, whilst we know he would undoubtably want us to celebrate his life today, he would also want us to look to the one in whom he held faith for so much of his life.  In other words, I know that john would want and expect us to talk about Jesus and in sharing this reading today, we may well ask, what did Jesus mean when he talked about being the bread of life and what does that mean for each of us in our lives?

Bread sustains life, it is solid, reliable and nourishing and it doesn’t take much to understand the analogy for Jesus. Of course here we’re not talking about physical life but life in relationship with God, a life of trust, love and obedience.  Jesus is telling us that as the bread of life, He is the one through whom this relationship is made possible and so Jesus is the essential sustenance for real life.

This was undoubtably the life that John lived out and through the hardest times of life, and particularly through the loss of both Maureen and Pauline, he looked to Jesus to sustain and carry him through.  Jesus was John’s bread of life and his witness to us all was something very special and for which we will remember him for. And in addition to knowing the sustaining love of God, John held a shining hope in the greatness of the glory that is to come, as spoken of in the reading from John’s Gospel.  As we celebrate John’s life, we rejoice with all the angels of heaven in the firm belief that John has now gone to that place of glory in the peace and love of our Lord and creator.  For that we say, Alleluia!

But, whilst we may celebrate all of this, we are also mindful that John’s departing from this life brings sadness and sorrow as many will miss him, and of course most of all, that will be so for his family.

Richard and Kevin, you will have many memories of your father to treasure and his impact on your lives will mean he will always be held dear in your hearts.  There will be times when his absence may be hard for you to accept, and your grief will be very real. But, along with Susan, Usha, Natasha, Terry, the grandchildren and all the family…and all of us here today, I encourage you to take strength, as John himself had done, in the knowledge of God’s sustaining presence to bring comfort and compassion and may that give you the strength you need in the weeks, months years ahead as you live life without John.