The last time I wrote was just before the oncologist told us that Marjorie's cancer had spread to her stomach, and that she had five months to live. She was being optimistic.
It is six weeks, and Marjorie is failing rapidly. It is a sad time.
Dear Clyde,
How my heart aches for you and Marjorie. You are both in my prayers. Please let her know that I am thinking of her and am so grateful for all she has shared with others.
Your friend,
Chris
My heart is with you.
Dear Clyde and Marjorie,
Marjorie, you have been one of my heroes. I feel privileged to know you even slightly. You and Clyde are in my heart at this sacred time.
So sorry, Clyde, and Marjorie. I will keep you in my prayers.
I am so sorry.
Oh Clyde, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I am thinking of you both, and praying.
Oh Clyde,
I am so sorry to hear this. We have only met a few times, but I have been impressed by you and Marjorie and your love. There are no words except to tell you that you will be in my thoughts, prayers, and on my heart.
That's terrible news. I'm very sorry to hear it.
My love to you both - Marjorie has always brought a very special light to be among us -- you are both in our prayers in this sacred journey.
There were heartfelt expressions of sorrow about Marjorie at our church this morning. Our thoughts are with you both. (Long Beach, CA)
Clyde,
I am so very sad to hear this news. I've lit a candle at my desk today for Marjorie, for you, for your family. And yesterday in my congregation a candle burned bright for her during joys and concerns.
All of us in the UUA lifespan faith development staff group are holding her--our dear colleague, friend, and inspiration--in our hearts.
I didn't get a chance yesterday, so I'll say so here. You and Marjorie are in my thoughts and prayers.
Surrounded by wonderfully eclectic and caring friends at this seminal moment, Marjorie you remain a steadfast, courageous, and totally admirable woman. Facing death, you are as strong a beacon of love and life and spiritual direction for all of us as ever. Your grace is undiminished. Our respect and love for you nourished and rededicated.
Understandably at peace with your life, albeit tragically too short, you have confronted the specter of death resolutely unbowed, singularly inspirational in your courage, and characteristically motivational as your smile and twinkling eyes have continued to dazzle through your growing pain.
You have put your selfless caring for family and friends ahead of the indescribable physical pain and mental anguish now consuming you.
All your fellow UUs - indeed, anyone who has ever known you, Marjorie - will miss you every day with an ardent passion that can never completely abate.
Please, Marjorie, be at peace, knowing your very soul...larger than the spirit of life itself that brought you to us...is in perpetually loving hands, where it will be preserved, nourished, and multiplied by all of us whose lives you have touched and enriched in so many tender and remarkable ways.
Thank you, Marjorie, for everything you mean and all you have been to all of us -- and to each and every one of us, including me -- as our minister, our friend, our spiritual leader, and yes, even as an architect of our conscience where our UU commitments to justice, peace, and equality reside and thrive.
Boundless love, blessings, and peace to you, Marjorie, today and always, wherever your ongoing spiritual journey may now lead.
Blessed be, our most wonderful and lovely friend.
With awe, love, and respect,
Terry Lanning
Wesley Chapel, FL
December 4, 2006
Marjorie --
Phil and I will always remember your dynamism and kindness. You presided over our wedding so beautifully. We were the first couple you married and we feel privileged to have received the blessing of your ministry.
We are so sorry to hear about the sorrow you and Clyde have been enduring together.
Love to you both from us.
Your grateful friends,
Emi and Phil (Nash)
This is such sad news to hear Clyde. I grew quite fond of Marjorie while we worked together on the UUMA CENTER committee and our slight overlap down in Florida.
My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Marjorie and Clyde,
Both of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Take care,
Steve
Clyde and Marjorie,
My prayers are with you. I am so sorry. Godspeed.
Faithfully,
Priscilla Richter
Clyde and Marjorie: I feel your sadness and grief at this physical turn. I know that the love you have shared in your life for each other and for the world with your marvelous witness of grace for a just world will never leave our hearts. Embracing Blessings for you now, yes especially even now.
