In Remembrance of Father Maurice Branscomb

The Rev. Maurice Branscomb Jr. celebrates the Eucharist on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007, at Immanuel Episcopal Church 

in Bay Minette. (AL.com/File)

Tomorrow (Saturday, January 20), The Reverend Maurice Branscomb, Jr. is to be laid to rest in an inurnment service at Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn, Alabama, the last church he served before retiring in 1997. There was a nice article at AL.com celebrating his life and ministry which can be read here.

When Father Branscomb retired, he was honored at Grace Church, at which time I handed him a poem I wrote in his honor. I have altered it only slightly to make it a fitting word in memorium :

In Remembrance of Father Branscomb

All good graces,

And light eternal

To the one who has shown great compassion

     in all things.

Your boundless energy

With your endless capacity for caring

     has been a blessing from God.

Many have seen how your compassion

     made the liturgy come alive,

     brought sustenance to the needy,

     created a space for those who would rest

         and a ministry for those who would serve.

A true priest,

     a wellspring of joy

        and a midwife to the soul –

To name but a few traits

Of a servant with no regrets,

Whose magnanimity

Welcomed so many

     (and such a variety)

To the Lord’s Table.

Rest in Peace, