We Remember

AMBER SUE WILSON

Amber, along with her dear friend, Caitlin Brondolo, lost her life this past Sunday, May 31, due to a tragic accident in her home.

A Candle Lighting Service — We came together Tuesday evening, June 2 at 7:00 and remembered and prayed for Amber Wilson, daughter of Loretta Wilson and sister of Jacob Wilson. Pastor Tom led us in prayer. Amber is also survived by her father, Ken Wilson of Massachusetts.

A Memorial Service —

 was held at the Congregational Church of Boca Raton, Friday morning, June 5, at 10 a.m.

 — You may click anywhere on this sentence to see the Memorial Service Worship Bulletin—

 — You may click here to read the actual words in the eulogy and sermon —

THIS TRIBUTE PAGE WILL REMAIN on the churchofboca.org site for several weeks so that friends and church people may send in their prayers and words of comfort to be appended to this page. Please email any tributes, words of comfort or pictures for the Amber Wilson Webpage to office@churchofboca.org

Please scroll down to the bottom for TRIBUTES which have been emailed to us.

Some pictures of Amber and her family:

Dear Amber,

 I will always remember your gentle smile and shiny bright eyes.  I was thrilled when you helped us with the church's stewardship campaign a couple of years ago.  You stood tall and straight as you told the whole congregation why you loved your church.  There are many adults who could not do what you did during the church service that day.  You made us laugh as you simply helped us realize that our church needs our time, treasure and talent so it thrives for your generation.

May God hold you forever in the hollow of his hand, and give you peace.

Gale A. Blackburn

SPOKEN BY TRACY MARTIN AT THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL:

Good Evening,   I want to say thank you to everyone who is here tonight. I felt a strong desire for us all to be together as a church family so we could express our sorrow and pray for Amber and her family and to share our thoughts and reflections.

 Many of you probably are unaware of Loretta’s artistic abilities.  For several years, we shared youth group leader responsibilities. We focused on making arts and crafts with the younger kids.  I was always jealous of Loretta’s crafts. Her projects  were always so much better than mine. I remember one Easter, she spent hours at home preparing eggs for the children to decorate.  She instructed the kids how to paint and apply glitter to the eggs and then she spray painted the eggs to give them a jewel-like appearance.  The finished products were amazing .  When it was my turn again, I tried extra hard to come up with a great idea, but to no avail.  Who says there is no competition in church?

 I want to share my favorite memory of Amber.  Last month, our youth led us in worship.  During the service, Amber and Katie Kollar presented the children’s message.  Their contribution consisted of teaching the younger children the Lord’s Prayer with the help of two hand puppets (Jesus and a disciple).  I wanted the girls to work together because they were only a year apart in age, both quiet and very responsible.  I knew I could count on Amber and Katie to do a great job and they did.  They climbed into the large, colorfully painted appliance box with their puppets and gave a terrific performance.  When I realized how confident they were, I knew the children’s message would be OK.

 If Loretta and Jacob were here with us tonight, I would say to them, I love them and support them during this terrible time.  Although I can not understand the complete sorrow  they must feel, I still grieve with them.  Our church has suffered a great loss and it will take a very long time to recuperate.

Dear Amber,

 I am deeply grateful for having had your quiet, but thoughtful presence in our Sunday School class. Your sparkling eyes and radiant smile will be remembered forever as a testimony that Christ was your good shepherd and the master of your life. 

 Your friend,

 Don Wagner 

Loretta and Jacob,

I want you to know how many of us have you in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.  Amber may no longer be physically here, but her Godly heart and soul will be with you and all of us forever.

Below is a Prayer that I use often, and I hope it brings you closer to Christ's healing Spirit that we know resides deeply in both of you. 

 Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

Lord, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

John Wyman,
Field Support Manager
Business Operations
Southeast Region
ADT Security Services

Loretta and Jacob,

 I do not have the words to fully express the sorrow I feel having heard the news about Amber.  So I will simply say that I you are in our prayers.  During this time remember that God will not leave you nor forsake you (Duet 31:6 & 8 and Heb 13:5).  Also for you I pray for peace and strength in the days ahead (Phil 4:6, 7, & 13), the peace and comfort of God's Holy Spirit (John 14: 26 & 27; 2 Cor 1:2 - 4) in Jesus' Name.

 Love and God Bless in Jesus' Name

Manuel "Manny" Moreno, Jr. and family

former B/E Aerospace co-worker

"We want Amber.
We miss Amber so much.
We love you."
 
                           Linnea Lacey

Words are hard to come by. I am so glad that I did speak with Amber after that fabulous performance with the puppets. I was very impressed with her ability to accomplish the artistic; spiritual inspiration; teaching; joyful; nurturing; and entertaining aspect.  That gift comes from the heart. Amber is a kindred spirit whose attractive smile was magnetic!

Jennifer Harper

A Word of Consolation

      If a tiny baby could think, it would be afraid of birth. To leave the only world it has known would seem a kind of death. But immediately after birth the child would find itself in loving arms. Showered with affection and cared for at every moment. Surely the baby would say, “I was foolish to doubt God’s plan for me. This is a beautiful life.”

     For the Christian, passing through death is really a birth into a new and better world. Those who are left behind should not grieve as if there were no hope. Life is changed, not taken away. Our dear ones live on, in a world beautiful beyond anything we can imagine. With Jesus and Mary they await the day when they will welcome us with joy.

     “Do not grieve too much” they say to us. “We are living and are still with you.”

 Jennifer Harper, MD FACOG

No matter how many times I've tried to write about this, words just cannot grasp my hearts' tears.  Beautiful souls in flight.  Please know that our prayers and love are with you, OUR church family/community from Florida.  Our California church has you all on our prayer chain as well. 

I will email you all to update on a later date.  We are well and back in California.

Love,

Lisa, Samantha, Phoebe and Lilly Raade
 

It is mid-July as I compose a few thoughts about you, Amber. Amber, it was my pleasure to have you and Jacob in my Church School class -- your mom taught half the Sundays, and I taught half -- on quite a few Sundays over a year ago. You had great interest and enthusiasm and asked such good questions. You loved being around your friends. You were respectful and well-mannered -- a tribute to how you were raised by your loving parents, aunt, grandparents and others. You were always so loyal in helping with every youth mission project, worship service, and bake sale! It has been a joy this past year to again have Jacob in my Church School class as you moved up to the secondary group. He's getting more mature, and gaining confidence. Jacob had a great role model in you, his big sister. Every day you and your family are in my thoughts. Faith in God and support of friends and family help them all a lot. I also miss you.

Your friend,
Sarah Hugus

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BOCA RATON, FLORIDA
561.395.9255
office@churchofboca.org     www.churchofboca.org

June, 2009