this friday enjoy your weekend and happy new year. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> next, some of the memorial over the past year, includingl beginning with elisabeth edwards. after that, in rural services for ted stevens and west virginia senator robert byrd. now, the fuel for elizabeth

edwards. she died earlier this month with the day after a six-month battle with cancer. two of her oldest friends and her daughter cate offer eulogies. speakers include her husband john edwards, john kennedy. the service was held in north carolina, where elizabeth edwards attended after the death of her teenage son, wade, in 1996. the service runs one hour 20 minutes.

republicans, 202-737-0001 democrats, 202-737-0002 journal@c-span.org twitter.com/cspanwj

[choir sings]

>> you may be seated. as we join our hearts and prayer, i invite you to join our voices as we pray together a congregational prayer that is found, printed in your bulletin. let us pray. the eternal god, we praise you for the great company of all those who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labor. we praise you for those tier 2 us whom we name in our hearts before you. especially, we praise you for elisabeth, whom you have graciously received into your presence, to all of these, grit your peace. let perpetual light shine upon

them and help us so to believe where we have not seen that your presence may lead us through our years and bring us at last with them into the joy of your home not made with hands but eternal in the heavens through jesus christ our lord, amen. selected versus from the 27 psalm. the song is right. the lord is my right and salvation whom i shall fear the lord is the stronghold of my life of whom i shall be afraid.

my heart shall not -- the more rises against me but i will be constant. one thing that i asked of the lord that will i seek after that i may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the lord and to inquire in his temple, for he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble, he will set me on a high rock. i believe i shall see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living, wait for the lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage. and from the 98th psalm. lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations, before the mountains were brought forth,

more ever thou has formed the earth, from everlasting to everlasting thou art god. for 1000 years, as yesterday when it is passed, or as a watch in the night, now this week men the way, like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning, in the morning it flourishes and is renewed and in the evening it fades and withers. we may get our heart of wisdom. but the work be manifest to the servants and i glorious power to die children. but the favor of the lord our god be upon us at an established now the work of our hands upon us. the work of our hands establish

that it. this is the word of god for us the people of god. thanks be to god. [conversation sings -- congregation ginssings]

>> the first moment i met elisabeth is indelible in my memory. in the late summer of 1981, we both landed, quite unexpectedly, in the same month to month apartment complex in raleigh. our front door is 10 feet apart. we had twin sons and they had wade, and elisabeth was expecting daughter cate. all four of us were reason law school graduates. she and i had just moved out of our first houses, houses that had felt like home, and it is fair to say i had less than a warm and fuzzy feeling about leaving our home and landing in the uncertainty of a temporary apartment. you may recall that empty feeling you get when your whole life is in the back of a moving van, but a wonderful thing

happened to me that day. this amazing, outgoing, witty, smart, optimistic, and authentic elisabeth slipped into my life and into hers. she was perfect antidote for my uncertainty and need for order. she was an expert at living out of boxes and looking at the bright side. she had grown up living out of boxes and looking at the bright side. the expected few months in the temporary apartment turned into many months and misery loves company was full in force. we did not appreciate it much at the time, but we were far from miserable. we formed an immediate bond, spent countless hours together, and elizabeth build a french ship of 29 years that took us to places that neither of us could have imagined them. from the moment of our first

meeting to this day, when i think of elizabeth, i still think of the same things, spontaneous and optimistic presence, her gracious hospitality, her embrace of all that is possible, her ability to get by on about four hours of sleep, her fairly intense competitive streak if you have ever been blurred into a game of boggle with her or trivial pursuit, you know what i'm talking about. a nice friendly game? right. once when i was traveling with her as a sidekick on a political campaign in 2004, she brought along two copies of the same crossword puzzle book and greeted me with, would it be fun, hargrave, to have crossword speed competition? but above all, elisabeth was

authentic. she was real. no pretense. no holding back. sometimes, she probably needed some holding back, but if you knew her parents, particularly her father, you knew that holding back was not in the gene pool. it is quite a tribute to her and the family in which she grew up, her parents, sister nancy, brother jake, after all the years of public travel, talk shows, books, speeches, disappointments, and accolades, one thing stands out. elisabeth remained the same wonderfully authentic person. a pro at staying true and looking at the bright side. one reason elisabeth was so much fun to have as a friend was that her interests were passed and married, and she knew so much about everything.

her memory was incredible but the futility of playing her in any game that required the slightest bit of intellectual dexterity. she loved sports, particularly the tar heels, but not just the tar heels. in a trip in ohio -- we spent a lot of time in ohio in 2004. alice roberts was our temporary crypt director. his job was to make certain we stayed on schedule. the september day we were 20 minutes ahead. elisabeth hated being late, and ellis, who was trying hard to graduate from the role of friend to talented adult political opportunist, was feeling pretty good about himself. he was feeling under when i told him that elisabeth had arranged a quick, unscheduled stop at the pro football hall of fame.

we were somewhere near canton, ohio, after all. we were given a 15-minute tour by a nice young man, and as relieving, elizabeth stopped to get something for son jack. as she shopped quickly -- and she was an expert at that, too -- she and the guys had begun to discuss the 1989 rookie of the year. the young man referred to him by name and said in the lake, you are wrong. the guide was taken aback by elizabeth persisted. in 1981 rookie of the year was lawrence taylor. you check it out. i looked at ellis and at the secret service. we shook our heads and smiled. in a few moments, the young men returned and said, you know, ms. edwards, you are right. it was quintessential elisabeth.

one of my favorite passages from the new testament is the birth from heber's about encountering people we do not know. st. paul tells us, do not neglect to show hospitality to a stranger's, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it. st. paul wycherley use elisabeth as a grand example of that advice, the truth be told, elizabeth never knew a stranger. in every new counter, she recognized a new friend who warned her heart as she seemed to warm there's. it was my privilege to watch her embrace thousands of people she had never met, even protesters, who she often saw as a sign that she was making a difference. on one particular night, when she was signing books for a long time, and a line of people was still wrapped around the store

and i knew she was exhausted -- i was exhausted -- i whispered to her she needed to avoid long conversations or she would be there until midnight. she scowled at me. did i mention she was quick to express negative emotions, too? at 11:30, i spotted a woman holding 15 books to be signed. i was not happy. as the woman placed the books on the table, she looked at elisabeth and said that her 6- year-old son had died a month earlier. this woman had been in mind for 2.5 hours, and that elisabeth's book had been such a comfort of her that she wanted one for each of her dearest friends. elisabeth talk to her for a while, carefully signed each book, and when the woman moved on, the woman looked at me with a clear, piercing, smiling,

unspoken message. did i mention she could be piercing? it was her sincere pleasure and great gift to encounter the nameless strangers she saw on a daily basis and to call them by name. she asked about their families and she really wanted to know about their families. she listened to their struggles and dreams and really wanted to know about their struggles and dreams, and she did not leave them and forget. those she met and their stories were etched on her heart and in that incredible memory. she truly looked for the angels and all of us. elizabeth loved christmas. she loved the decorations and she has a lot of them. she loved baking christmas goodies and her christmas parties on allegany drive in raleigh are legendary. she loved to carol and the groups in a long, and unlike many of us, she loved the

shopping part of christmas, too. today, in her living room in chapel hill, is the largest and most beautiful christmas tree you can imagine. it would lovingly decorated last saturday by friends if she had to leave us, no better time than in the season when hope and promise are overflowing. maybe one of god's messages to us through elisabeth is that we will become fulfilled in life when we know who we are. and lived through our genuine, authentic self. easier said than done. but elizabeth most certainly did that. she knew who she was. she never held back. she was about pretense, a pro at

letting her family, and warming the heart strings of strangers, and looking on the bright side. i am so blessed to have called her my friend.

