Dear Church family and friends,
By now many of you will have heard of the death of our beloved Michelle Tooley. Throughout these last years of illness and treatment for her melanoma, Michelle remained incredibly faithful to her teaching, her students, her church family and to her commitment to just, loving communities around the world. Her passing at the age of 62 is a terrible loss. The gift of her passion and hope, however, remain a shining light to me, and I hope to you as well.
Services for Michelle will be held Tuesday, June 16, at 11:00am here in the Union Church Sanctuary. We anticipate a large number of out of town friends to join us, particularly from Michelle’s favorite Louisville church family, Jefferson Street Baptist Church. It was Michelle’s wish that we share a community meal after her service. We will be giving good thought to how best we can serve our guests, but I’m sure there will be a need for salads, desserts, breads and sides. There is sweet reversal in this request since as a result of her treatments, Michelle who loved to feed others, could hardly eat a thing since February. It will be good to share a feast of both love and joy in her memory and I hope you will be able to come.
Michelle requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts could be directed to Union Church Mission and Service Board (of which she was member and chair for many years), Bread for the World ( www.bread.org ), and Witness for Peace (www.witnessforpeace.org). Any gifts here will certainly support the kinds of important care for the poor and justice for all to which Michelle offered her scholarship, her ministry and her life. Before she died she and I discussed various hopes and dreams. One was a summer peace and justice training experience for young people. Perhaps together we offer the next generation some of Michelle’s passion and gospel fire to heal this world and love God’s people.
In sorrow and in joy,
Rev. Kent H. Gilbert
Pastor, Union Church,
CPO 2105, Berea, KY 40404
859-986-3725
“I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief…
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”
–Wendell Berry
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