Dear Clyde and Marjorie,
God's strength with both of you today and always.
It is so strange to be connected through the internet at this time but I think of you both in my mind's eye, and the image I have is the two of you walking arm in arm in New Orleans at REVIVAL in 1999.
I think of both of you with your steady gazes and straight-shot way of expressing yourselves, your senses of humor and take-no-prisoners honesty, your affectionate challenges to UUs, your warmth and love and dignity.
Be wrapped in the arms of Love.
Marjorie, go with God, my friend. Your works go before you. Thank you for everything you are.
Dear Marjorie, and Clyde,
You presence in our association on justice work spreads like a beacon far beyond your wildest dreams. Even those of us at a distance, have been shaped by the message of love, hope, and justice that you have shared in public and private confessions. Even at a distance, Marjorie, your grace and compassion has touched me. I am grateful to have been so moved by you. I pray, and I believe that your light will shine forth in us, as we continue the work you have authored.
I am remembering you, and praying for peace and enduring moments of love for you and Clyde.
Jeanne
To Marjorie and Clyde:
You are held in my heart with sorrow, with love, with blessings. Yes, go with God, Marjorie.
My thoughts and prayers are with you both at this time. May the good you have done shine brightly in the too dark night of this world.
Marjorie, and Clyde, and all, may the spirit of Christ's comforting and everlasting love surround you and hold you, especially these days. You have particularly embodied this Spirit for so many others during their walk through the world, those in our UU Christian Fellowship and so many others. As we move these Advent days yet again along the hard road to Bethlehem, may its vision of rest and new birth guide you.
I think of Marjorie's essay quoting Jesus and Isaiah and claiming that as her mission statement too, to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to all who are in bondage, to recover sight to the blind, to liberate all of the oppressed, and proclaim Jubilee, the year of God's freedom and restoration. She has responded so faithfully to her call.
Peace, Brother and Sister
To Marjorie and Clyde,
I learned about your sad situation at Joan Goodwin's memorial service on Sunday. The sadness that fills me to overflowing cannot compare to what you must be feeling. Such loss for all of us.
Some years ago, another UU minister-mentor died far too young--Norma Cordell. Dave Sammons quoted one of Norma's last sermons in his eulogy at her memroial service:
"The idea that those whose love forms the center of our lives will simply abandon us forever at some unknowable date is not only terrifying, it is insupportable. Surely our loving deserves to come to something better than that.
I personally believe it does. [An African] poet writes: 'Those who have died have never left. The dead are not under the earth. They are in the rustling trees. They are in the growing woods.' Our lives are continually shaped by those who are no longer physically with us: what we believe, what we know, our choices and are dreams are shaped by those we knew and loved, and by those we knew only through their words and their works? The lives they lived hold us steady. Their words remind us and call us back to ourselves. Their courage and love evoke our own. We, the living, carry them with us. We are their voices, their hands and their hearts. We take them with us, and with them choose the deeper path of living."
All my love,
Dorothy
Marjorie,
I will always recall your beautiful and joyful ordination, and the gladness of your entering this ministry we share. Your contributions to the Living Tradition will endure. Love and strength to you and Clyde and your family through this painful time.
Diane Miller
Dear sweet sistah,
My life and my ministry have been blessed by your presence. You will forever remain in my heart. Go gently into this goodnight.
Love and Light
Addae
Dear Marjorie and Clyde,
My heart goes out to both of you. Marjorie, you have always been, for me, a shining exemplar of Unitarian Universalist ministry at its best - fierce, passionate, justice and spirit-centered, caring and loving. Our work together at CCNY ten years ago so inspired and empowered me - I have yet to live up to the ideals you instill. And add to that your smile, sense of humor and elegance - what a blessing!
My prayers and thoughts are with you both. May abundant love and abiding peace surround you in these days.
always your colleague, Susan
Clyde and Marjorie,
My heart is so very heavy and sad. My prayers include the both of you and your families. Marjore I think of your gentle strong grace and presence on so many occasion and your unfailing commitment that we(UU'im) can be the best we were meant to be.