>> i wish and i'm certain you do as well, that allows a that was here to deliver this instead of me. i had been to the house most of the wheat, and knowing her so well, i had been looking for the notes. i was certain i would find and then i would know what to say, how to think about this day, as she would have, with her rich and unblinking honesty, and without complaint. perhaps i will find the notes later today but as in the week has worn on, i began to think that she saw the sad and beautiful metaphor, we must now go on ourselves. no more backrubs for us when we, not she, were frightened about her latest diagnosis.

no more calls into late-night shoes filled with people she would not leave and corrected. perhaps there are no notes. there is however a long friendship and the astonishing and beautiful and honest body of work that she left behind to guide me and all of us after this. there is one and only one advantage of me doing this instead of hurt. i can now do one thing -- she would never let me or anyone else to before today. in front of her, i can tell you if you stories of speak about her immense gifts, her brown thus, bottomless energy, her sharp and breathtakingly wide intelligence, her usual humor. she was not funny like rancho or her pro, the silent one, but she was hugely funny. i have a few stores of that in a moment. as jackie mason would say, we

already know these are funny stories. if you do not laugh, there is something wrong with you. i can also say that none of what she did it, publicly or as a mother, as an author, a friend, none of it fed or was fueled by ego. i have known her since early september 1974. i never detected even a tiny dollop of ego. of that grand body of work, none of it came from ego. she was offering comfort and love in offering the truth. her mind was constantly clicking into the night and that was reason enough to keep going. in september 1974, i was at the unc law school in a contract class. they sounded the same to me. i could not tell which it was. it was all too hard for me than it seemed that they were in love with the tiniest of distinctions, much like astrology.

the professors were doing the usual thing, calling on whoever looked the most frightened, head down, disconsolate, would lead you on an awful journal, and in your confession that you had just taken back before if that was ok, and you could go back before to what you thought was right, possibly. then he called on elisabeth. would it be shall of me to say that she was gorgeous? not law school could booking, but big world had turned and walked into the poll gorgeous. then began inquisitions. except this time, the aforementioned to it held in it entirely logical way, for 20 minutes until the professor said, let me call on someone else. before i could jump up and cheer, the woman said, may add one more thing? she then explained that the

policies behind the court's decision, though unstated, could have been entirely different in case one wanted to that. it could have gone the other way if you had use of different assumptions. she gave us a few minutes on how that might be. it encouraged us all so much, me in particular. one day, we would understand all of this odd stuff, it could be done. i still do not know if that was a contract class or something else, but i thought to that when she was done speaking, i know who i am having lunch with today. and thus began one of the great friendships of my life, one that has sustained me in times both good and wretched. i only hope i gave back to her 1/1 hundredth of what she gave to me. i am just one example. i know many of you can tell stories similar to mind and that they follow a pattern.

and came home one evening to hear my children on the phone. she was quiet for a moment but to agree. then she spoke for a long while on and on they went. i sat on a couch in the next room and listened as if this were the songbird returning. 45 minutes later, she hung up and i was still in my suit, looked at my daughter, and she said, it was elisabeth. i have decided to take a cooking class. that was 10 years ago. she called back many other times. it was not just good intentions or that it hurt her heart when i told her sad news. elisabeth's of amoco, as everyone knows, was to pick up the phone, not on the door, and see what might be done about it.

here is a know that i got from my daughter this week, 23 years old, which she had sent to someone she met on the campaign. she wrote, was this love so hugely and proudly. she is fiercely loyal. she knew her way was not the best way. it would exhaust her. but she had to go about it her way and be herself. i think about the 10 hours spent labeling on all of their kids baby clothes, boxes of them, for reuse, should any of them decide to have children. it was a tiring task. " everywhere. she had to do it her way. it was not practical or understandable. nobody wanted to really help and teaser for it, but she had to do it. she grabbed onto life. she grabbed onto the people she loved and her beliefs and would

not lafco. i have so much admiration for that. this is also a reminder to me of how good we need to be to each other and how seriously we should take each other, the connections we forge, the decisions we make, the decisions we do not make, the love we feel, the love we do not feel. i do not mean live like it is our last day -- i hate that sentence. digging in, be stubborn, hold on, what would it mean something, like elizabeth did. life is heavy, it is supposed to be. the world is an awful place because -- but it does not feel like that because of love. make you want to take a trip in class? -- cooking class? her family included the campaign came. she was told to go to the

edwards house to bring something to elizabeth, whom she had not yet met. she was quite nervous. elizabeth came to the door and nightgown, classically, in one hand, low-fat yogurt in the other, and said, do you want one of these? they are the only thing in the house. i swear this time i will lose 40 pounds. she said, want to come in? and thus began one of the great french ships of jennifer's life. another great story are heard was from christine reynolds, another campaign staffer. elizabeth had told us in the cancer had returned. she sat with them on the couch for a while to sue them. she said that her shoes were nothing special and it was a fine time to go to the outlets. so off they went. it was not all peace and love. once in new hampshire, in one of the need ups with 20 people in

their living room, elisabeth did her usual masterful job. at the end, one of them said you should debate laura bush. the all clapped and approval. owes a bit sad, i do not want to debate laura bush, but i would love to take a piece out of lynne cheney. [laughter] she came up every september to help cate move into her room in princeton and then back out. elizabeth believes in hard work, not just showing up. i was at princeton then. she was sliding out from under the bed, dust bunnies on her clothes, a dress and hand, with a label still on it with a fierce look on her face and said, yes, you told me you did not like this stress but you did not tell me you through it under

the bed. a speech to elizabeth was two minutes of speech and one hour of questions. she always held forth brilliantly on various topics, biofuels, nuclear policy, you get the picture. in new hampshire, people rushed to her. some just wanted to touch her. one man said, i wanted to ask you how to handle north korea but you did not handle me. the woman looked at her for a moment and then burst into tears, knowing that she had permission, put her head down on her shoulder and continued weeping, as elizabeth press the back of her head. another woman said, are we related? a man wanted a picture but wanted to cry woman out of the shot. elizabeth fixed him with a

disappointing look and said, you will have to wait then. eventually, the woman explained her son had died. elizabeth as when he was like, his name. she said his name out loud, as simple a blessing that i have known. in this sense, kept alive the spirit of the child and spread it further into the world. now that is multitasking. of course, those were the things she did during the days. she was a poor sleeper. at night, she would get online with your communities and received an give comfort to others. she made a decade-long friendship with one parent, gordon livingston. here is what she wrote in the 42 his book. it is about gordon, see if it reminds you of anyone else. i was blessed that i was able to grab ahold of gordon livingston and his unapologetic directors

and undyed compassion, and as sure as his work, he eliminated where i stood so i could better see myself and the war around the pier and and and he took the lead and held it out so i consider the footholds and ledges i would need to reclaim a productive life. she went on, i reach for gordon's book when i need a voice that is one of stern and reassurance, hopeful and unwilling to profit and the guarantees, for he knows as well as anyone could that life will have its way with us and all we can do is keep ourselves in alignment for the bumpy ride. he once wrote to me, all i know is what i feel and what i hope. it was classic understatement by gordon. he seems to know also what i feel and hope. and what you feel and hope in which of those feelings are honest and which of those hopes are attainable. the reaction of elizabeth and john to their son was to the whole, to seek the things that matter the most, get rid of the

things that were dictated by had a long, jettison those things whose sole function was ease or comfort. things that mattered. there they were bigger. as is well known, is it took their grief and started the weight edwards learning lab. and they began to reach out, open of water, and in the most billion act of all, had two more children. i love of my and my godson jack. i think elisabeth love to do it but there is some work unfinished. eyeleted you, jack and emma, and say with confidence, that although your mother has christmas covered this year, probably a few years beyond, to o, no worries there. they still have their father, and they love them. he is a loving and very

attentive to that. despite his grief over elisabeth's death, he will take great care of these kids. you may note from saving graces, that elizabeth went to wait cosgrave every day until the day at the montclair was born. she would plant new flowers each spring, she would read to him from the bible. the entire top rating list, and the thing she thought he would enjoy or needed to know. being so open to everyone story often made them sensitive to family. she said, it was not just wade i talked to. i also spoke to oliver and gerald, no. the two had died half a century ago before i was born, brother robert who had died in world war room and one -- world wari.

next to each job or his or her parents who died after them and were unable to attend to the graves themselves. i cared for the grave of ida's baby daughter, i clean the cross of john, whose daughter died at 12, and clean the dirt. where elizabeth is headed today is familiar territory to her. she has worked as ground with her hands and love with her heart. here is the next perez she wrote. -- paragraph she wrote. she said, it does not matter to me whether all this sounds odd. i did it because it made it easier for me, easier for me to think that there would be mothers to come after me and tend to wade's ghraib 1 i no longer could.

it is easier to think that we were all in this together, that we formed a community, the long dead mothers and i come and the mothers that would come later. so go now, elisabeth. it is today. be with wade, be next to beloved wade. it has been a decade and have since you lost him sorry but we need to see that allowed. she would have insisted upon that. you should know she spoke of this often. other mothers and fathers, too, will carry on your unfinished work here and will look out for oliver, gerald, the others as well, and we will call and visit and that and jack and say your name out loud. we know what to do. you have prepared us well.

rest easy now, beloved friend. sweet sweet elizabeth.

[music] [congregation sings]

[choir sings]

>> our family was in this church 15 years ago to say goodbye to my brother wade. when i talk to my mom about what she wanted for her service, she said she wanted it to be here because it was so connected to us and to him. back then, the shape of our

family changed tremendously, and it is changed again now. but one thing remains true and will never change, which is that we are still a family, and that wade and mom are still a part of this family and always will be. the biggest difference between being here now and back then is, of course, we do not have my mom to get us through this. she was always a source of strength, a source of wisdom, chris -- grace. she could bring out the brave in anyone. she brought an out in all of us. even in our last days, she was comforting us. when she could barely speak anymore, my dad and i sat at her bedside and held each of her hands and she kept looking at us back and forth saying, i am ok, i am ok. she was more worried about us than we were about her. there was one afternoon where

she could not speak anymore at all and i found myself at her bedside crying, trying to comfort her that we would be ok. course, she and about comforting me. she reached over and held my hand because that is who she was and that is what she did. she comforted us always, up until the end of our life. but comfort was only a fraction of what my mom was to our family. and who she was. as everyone has mentioned, she had an incredible sense of humor. i do not think anyone can doubt that. she was feisty, witty, always had the ability to make fun of herself. she was smart as a whip but never tried to hold that over anyone, unless she was right and they were wrong. [laughter] generosity and consideration was ingrained in every fiber she

was. it was natural to her. during her cancer treatment, even in the last week of her life, she always, always called her nurses and care givers by her their first names. i asked her, how do you remember all of them? she's had, what else am i going to call them? they are here taking care of me. they see strangers all day, every day, so it is important they know that i know who they are. she was a consistent source of wisdom from things big and small. you almost always regret prince but you will never regret wearing solid. [laughter] never marry a boy you first day without dating someone else because you would never buy the first pair of shoes you try on.

over the last few days, i've heard my mother described as full of life. i think that is true, but it is an enormous understatement. every single thing she did, she did to the fullest possible extent. i can think of 100 examples, i am sure everyone here can too, but that is her devotion to us for children. she would do anything in the world to protect us. the matter what the personal cost to her. i know there are so many sacrifices she made for us that we will never know about. but that is why i was lucky to call her my mom. i am who i am today, and i will become whoever i will become, in large part, because she was my mom. she has been a lighthouse for all of us. a point of guidance when we feel lost or are not sure what the right thing to do is. she will always be the source of light to us pointing us in the

right direction. every lesson she has caught us had become part of our epoch. all the grace and strength she showed during are all my will hold us up in the hard days we face in our own life. every smile and how she gave us will someday pass on to our own children. my greatest hope and ambition that i can think of is that we will each honor her by being the people she taught us to be, and by doing that, she will live on in each of us. as you can imagine, as, mentioned, it was really hard to think about what to say today takeshi is usually on the one that tells me what to say. also because there are not words that are good enough. i thought about what she would do and what she would want. as always, i knew that she would want to be the one comforting us. somebody know this, but for many years, my mother had been writing letters to her children

with words of wisdom for us when she passes away. i hope she does not mine but i will read some of that to you. i know she wrote it for us, but i believe everyone here and beyond, she considered part of her family, and this part, at least, applies to all of you. she wrote, i have loved you in the best ways i have known how. i remember shortcoming more than you know. when i was blessed and i could have been, should have been. you did not get all that you deserve from me. for all i've said about life, i want you to know that all i ever needed was you. orlov, your presence, to make my life complete. you are complete joy to me. i hope you will always know that. forever i am, where you are. i have my arms wrapped around you.

some of you may know, at left, jack, and i, and in every conversation with my mom by saying i love the more. she would respond, i love you more. and as you can imagine, none of us ever won that battle, but today i have the honor to be the last to say, mom, i really love you more.

[piano plays] >> amazing grace how sweet the sound me isaved a wwretch like

once was lost but now and found foundw i'm was blind, but now i see through any dangers, toils, and

snares already come it was grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home

here ten thousand years bright shining as the sun less days to sing god's praise than when we've first begun

i was blind but now i see than when we've first begun >> from the new testament, we find these words of jesus in john's gospel the 14th chapter. let not your heart be troubled. believe in god, believe also in the. in my father's house are many

rooms. if it were not cellos, what i've told you and i would prepare a place for you? and when i prepare a place for you, i will come again and take you into myself, that where i am, you may be also. and you know the way where i am going. thomas said to him, lord, we do not know where you are going. how can we know the way? jesus said to him, i am the way, the truth, and the like. no one comes to the father bought by me. if you had known me, you would have known my father also. henceforth, you know him and have seen him. peace i leave with you. eyepiece i give to you, not as the world gives to i give to you. let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. and then from romans, the eighth chapter, these words of the apostle paul. i consider that the suffering of this present time are not worth

comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. we know that in everything, god works for good with those who love him, who are called to his purpose hear what men should say to this, if god is for us, who can be against us? who shall separate us from the love of god in christ, shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sort? in all of these things we are all congress through him who loved us. or i am sure that neither death or life, nor angels nor principalities, or things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor death, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of god in christ jesus our lord. this is the word of,

let us pray. lord, in this quiet and holy moment, we put our trust in you. bless this family, strengthen them in their love for each other, and they they feel surrounded in this place by those who genuinely care. for jesus, it is in your name we pray, amen. oneweeks ago -- i'm sorry, week ago, and john called me to say that elizabeth was critically ill. he said she had asked if i would conduct her funeral when that time came. i agreed without hesitation and told john that i would visit elizabeth on sunday afternoon. the next day, when my wife and i arrived we spent a few moments with john and cate, and

then john let me in to see elizabeth. she was very weak, but fully aware of why was. -- of who i was. after a few moments, john left the room, leaving us along. i asked third if we could talk for a few moments about her faith, and she nodded yes. i reminded her that several years ago she had made a profession of faith in christ when she and her family joined this church. i said to her elizabeth, i want to ask you two basic questions of faith. first, do you except jesus christ as your lord and savior, and she looked at me with those beautiful, piercing blue eyes and said yes, sir. then i asked a second question -- do you want christ to forgive your sins and make you write with almighty god? her answer was stronger, yes, sir, i do.

i said to her, as i have said two others over the years, elizabeth, not on my authority, but on the authority of holy scripture, and in the name of jesus christ, you are forgiven, and you are made right with almighty god. we then prayed and i think to god for her life and for her life to come -- thank god for her life and her life to come. friends, that was a holy and precious time, especially so because i knew elizabeth edwards did not come to fit easily. -- come to faith easily. are remembered visiting with her and john several times after wade's death, and in a candid moment she expressed some of her doubts and also her hope that her beloved son was in the lord's care. a few days ago, when we were looking at scripture for this service,john reminded me that

of elizabeth had read the entire bible while visiting at wade's grave. in that same bible, the family found two scripture passages that were particularly important to elizabeth. paul writes -- blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ. who consoles of us in our affliction. so that we may be able to come sold those who are in any of flexion with the consolation with which we are consoled by god. so also our consolation is abundant through christ. the second passage comes from --

as for me, i am being fought out as a libation. i have fought the good fight, finished the race, and i have kept the faith. from now on, the crown of righteousness which of the lord will give me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all that have long before his appearing. these special passages of holy scripture, along with her affirmation of faith in christ, tells me that her struggle with faith was over. she had made her decision. she knew in whom she believed and was persuaded that his words were true. i do to prepare a place for you, that where i am he would be also.

over the 40 years in my active ministry, i have known many individuals who believed in god but felt they could not understand much about that supreme being. that being as far as they viewed it was too big for them to comprehend. as a minister of the gospel, i say to do today with great joy that this christmas season speaks to that concern. in the first chapter of the gospel of john, he proclaims the word became flesh and dwelt among us. the word jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. that man of nazareth. in a passage from the gospel in which i read earlier, jesus said whoever has seen me has seen the father. jesus came to show us what god is like. he certainly came to save us

from san bought also came to show us how to live life fully and abundantly. he demonstrated that love and peace and justice and forgiveness every day of his life. i feel compelled to say parenthetically it must bring the lord great sadness to see people promoting hate in his name. jesus was far more interested in redemption and then in condemnation. let me say that again. jesus was far more interested in redemption then in condemnation. most of us know the passage, and john 3: 16. whoever believes in him should not perish and should have everlasting life. sometimes we forget to read that 17th first. -- verse. god sent not his son in the world to condemn the world, but

the world and through him might be saved. pre-christmas him says holy child of bethlehem this and to us. we pray, cast out our sins and be born in us today. the end of that him says abide with us, our lord, emanuel. jesus was called emanuel. the bible tells us that name means god with us. we are not alone. you are not alone. there is a wonderful old story in which i would like to close with, about a family that woke up one christmas morning and prepared to attend a worship service at the little chapel. the father made his usual excuses for not going, and then sent his family on their way.

after they had left, he went into the den and looked out through a large fixture window upon a beautifully snow-covered landscape. as he admired the beauty of nature, his attention was drawn to a little flock of tiny birds fluttering in the snow. it seemed to him they were very cold and hungry, and he felt sorry for them. he put on his boots, coat, hat and glove, and he made his way out to the barn where he flung open the doors and scattered the grain in the entrance. he walked some distance away from the barn, which in for the birds to fly in, but they did not breed they were afraid it. the mantra to slip behind around them and shoot them into the barn. -- shoo them into the barn. that did not work and they flew in every direction.

food with frustration, he took off his hat and slapped it against his leg. you don't bird's book critic liu understand i am trying to help you? in a moment of clarity, he thought of course they don't understand. i am so much bigger and stronger than they are. they are afraid of me. then he thought if only i could become a bird, i could tell them i am trying to help them. at that moment, the chimes from the little village chapel built out a glorious hymn. elizabeth edwards accepted that message, that good muse, and now she has claimed the promise of heaven. friends, i wish i was wise enough to tell you what heaven is like, but i do not know. i know jesus said today you

will be with me in paradise. my guess is paradise for elizabeth certainly involves a glorious reunion with her beloved son wade. and so, to you, john, cate, and other family members and friends, find solace and comfort in the promise that your dear one is in god almighty's care. she fought the good fight. she has finished her course. thanks be to god for the life of elizabeth edwards, and thanks be to god for her example of courage, openness, and dignity. in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. amen. i want to offer a word before we prayed together. this family has endured much

sorrow and turmoil and lost over these days. they need to grieve and heal and to console each other. they need and deserve some privacy. i am sure there are many friends joining me in asking for that. granted out of a sense of -- sense of christian charity. do it out of a sense of common decency. i believe, and then maybe foolish or naive, but i believe that trade still reside in our national character. let this be one of our better moments. leave these folks alone. let them have some peace and time. the following prayer comes from william henn. -- william penn.

let us pray. oh, dear lord, we give back to you those whom you gave to us, especially in this day we remember elizabeth who you have graciously received into your presence. you did not lose her when you gave her to us. we do not lose her by her return to you. your dear son has taught us that life is eternal and that love cannot die, so death is only a horizon, and a horizon is only the limit of our site. -- of our sight. opened our eyes so that we may see more clearly and that we may know we are near to our loved ones. you are preparing a place for us. prepare us for that happy place, so that where you are, we may be always. amen. let us pray at the prayer that

the lord has taught us pray that our father, who art in heaven. if i can come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for the line is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. amen. one of the hymns that elizabeth's elected is the one that we are going to sing, 707. ♪

♪

♪ >> please be seated. on the back of your public and it is a wonderful prayer that will serve as our benediction.

a want to ask you to remain seated as we pray together and continue to remain seated as the family departs. you will be directed went to stand and when to leave by the ushers. let us pray. lord, support us all the daylong until the shadows bless in the evening, and the busy world is hushed and the fever of light is over, and our work is done. then grant us safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last. amen. [bells chime] ♪ [bells chime]

♪ [organ plays "joy to the world"]

♪ [organ plays "joy to the world"] ♪ ♪

♪

♪

>> the one thing we have learned is that other stages of the

economy are not good at predicting what happens. >> robert samuelson has written about politics, the economy, and social issues for over three decades. he will join us on sunday night on c-span. now, the funeral service for former senators ted stevens of alaska, along the service republican senator. speakers include vice-president joe biden and senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. this is an hour and 35 minute. >> alaska has lost a giant. we are gathering together to

remember and celebrate all that ted stevens was to so many of us. when we all learned of the tragic accident, all over, all across the state, people gathered together to share their stories of the life of ted stevens. people in a cordova gathered together in their neighborhoods, all came into one house, sharing coffee, watching reruns of the c-span when it head stevens delivered his tribute to the senate, his last floor speech. we have seen the big banners that expressed the thanks to him across the community. i was flying down from fairbanks a few days ago. the flight attendant came over the intercom system and gave the

most incredibly warm and beautiful impromptu tribute to ted stevens, but to those of us who were assembled on that flight. just last evening, thousands of alaskans lined the streets in the rain and in the damp to stand with signs, paying tribute to our senator. they were not just out to pay tribute or show respect for the office. alaskans are out to express the honor for the man and truly the

love of for ted stevens. ted was alaska. these are all legendary. but his legacy rests not just with the infrastructure and the programs that he has created, that he built, but really that legacy rests with the life that he touched. all of those thousands and thousands of lives that he touched over the years.

we all have our stories. he had a passion for this land and the people that he represented. he treated them as friends. that was returned. he helped raise so many young alaskans. he would seek talent in a young person and would encourage that. as so many who are gathered here to have been touched by the life of ted stevens, that will continue for decades to come.

it was through his example through the life he lived that he taught us about trust and loyalty. he taught us about the tenacity and commitment, never giving up. he taught us about faith in god and in prayer, and love for our country at all times. ted did so many the wings to fly. we see that daily. three weeks ago we were gathered in our church and the question was asked, what are you looking forward to?

he said to spending that time with the grandkids, giving them those wings to fly. as important as ted stevens is to alaska's history, he was all about alaska's future. the legacy of dreams and confidence he left alaskans surrounds all of us. to the family, to catherine, we thank you for sharing this extraordinary man with each of us. on behalf of alaskans everywhere, we thank you, and we love you, uncle ted.

i have been asked by the family to read a poem. from another great alaskan leader. "i would leave and legacy of dreams to bridge the generation gap, igniting fires within the mind of youth and old alike until no alcohol or zero mega shows. only the eternal flame in spirit to like the path of change. ofwould leave a legacy dreams that here where tundra and thai growth emerges, to breed did depth, a stalwart sturdy race of many free and fresh and team and of the great north wind, creating a crystal

magic from the national things at hand. i would leave a legacy of dreams, sculpture a round of courtesy and respect, of joy in doing, of pride in workmanship, where each might show an understanding compassion. i would leave a legacy of dreams that each might know his own yet share, and share in peace and amity, shunning the base of the godless urged to do in another has. -- to do another in. i will leave and legacy of dreams to where greener grasses grow so spread before tomorrow. i would leave a legacy of dreams.

>> would you sing with us please? ♪ [singing "faith of our fathers"

] ♪ and through the truth we will shall be truly free faith of our fathers, holy faith we will be true to thee 'til death faith of our fathers, we will

love both friend and foe in all our strife and preach three, too, as love knows how by kindly words and virtuous life faith of our fathers, holy faith we will be true to thee 'til death ♪ >> a thank you and please be seated. our scripture reading today it is a psalm 121.

i will lift up my eyes into the hills for which comments my help. my help cometh from the lord. he will not slumber. behold, the keeper israel will not slumber nor sleep. the sun shall not shine by date nor the moon by night. the lord shall reserve the from all evil and preserve thy soul. even for ever more. as the lord blessed the reading of his word. at this time, we would like for our special guest speakers to be escorted to the platform.

>> ladies and gentlemen, we are honored here in alaska, the family is honored today, and senator ted stevens is honored today to have the vice-president of the united states president, and joe biden. -- joe biden. >> archbishop hurley, norman

elliott, admiral and senate chaplain harry black, and doctor, thank you for the welcome. i am the one that is honored. i am honored to be asked to say a few words. i must really pinch myself to fully understand i am privileged to speak on the floor of the u.s. senate. coming from the boyhood i had to, i could've never dreamed of being here today. home is where the heart is, mr. president. if that is so, i have two homes. one is right here in this chamber and the other is in my beloved state of alaska. i must leave want to return to the other. then, susan, beth, walter, ted jr., nothing that i could think of describes your father better than that statement he made on the floor of the united states

senate. your dad along with some of my colleagues used to kid me about the fact that i quote a lot of irish poet. i do that because they are the best poets. [laughter] but your dad has a lot in common with one of the irish poet that i and many others have quoted for a long time, james joyce. james joyce once said that when i die, dublin will be written in my heart. i have no doubt, not a single doubt in my mind, that alaska is written in ted's heart. alongheart is big enough, with alaska, catherine and his

six children and 11 grandchildren, also written across that the heart. you never had to wonder what was in his heart. it was obvious to everyone who knew him, it was obvious to me the day i met him as a 29-year- old kid who was just elected to the united states senate. i have said it before. i see so many boyfriends of the head -- i see so many all loyal friends of it head out there. i might add, the archbishop -- a significant portion of the money that belongs in delaware, new york, and in georgia presides right here in alaska. [laughter] [applause]

i like to say that we did it willingly. [laughter] newevery one of us who'd and served with ted -- i served with ted for 37 years. you all immediately knew what was in his heart. i have said it before. senator mansfield once told me that every man or woman who comes into the united states senate brings with him a piece of their state. everyone who goes there bring something, a piece of their state. but ted stevens, unlike any other man or woman with whom i have served, was his state. from the silence of the tundra to the swish of dogsleds, to the mountains piercing the sky, to the fierce independence combined with a strong sense of

community all of you alaskans have, these things more than describe alaska. they defined a way of life -- they define a way of life. no state has had more of a fierce defender then ted stevens. he took such incredible pride in his family and in all of you and in this place. you and alaska, took great pride in it ted as well and with good reason. from the valor he demonstrated to his love andoii, devotion of his family, to his four decades in the service of people in the state of alaska, there is one thing you could be absolutely certain of that everyone in this church knows. you could always, always, always count on ted stevens.

whatever ted stevens said, whatever ted stevens gave you his hand, whenever ted stevens made a commitment, you could absolutely bet your life on the fact that he would keep the commitment. everyone in this church also knows, everyone that has ever met ted knows, that his friendship and support was not bounded by ideology. a matter of fact, it had no bounds. none whatsoever. when i came to the senate in 1973, i was 100 out of 100 in seniority, just having gone through an accident where i lost my wife and daughter. many of my colleagues offered help to get me through a pretty tough time in my life. very few, very few, i can count

on one hand, offered as warm oven embrace as a republican senator that i had never met in my life, who walked across the floor of the senate to my corner desks, extended his hand and said i want to get to know you. i want you to come to dinner. he was part of, back in those days, me and my colleagues know that we actually cared a lot about one another. it had nothing to do whether you were democratic or republican. he was a part of a tight-knit senate family within the senate family. and thatbarbara, bill, inner family took me into their family. i was reminding ted daughter

who i met in 1973 at their home at dinner. they used to, once a month, have dinner at one another's home. they insisted that this 30-year- old woodworker who had nothing in common than other being a senator become a part of that family. a kind of a life preserver at a difficult time. they were there for me in 1973, and we were all there for it head in 1978 when he lost anne. they were there for both of us when we begin to rebuild our lives with catherine and jill. i used to kid ted. no man deserves one great love in his life, let alone two. but he and i share that distinction. and we celebrated jail and

catherine, ted and i, each other's joyous occasions, including the birth of our daughter, lily and ashley, within weeks of one another. in the early days, we used to have birthdays together in the senate dining room. ted and i were like many of you have bonded over shared similar tragedies and the celebrated life's greatest joys together. there is a lot of stories about ted power and prowess as a united states senator. one strand runs through every single solitary thing i have observed ted stevens do in the 37 years i have served with him. that was his word was his bond, and his personal generosity was surprising in how quickly it was offered. one of the things i love most

about ted is the pride he talked in his family, the people and places and things he loved the most. ted jr., i remember we were fought -- we were flying over the bering strait with your dad. in a helicopter. he was putting everything out. he whipped out of his -- what do you call them? he pulled out a photograph that was 5 inches by 7 inches. it was a picture of a guy that you could hardly make out, standing on the deck of a boat that look like it was about to send with a lobster claw. it was full of ice and it looks like it was going to sink. he held it out and he said, "that is my ted."

that is what he does. as recently as -- excuse to say a point of personal privilege here, but i was telling the lilly when i saw her. i called her my daughter. she just got a master's degree from the university of pennsylvania. she graduated with 3.93. i called it head and told him. i said i don't brag like that but note joe biden has done that well. he said, "we have." and he had. i know more about all six of you than you want me to know. [laughter] you know, one of the measures i apply to true friendship is if

your friend is willing to share with you the things he or she values most. ted was a true friend because he shared with all of those who called him a friend of those things he valued it. ted stevens county and on apologetically, as you all know, did everything he could do to improve the lives of the citizens of his beloved alaska. in turn, he is going to live on not only as the man who literally helped create this state, but the man who also built it into the great state it has become. in your state legislature was absolutely right in naming him the alaskan of the century. i know of no united states senator i have served with, and i have served logger then all of

17 senators in the history of the nets did senate, who has ever been given such an honor. i know no epitaph beyond being a father and husband and grandfather made ted more proud. for his time backed in the interior department when his office door said "alaska headquarters" before it was a state, to actually writing the alaskan statehood act that await the eisenhower signed. i will say it again. stevens was -- ted stevens was alaska. it may be that while his closest friend in the senate, and man that you are about to hear from, a similar background. he is hawaii. they've both brought their states into the union.

if ted had been japanese, they would have been brothers. [laughter] war heroes. incredible similarities. ladies and gentlemen, in the summer of 1899, albert henry assembled a crew of 125 high- profile writers, artists, and scientists aboard a ship. their mission was to survey the alaskan coast. one of the men on board that ship probably the second most important person in alaska is history, john muir. he was one of the first to put alaska into words. i would like to share something with you that he wrote and that i find especially fitting to date. "a few minutes ago, every tree

was excited, bowling to the roaring storm, waving, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm. the vote to the outer ear, these trees are now silent. their songs will never cease. the glorious enthusiasm of ted stevens may have gone silent to but for aller ear, of us, especially for this proud and beautiful state, his song will never cease. my prayer to you, catherine, and the entire stephens family, to attend memory, will soon bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. i pray that moment will come sooner than later.

from experience, i guarantee you it will come. for the people of alaska, i can say without absolute certainty -- with absolute certainty. we shall not look upon his like again. i was proud to be his friend. >> thank you, mr. vice- president. ladies and gentlemen, the hon. mitch mcconnell from kentucky. i thank you for coming today. >> thank you.

catherine, ben, susan, beth, walter, ted, lilly, members of this magnificent family, reverend, vice-president, senate colleagues, including senator murkowski, distinguished guests and friends -- last week, america said goodbye to one of its great men. ted stevens was a respected and revered in washington and throughout the lower 48 for his service to his country, his many of legislative achievements, and his legendary grit.

his colleagues in the senate lost a dear friend who we admired, and yes, even sometimes feared. but it is obvious to everyone that the people of alaska oil lost something even more. -- that the people of alaska out law something even more. despite its size, alaska is a very small place. people know each other. and everyone, everyone knew ted stevens. he is a present reality. from the airport here in anchorage, to the remotest villages his contributions to alaska are as a vast as the state itself.

it is hard to imagine that any one man ever meant more to anyone's state then ted stevens. but, of course, it did not have to be that way. once you have spent a little time in washington, you notice that certain senators can't lead a double life. they can play in one role in washington and another rolled back in their home states. in other words, they can use their job in the senate as a platform to reach a national audience beyond their own constituents back home. and for four decades, ted stevens was a living, breathing

antithesis to that approach. in his view, if it was not good for alaska, it was not good. period. [laughter] as a young man, ted fought to get that 49th star on the flag. he spent the rest of his remarkable life working tirelessly and unapologetically to try to transform alaska into a modern state. he came to washington with a mission. he was faithful to that mission to the end. every alaskan, here and across the state, should know that ted stevens devoted every day of his life, not to the promotion of himself, but to you. it took a lot of effort.

but ted was clearly the right man for the job. one of his former chiefs of staff recalls being taken up back on his first trip to alaska with ted. when he showed up at his house to pick them up at 6:00 in the morning, he learned that ted had already gone through the briefing book he had been given the night before. he read all the daily papers and it already been on the phone to washington for a couple of hours. by the end of the trip, he said he needed a vacation for doing in two weeks when senator stevens had been doing for 39 years. said it would say he worked so hard because there was so much work to do. alaskans did not have the benefit of the centuries of infrastructure and development. he did everything he could to make sure the rest of his colleagues knew about it first hand.

most lawmakers in washington, when you meet them for the first time, might invite you to join them for dinner somewhere around town. ted stevens invited you to alaska. he wanted us to appreciate the unique challenges that the people who live there face every day, every day in and every day out. i can assure you, i can assure you that turning down an invitation to alaska from ted stevens was not recommended. [laughter] in fact, an entire generation of federal officials and lawmakers trekked up here at his invitation. many of them are here today. not a single one of them ever left not been impressed by two things. the magnificence of the scenery, and just how much of alaska is

progress is the direct result of this remarkable man. he poured himself into this place, treating it like one of his children. and to the people of alaska, i assure you that uncle ted did whatever it took to make sure that your concerns were known and met. it was an honor to have known him, and it was a privilege to have served alongside him in the senate. we have missed in the past two years. and we grieve with the stephens family. we grieve with them for their loss. but we are also consoled by the thought that he has reached his father's house. the legacy of this man who did

so much for so many will last as long as the flag is flown. >> thank you, senator mcconnell. ladies and gentlemen, i am happy to present to you the hon. pro temp united states senator from hawaii. >> my dear friends, irene and i

are arrived in anchorage last evening after a six-hour journey from hawaii. i must say that it was a said attorney -- a sad journey. the plane was quiet. believe it or not, no one drank. there were no movies. just whispers. because we were all going to anchorage to say goodbye to a friend. >> this is a time of morning and we mourn for catherine lost her loving husband, a great man, a great companion. we mourn for you. we mourn for his children who not only love you dearly, he

stood up for your time and again, bravely to protect you and defend you. yes, he was a big father, a good father. he loved his grandchildren, one of the last things he told me -- he told me that he and -- he is glad that i am a grandfather. i am the oldest grandfather in the united states senate. [laughter] at the age of 85 by became a grandfather. ted says," i don't know if you will have any more but i am looking forward to several more." girls -- [laughter] keep in mind. yes, it is a time of morning but

it is always a time of reflection and celebration. millions of words have been spoken, printed, written about ted. they have reminded us of the tragic year of 1978 when he lost his beloved anne. when i saw him, he said," why anne, not me?" he was ready to give up but he realized that he had a duty to carry out. he'd stop on. thank god. that reminded us of a recent trial. but i knew it and we all knew it that he was not guilty and he

was vindicated, cleared of all charges. [applause] well, much has been said about his going to harvard, becoming a lawyer, that he served in california. i would like to share with you a few personal footnotes. i don't know if you remember this but ted was sworn in on december 24, 1978.

it was christmas eve. it was a christmas gift to alaska. [laughter] in many ways he was. i call them up and i said let's get together. and we did and we sensed that we had many, many things in common. we served in world war two, halfway around the world. he loved the veterans. he loved the military. then we were representing territories which were then appendages to the nation. we were the forgotten people. did you know that it was cheaper to call tokyo from washington than to call honolulu? it was cheaper to call beijing

than to call anchorage. it was cheaper to send a telegram to australia than to send one to onlu. yes, we were considered not only foreign but [inaudible] we did something about it. [laughter] [applause] then one day, he called me up and said he wanted to see me. i got to his office and he said there is a lot of oil in prudeau bay and we have to find a way to get it down here so we can sell it. i asked how he proposed to do that.

he said he will build a pipeline. i said you are not [laughter] uts. [laughter] sure enough all the environmentalists got against tampa when the oil started flowing through the pipe, it gave of friction. if he did the area and the snow melted and grass grew 12 months out of the year. the llewellyn king came by to each and make love --the elk can bite to eat and make love. the elk flock is at least five times as it was before the pipeline. well, for some reason he always invited me to go on his congressional delegations. to a the parts of the world.

he always picked those that somehow members frowned upon. they could not take their wives. there were no shopping places or anything like that. and so, for example, where one of the first ones to go to afghanistan and iraq. it was so early, we stayed in tents. when we got there, it was dark, no lights, this was a combat zone. and so i inquired, like all men should, where is the men's room? [laughter] we were in a tent. the colonel said go down there and turn right and then turn left and then turn right and then turn right. it was about two city blocks.

[laughter] i looked at ted and i said, "what are you going to do?" [laughter] well you got the answer. [laughter] has been a vice president -- as the vice-president and senator mitch indicated, his word was good. his word was absolutely good. you can take it to a bank. and he was also a tenacious. he called me one day and he said he wanted me to come to alaska and see the natives. which we did.

as a result of that trip together, we conjured up all kinds of things, not just the schools and hospitals and clinics and roads, but other things. for example, at that time, as you lived out in the village, there were no roads. in the wintertime and needed a dog sled. you could not fly in. a village usually have a nurse. the only way was to communicate somehow. i want you to note ted and i began this high-tech business called tele medicine from that trip. it is now commonplace all over the place. ted was that type of person. but soon after the vietnam war,

when the country was divided, when soldiers were returning from the front would have to literally to sneak in at night because there were no welcoming banners and parades, the country responded by saying from now on we will have only volunteers, no draft. and ted said if a man or woman is willing to put on a uniform and stand in harm's way and risk death to defend me, to protect me, i will do everything possible to be of help so that they can come home to their loved ones, to their wives, their sweethearts, to their sons and daughters, and i hope you

will join me. that is the kind of fellow he was. the veterans of america -- [applause] the veterans of america, the military family of america lost a good friend. but there are many of us here who will do our damnedest to carry on his work. i have so many things in my heart that i would like to share with you, but as a result of our relationship, it involves trust, friendship, we made the word bipartisan become real, real.

and as you look around here among his colleagues, former colleagues, but you will see a lot of democrats. the vice president is a democrat. yes. [laughter] [applause] i like this audience. [laughter] they understand doubletalk. [laughter] well, as a result of this friendship, we came across this legislative process that we call congressional -- congressional initiatives.

for those who want to be negative about a call at earmarks. ted was the grandfather of earmarks. [laughter] and you can thank him for that. [applause] on march 9, 2005, ted gave an interview to the vfw. this is what he had to say. i would like to close with these words. and i quote," as a young boy growing up in california, my dream was to become a pilot. during world war two, that dream came true when i flew with the army air corps and supported the flying tigers of the 14th air force in china.

those of us who served in world war two have been called the greatest generation. those of us in china after the call to serve during what we called the forgotten war. there are few of us left to lift through that dark period of history but as we see that our was an and bravery of those who serve in our armed services today, we know they are truly our greatest generation. it takes an extraordinary person to do the job past of the men and women in the military today. the world is a dangerous place and this is a new era with new threats and determined enemies. our men and women in uniform preserve our freedom abroad and deliver -- and liberated afghanistan and iraq. as a veteran, i salute them. this nation owes a great debt to

them. and to every american who has served. " farewell, friend. we will never forget you. [applause] ♪ ♪ >> while you're standing, please join in as we sent "the battle hymn of the republic." my eyes have seen the glory of

the coming of the lord he is wrestling of his vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored he has a loose the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword is truth is marching on ♪ glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah ♪s truth is marching on ♪ i have seen amid the watch of 100 ♪ ♪ glory, glory hallelujah

glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪ ♪ glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah ♪s truth is marching on ♪

thank you, you may be seated. let us pray. gracious god, sovereign lord of history and the nation's, giver of every good and perfect gift, thank you for the gift of your servant, ted stevens. lord, we are grateful for the gifts of his dedication, loyalty, wisdom, compassion, generosity, wit, courage, patriotism, and a service.

