Responsive Reading Liturgy of Hope Julie Cater

Transcription

1 Rita Celebrating Hoshino the Life of February 22, 2014 Pacific Union College Church Angwin, California

2 Life Sketch R ita Sue Hoshino was born on March 15, 1955 to Ernest Heen, Jr., and Patsy Jolly in Madison, Tennessee. Within days of her birth, she was placed with the Laytons, a Seventh-day Adventist foster family who fell in love with the bright-eyed baby girl. Unable to adopt Rita themselves, the Laytons looked for a family who would raise her. At church, they met Dick and Eva Hoshino, who were living in Collegedale, Tennessee. The Hoshinos had adopted a little boy named Dennis, and the Laytons asked if they might be interested in also adopting a little girl. Soon after, the Hoshinos added Rita to their family much to the joy of big brother Dennis. Throughout their childhood, Dennis adored his baby sister and doted on her often. After a brief stay in Brookfield, Illinois, where Dick worked for the Pacific Press Publishing Association, the family moved to Sunnyvale, California, when the press was moved to Mountain View. In 1959, Eva began teaching third grade at Miramonte Christian School. Even at a young age, Rita s lively spirit was evident, and her natural charisma made her the playtime ringleader. She convinced her friends that the only way to drink root beer was to shake it first, spinach should be protested at all costs, and ladybugs needed to be kept warm in a heated oven. At Miramonte and Mountain View Academy, Rita was involved in numerous activities, including student government and musical groups. Her active school life continued at Pacific Union College, where she participated in music groups, yearbook, and the newspaper. She was also social vice president for the Student Association and senior class president. On graduation day, Rita led the recessional out of the gym on roller skates much to the thrill of friends and the horror of administration. Her exit is now the stuff of legends, but at the time it was controversial. After graduation in 1979, Rita began working at PUC (although she almost wasn t hired because of the roller skating incident). She eventually became assistant to the dean of students. She managed social events for the college and supervised student leaders and clubs. Her easy-going personality and compassion made her a beloved friend and mentor for thousands of students, and many students kept in touch with Rita long after graduation. It was during this time that Rita acquired the nickname, Rita Rolodex, referring to her talent for remembering people s names and for better or worse details from their lives. She had a wide connection of friends, and she had the ability to make everyone feel special. In 2002, after 23 years of service, Rita s work with PUC ended. It was a devastating time for Rita, as her heart and soul was rooted in her work at PUC. In 2006, she accepted a full-time job as director of alumni/advancement at her other alma mater, Mountain View Academy. During this time, she moved in with her ailing mother in Sunnyvale; her father had just passed away. Rita cherished this time with her mother. When Eva died in 2008, Rita quit her job at MVA and returned to Angwin. It was after this that Rita began investing in what had previously been only a hobby: portraying Ellen G. White. She created The Ellen White Legacy, a ministry devoted to sharing White s work through dramatic enactments. Rita s portrayal of Ellen White took her across the nation, bringing Ellen back to life for such events as St. Helena Hospital s 125th anniversary celebration, the Hiram Edson Farm dedication, Loma Linda University Hospital s centennial anniversary, and the 2010 General Conference session in Atlanta, Georgia. She was also a favorite at Pathfinder camporees, churches, schools, and camp meetings. With the approval of the Ellen G. White Estate, Rita was invited to be a representative of Adventist Heritage Ministry. Rita s long-time friends reacted to the idea of her portraying the Adventist writer with smiles and, at times, incredulity. After all, Rita was famous for her wicked sense of humor. But the portrayals had a profound influence on Rita, and her hope was to grow the ministry into an educational tool for youth and young adults. On January 1, 2014, Rita was rushed to the emergency room with complications from kidney disease and pneumonia. She spent nearly six weeks in the hospital. Throughout her stay, she maintained her sense of humor, polite manners, and quiet charisma. On February 10, Rita passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. Rita is survived by her brother, Dennis Hoshino; niece, Laren James; and nephew, Brent West-Hoshino. 2 3

3 S ervice Welcome & Hymn We Gather Together Julie Narducci Invocation Kristi Amato Brown Responsive Reading Liturgy of Hope Julie Cater Lisa Lechuga Memories: The Early Years Lorna Ito Memories: Miramonte & Mountain View Shirley White Musical Meditation I Have Fixed My Mind Bobby Pena by David Huntsinger Memories: Pacific Union College Scott Ormerod Memories: The Campus Center Andrew Schoppe Memories: The Later Years Michelle Mesnard Hymn Abide With Me Julie Narducci We Gather Together by Edward Kremser We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; He chastens and hastens His will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sing praises to His name; He forgets not His own. Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, Lord, wast at our side; all glory be Thine! We all do extol Thee, Thou triumphant, And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be. Let Thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Homily Tim Mitchell A Tribute in Photos Julie Kim Gratitude Julie Lee Musical Meditation When For Eternal Worlds We Steer Karen Irwin by Howard Helvey Benediction Mark Ishikawa Postlude Slideshow Haley Wesley Abide With Me by Henry F. Lyte Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Ted von Pohle, organist Where is death s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. 4 5

4 A Liturgy of Hope by Mike Mennard Rita Hoshino ship Scholarships God, we are in mourning. This is hard for us to understand. gift of memory. We ve lost a friend, a cherished friend. gift of friendship. We ve lost a voice who freely spoke her mind in love and, more than we want to admit, was usually right. gift of wisdom. God, it s only natural that we question what we see. It s only natural that we feel some anger. steps of healing. It s only natural that we cry. tears. We ask this day a favor. Before the sun sets, help us to find comfort in our sadness certainty in our doubt courage to live and absolute joy in the memory of such an irreplaceable life. We lay our friend, Rita Hoshino, in your arms. We look forward to the day when we will be able to say what we didn t get to say in this life and smile again with one who filled our lives with smiles. We will meet her again in the true magic kingdom, happier than even the happiest place on earth. Oh God, her friends and your people agree. Hear our prayer. Rita s life was dedicated, in part, to developing and growing great leaders, and many of you are a living testimony of her mentorship. As a lasting memorial to Rita, you can contribute to scholarship funds for student leadership at Pacific Union College or Mountain View Academy. Rita Hoshino ship Scholarship at Pacific Union College PUC Alumni Association One Angwin Avenue Angwin, CA Include the name of the scholarship on the memo line. Or give online at alumni.puc.edu/give/give-online. Select other for your gift fund and enter Rita Hoshino ship Scholarship. Rita Hoshino ship Scholarship at Mountain View Academy Mountain View Academy Business Office 360 S. Shoreline Boulevard Mountain View, CA Give online at 6 7

5 Every time I say your name in prayer which is practically all the time I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion. That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed keep that ablaze! God doesn t want us to be shy with His gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. ~ 2 Timothy 1:3-7