Marlene
dear marjorie & clyde,
sending light, energy & love!
peace,
archene
Dear Clyde and Marjorie,
I join with your many friends and colleagues in extending to you my prayers and caring thoughts.
Thom Belote
A big abrazo for each of you. I am so, so sorry. May you have peace, strength and comfort.
Peter
Dear Marjorie, I have only met you through Clyde and your writings. Your spirit shouts through, beautiful, sensitive and strong. Thank you for sharing Clyde with us at Throop Church and the PSWD UUMA.
Clyde, thank you for your ministry to me, especially in this time.
Sending love, blessings and prayers for your continuing journey.
pax, Beth Leehy
Pasadena CA
Marjorie, I recall with great fondness our "making a joyful noise" at both Carlton's ordination and Peter & Gary's commitment ceremony. My loving thoughts and prayers go out to you, Clyde and your families during this very difficult time.
Lou
Marjorie and Clyde, my hope for you is that love and peace will fill your lives in the days to come.
I am holding you both in my heart and in my prayers.
Art
Oh dear Marjorie and Clyde, this is happening too soon, too soon, way out of season. I ache at the thought of what this time is like for you. May you find peace in the love surrounding you. May you know, Marjorie, that so many, many people have been touched by your life and your ministry, and we will hold you close in memory. In faith, Barbara
Dear Marjorie and Clyde, You are both colleagues among colleagues who have inspired me in my own ministry and life. Marjorie know that you are surrounded by us even as we can not be there, nor would you want all standing around! And Clyde know that most any of us colleagues, including me, are people to reach out to as life moves on and goes on. In faith, Christine
Oh, Marjorie,
I hope you got my card with the photo of sunflowers. That is how your energy has always felt to me--huge and sunny, beautiful and beaming, strong and tall, a blessing to all who walk by. We will all be the squirrels, chewing on the seeds you have so generously given to us through your life and even as you leave us. I am in Boston now where every meeting begins with prayers for you, and quiet conversations at 25, 41, and Pickett Elliot constantly involve tears and bittersweet story-telling about you. The hole you will leave in our movement is so gaping that I'm not sure it can ever be filled. I think of Alice Walker's words, "Love and justice are the only monuments that endure." You leave mountains of both, and we will all be grateful forever.
Love and care to you, and to Clyde and Rose and your daughter and sister and all who are with you now,
Meg
Oh dear Marjorie and Clyde, this news takes my breath away. Too soon, too soon, too far out of season. Marjorie, I hope you know how many of us there are who carry wonderful memories of your presence among us and your ministry not only to congregations but to Unitarian Universalists everywhere, and to all who struggle for a better world and more justice. May you both have some more precious time together now, and Clyde, may you have loving friends and family nearby in the time to come. You are both much in my thoughts and prayers.
Clyde and Marjorie,
My prayers are with you both.
Dear Clyde and Marjorie,
Please know that Inge and I keep you in our thoughts and prayers, Marjorie, I have always admired your dedication, care for others, and all of the wonderful moments of support you have given me and others. Thank you for your ministry. You continue to give love, faith and courage. Please know that I love you.
Love,
Leon
At the JUUST Change Consultants training in 2005, Marjorie offered this song to guide our work. I offer it now as a tribute to what she has given me and so many others.
May the work that I've done speak for me.
May the work that I've done speak for me.
If I fall short of my goal, someone else come take a hold.
May the work that I've done speak for me.
.... truth that I've told
.... love that I've shared
.... joy that I felt
.... etc. etc.
Marjorie, the work that you did spoke for you!
Clyde:
Our hearts are heavy with sadness here in San Diego. Last Sunday most of our search committee happened to be together at Church when we learned of Marjorie's passing. Words cannot express the depth of our emotions. We had such a short, intimate moment together. We are grateful we had that time, and hope that Marjorie being "chosen" by us was a gift to her also. Our thougths and prayers and caring are with you, and her family and friends. Blessed be.