give your comfort to catherine, the children, and all of ted's loved ones as well as they multiplied thousands of others special way.a bring solace to the families. we pray also for the injured that you would restore them quickly to robust health. lord, transform the darkness of the valley of the shadows of death into bright hope and provide us with strength, comfort, and courage for all of

our tomorrows. may fell life and legacy of ted stevens -- made the life and legacy of ted stevens make us cognizant of the shortness of time and a line of eternity for all of us as we clang to the sure hope of the resurrection and the eternal life. we pray in the name of him who is the resurrection and the light. amen. our new testament readings come from john 14:1-3 -- first thessalonians four, 16 and 17,

and romans 8, 38, and 39. hear the word of the lord. let not your hearts the troubled. you believe in god, believe also in me. in my father's house are many mansions. if it were not so, i would have told you. i go to prepare a place for you and if i go to prepare a place , again andwill, agai receive to myself that where i am. there you will be also.

for the lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of god and the dead in christ shall rise first. then we are -- who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the lord. for all i am persuaded that neither death nor life, angels nor principalities, powers nor things present, nor things to nor deaths ts ignored deat anything in creation can

separate us from the love of god which is in christ jesus, our lord. the word of the lord. i would like for us to pray together the our father. i want to invite the spouses who were in the senate with senator stevens, mrs. biden, secretary chow, mrs. inoue and mrs. can make -- and mrs. kennedy to join me by the podium as reported together in honor of our dear friend, ted. if these spouses could join me. for nearly three years, every morning, senator stevens gaveled me in for the senate prayer.

we had a wonderful conversation before each prepared and he always left me with a smile. he loved botox and got me addicted to botha's. i should have worn one today. [laughter] he was proud of the fact that he could tie a bow tie as easily as someone else can tie their shoes. once i tied one, it had to stay that way or i was in trouble. he could tie one that is flawless. he would pull apart and said it was easy. i was a bit envious but we are praying together the our father. our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, viking and come, bite will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. amen. god bless you. >> i am very grateful to catherine and lily who plan to this service for allowing me for a moment to share my thoughts about ted and to lead you into prayer. some of you may be a bit confused if you are not episcopalian or anglican by that title in front of my name.

it is a description of a job title, archdeacon. nowadays, it is applied to elderly clergy and is supposed to mean one venerated. i can qualify as being ancient. [laughter] but some people think of may as a venomous. [laughter] when the plane crashed on august 9, i lost two friends. danan tandell was also a friend. i knew her for a few years but i appreciate her friendship. i first met ted stevens when he was a district attorney in fairbanks in 1953. i was a witness at a trial for which he was the prosecuting attorney. i am glad i was a witness on his

side because the defendant was found guilty. however, my friendship with ted and his wife anne began in 1953 when i was the rector of st. matthew's church in fairbanks and by floyd -- i flew to village missions along the river. perhaps it was because of our common interest in flying or the fact that we were both veterans of world war two that brought us together. whatever it was, over the years, that friendship has deepened. even after he became a senator, we never addressed each other by the titles of senator and father. it was always ted and norm. an official correspondence to me, he would ride across the formal greeting, norm and across his official signature, ted. on december 4, 1978, anne died

and he was seriously injured in the crash of a small plant at anchorage airport. he sent formate far providence hospital. his first words to me were," how is anne?" i had to tell him that she didn't make it. we're about to talk about susan's weddings scheduled to be held december 16. susan wanted to delay the wedding ted, in spite of his grief, convinced her that anne would have wanted it to be held as planned. anne was buried on december 9 and susan and david were married on dec. he 16. in the space of two weeks, the senator knew the death of sorrow and the height of joy. a few years later, ted and capt. were married, lilly was born and other children of the family

married and stevens klan group. grew. through all of it, i was included and made to feel part of the family. you may have seen in the newspaper today picture of debt being given the mask of the hulk. he was given that nickname because of his aggressive nature. all of us knew that he worked too hard. one day i gave him a toy turtle. the turtle crawled across the floor singing to the tune of "groovy, slow down and you work too hard." he did not throw it out. i saw it one of his offices. i am sure he did not follow the advice either. [laughter] there was too much that needed to be done for alaska and the nation. true, he did not always succeed

but he never stopped trying. you may know that he had a great sense of humor. he had a boisterous laugh and at times seemed to be almost happy go lucky. most of the people of alaska knew him only as their senator. they knew him only by -- because of his work on behalf of the people of alaska, the military, the institutions, the charities, the arts, and so on. a man made possible the construction of the alaska airport, the medical center and other facilities. i wanted to show you in my brief moment ted stevens, the man. a man like ourselves who new sorrow as well as joy, a failure as well as success, turmoil as well as peace. i have told you all this not to boast of my friendship with a famous man and his family but only that you may know that i share with many of you the

of sorrow and loss you feel. i will conclude by using the words of other men, were driven by them which speak more eloquently than any i could compose. the first as a poem which is a song written and sung by a famous scottish singer, harry lauder. he was the first british songwriter ever to sell over 1 million records. the songs he composed or scottish folk songs. some more numerous and some were sad. he was knighted by king george roman five. he was known as sir harry lauder. sir harry had one son, john. john was a captain in a scottish regiment. he was killed in a battle in

1916. sir harry was told that his son's last words were," carry on." he wrote and sang a stirring songs. it is starting because if you hear it song, you will feel compelled to march. i am reading it because i believe that these are the words that ted would say to you and to me if he were present. i read this ad dana's funeral last sunday included a ishee and ted were very much alike. this is the song -- "every road through life is a long, long road filled with joy and sorrow, too. as you turn on, how your heart will yearn for the things most dear to you with wealth and love tis so but on board we must go. and then comes the starring cloris keep right on till the end of the road, keep right on though

the way the long, let your heart be strong. keep right on round the bend that you are tired and weary, still journey on till you come to your happy about where all the love you have been dreaming of will be there at the end of the road. then the words -- with a big staff part to a long steep hill, we may get there with a smile. with a good kind thought and an end in view, we may cut short many a mile so that courage every day be our guiding star always. and again the great chorus -- keep right on to the end of the road keep right on to the end of the way be long, let your heart be strong, keep right on round the bend though you are tired and weary, still turning on till you come to your happy about or all the love you have been dreaming of will be there at the end of the road. in that song is the christian message, death is not the end,

death is a door at the end of the road of life. when you and i come to our end of the road, we know that there will be there to greet us, that we will find all we have loved and been dreaming of. the second are the words of a man who lived in 1600. some of you have heard my funeral orations before and know what i am going to separate the man was john donne. unn. he was the dean of st. paul's cathedral in london in 1681. in england and perhaps many parts of the world, a bell is tollled to announce the death of a man or woman. in older times, this bill was a newscaster which alerted the whole community that someone had died. people would come to the church

and say we heard the bell tolling, who died? john dunn wrote these words and i will not read all of them. i will paraphrase -- no man is an island entire of itself. every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. if a clod be washed away by the sea, europe is the last. europe is the less. any man's death diminishes me because i am involved in mankind. therefore, never send to know whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. to paraphrase john dunn, not only are you and i continent, but so are communities, so our states, and so our nation's. us,us with ted's going from some of you somehow have lost we

will say green of sand. some of you a pebble and some of you, like me, a boulder. to the state of alaska, and to our nation, the state and the nation have not lost a grain of sand, they have not lost a battle, they have not lost a boulder, alaska and the nation have lost a mountain. i sincerely hope that somewhere in a mountain range in alaska, a great on named mountain will be found. , a mountain which can be seen, not hidden, among which can be seen and named after the senator. not named senator ted stevens, not named senator ted, but uncle ted. uncle ted.

