Presbyterian News service announced the death of Ann Weems. She left behind this unpublished poem as one last gift, which the New Service shared in their obituary:
When You Hear of My Demise
by Ann Weems
When you hear of my demise
Don’t believe a word of it!
Our God is the God of the living
And I am living still!
If it were not so
He would have told us!
Don’t believe a word of it!
And whatever you do
Please please please
Don’t eulogize me!
Gather instead for worship!
To celebrate God
Who gives each of us Life Abundant!
Turn mourning into morning
Turn tears into laughter!
Turn sadness into joy!
Turn somberness into celebration!
Remembering that Jesus is
The way, the truth, the life.
Gather to celebrate life with scripture and prayer
With jazz band with choirs, with pipers with dancing
Follow with faithfulness the life you have been given!
I left this earth in Alleluias
Dancing with the angels of life
Among the stars of God.
Don’t believe a word of it!
Our God is the God of the living
And I am living still!
If it were not so
He would have told us!
Don’t believe a word of it!
And whatever you do
Please please please
Don’t eulogize me!
Gather instead for worship!
To celebrate God
Who gives each of us Life Abundant!
Turn mourning into morning
Turn tears into laughter!
Turn sadness into joy!
Turn somberness into celebration!
Remembering that Jesus is
The way, the truth, the life.
Gather to celebrate life with scripture and prayer
With jazz band with choirs, with pipers with dancing
Follow with faithfulness the life you have been given!
I left this earth in Alleluias
Dancing with the angels of life
Among the stars of God.