[applause] uncle ted, in order that future generations will know that a famous man once lived amongst us, a man who not only serve alaska and the nation, but loved alaska and its people. amen. and now the prayer is of the people. in peace, let us pray to the lord. almighty god, grant we beseech thee the paradise on earth by light and by peace. pratt that all who have been baptized into christ's death and resurrection may guide as an and

rise to the newness of light. through the gray and gate of death, we may pass with them to our joyful resurrection. grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage and to walk as yet by faith, that thy holy spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days. grant to the faithful people pardon and peace that we may be cleansed from all our sins and served the with a quiet mind. grant to all mourned a sure confidence in by fatherly care that casting all their grief on the they may know the consolation of by love. give courage and faith to those who are believed that they may have strength to meet the days ahead and the comfort of a reasonable cold, the total expectation of eternal life with those they love. grant us with all who have died

in the hope of the resurrection to have our consummation and bliss and i eternal everlasting glory. with all thy saints, to receive the crown of life which bell does promise to all who share in the victory of by son jesus christ who lives and reigns with the forever and ever. aen. men. [inaudible] >> we are mortal form of the earth and onto earth we will return. thou shall return. even at the grave, allelujah.

by marcel sager, -- and by merciful save your regionthy merciful savioue, receive them into the arms of your mercy and everlasting peace and to the glory of the company of the st. elias. -- of the saints he loves. >> there is a problem with being the last person of. everybody else has said everything else you wanted to said. everyone of us have our own personal stories of how ted stevens helped them and touch their lives. we have heard many of those stories and there are many more to be told. in closing today, i would like to share with you my personal

story. my story about senator stevens has to do not just about his past but about his future. because he has a glorious future. the last thing that senator stevens said to me was publicly said right here in this auditorium. he was here august 1 with senator lisa murkowski and congressman don young and i had him come forward because people were asking me -- by the way, how many of you have received one of those personal handwritten note cards, raise your hands. i thought was the only one getting those. [laughter] hundreds of you got them. we will cherish them forever and ever. he was here and i said," senator, people want to know what you are doing."

he said he has started a consulting business in washington, d.c., but most of all, he said he is being a grandfather more than he was ever able to do as a senator. he said that with a big smile on his face. i want you to know that. he looked up at me, right here in front of the congregation, a statewide television, and looked at may and said pastor, i want to thank you. you taught me that prayer's get answered. you taught me that prayer is to get answered. he was referring to the many prayers' that you and i prayed for him during what he describes as his terrible ordeal. god did answer our prayers. when i see him again in the

eternity, i believe his words to me, his first words to me will be again, pastor, i want to thank you. prayers to get answered. why do i believe that? because senator stevens prayed another prayer with me that has to do with his future. he was rather private about his religion and rightly so. he did not want to use that for political purposes. he prayed with me this prayer. dear lord jesus, come into my life, forgive me of my sense, and take me to heaven when i die. and god answered that prayer last week out on a tel in the state that he loved it so dearly, the state of alaska. he prayed that prayer after me and with me after i shared with

them what the holy scripture says about all bus. us. we all have sent an come short of the glory of god. the bible goes on to tell us, the wages of sin is death but the gift of god is eternal life. in christ jesus our lord. the wages of sin is death. i am so glad that god does not leave us in the dark about what that is pretty bible explains it. that is not a ceasing to exist. it is only a separation. there is physical death and their spiritual death. physical death is a separation of the soul and spirit from the body. the real ted stevens is not here, just his body. the bible talks about the second

death, spiritual death, and that is not a ceasing to exist. it is a separation. it is a separation of god for ever and ever. the good news is this -- that the gift of god is eternal life in christ jesus our lord. the age-old question asked in the old testament holy scriptures by job -- if a man dies, shall he live again? and jesus christ, the son of god, came into this world a little over 2000 years ago to answer that question. it was not just by words but by actions. he said you destroy my body and in three days, i will raise it up again to prove to you that there is life after death and i have the power over death. the reason i am a follower of jesus christ, he is the only

religious leader who ever lived and talked about how to get to heaven but the rest of them all died and as far as we know, we don't know what happened but jesus christ came out of that brave all live and victorious over death to prove he was who he claims to be, the son of god and that he had the power to forgive us of our sins and save us and take us to have an when physical death touches our lives. that is why he said i am the resurrection and polite. he who believes in may, though he may die, he shall live. the holy scriptures teach us that those who believe in jesus christ are with the lord. paul says to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord barry's character goes on to explain what else happened. it says that if our earthly tabernacle is dissolved in paris

as. we have a building, we have a body in heaven that god has prepared for us. i just smile and think that god has done something special. i believe that when we see a uncle ted up in heaven, when you see your husband, when you see your father, you see your grandfather, don't be surprised if he is not a 6 ft. 10 in his new body. [laughter] he will t behe hilk that all of us -- he will hulk that all of us knew he would be. don't be surprised that wonderful burris, john so loved the world that -- god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that we could have everlasting life. the gift of god eternal life. a gift is something that somebody else buys and pays for and says i want to give this to

you. in order for a gift to be ours, we must be willing to receive it. we must be willing to accept it. we take our billfold or our checkbook and we try to write a check and pay for it. it is no longer a gift when we try to buy it for it if we try to work for an urn, it is not to get rid of get to something that somebody else buys and pays for an says here, i want to give this to you. the story of the gospel of jesus christ is that god sent his only begotten son into this world to purchase the forgiveness of sin so that he could give us the gift of the forgiveness of sin and give us everlasting life so that we could spend eternity with him. you say how to you receive that gift? the scripture tells us plainly -- if thou shalt confess with timeout to lord jesus christ, believe in by heart that god has written from the dead, thou

shalt be saved. with the heart, man believes center-right systems and with a mouth confession is made on to salvation. he sums it all off. for whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved. whosoever means anybody and everybody. because god wants everybody to spend eternity in that wonderful place that jesus said i have gone to prepare for you. whosoever shall call. now, my personal story today is that senator stevens prayed with may, calling on the name of the lord to save him and taken to heaven when he died. do you know what? god always keeps his promises. as we heard, senator stevens always kept his word. do you know where he got that?

he got it from god always keeps his word. he says for whosoever shall call on the name of the lord shall be saved. his last words to me were " pastor" he did not say a private life. "said pastor, i want to thank you for teaching me that prayer's do get answered." i believe his first words to me will be with a big smile on his face and i will have to look at him because i believe he will be 6 ft. 10. he will say," god answers prayer." whosoever calls and the name of the lord shall be saved. maybe you need to pray you're on prayer to god and except his wonderful gift of eternal life through jesus christ antitrust

if you have never accepted that gives, you will personally yourself a. day ahead -- yourself today. you pray that prayer while i close us in prayer lest our heads together. oh eternal god, we thank you for not leaving us in the dark about the death and life after death. we thank you for sending senator stevens into this world to do for us and all that he did to make our lives better. dear lord, we can say with the words of the great apostle paul, he fought a good fight. he finished his re. now he is with you. he has left all this with great memories and we thank you for those great memories. made those memories sustain us until we are reunited again in your wonderful home heaven. dear god, we thank you for his

family, that share him with all of us, all of these years. comfort them at this time like only you can. we pray this in the wonderful name of your son, the lord jesus christ, who makes all things possible and all the people said amen and amen. at this time, i have been asked by the stephens family to express their sincere appreciation for all your expressions of love and support, for your attendance here today. they hope to be able to speak to each of you in a reception that will follow in just a few moments. in preparation for that, everyone needs to remain in this auditorium and the overflow rooms on till you are this. messed the family and friends will be escorted the casket outside. he will be able to observe that from the giant screens that are

here. after that, as the family is going back and getting to the reception room, the alaska brass of the united states air force band will be play. when the family has arrived in the reception room, then you will be dismissed to the reception room. ushers will direct you to that room. again, it is important for everyone, please, to remain in their seats in this room and in the other rooms until dismissed. transportation back to your parking will be provided when you are ready to depart. it will be available until -- you are welcome to stay and be in the reception room as long as you like. that transportation will be provided as long as it takes. again, on behalf of the stephens family, i want to express their appreciation for all of your love and support. please rise for the procession.

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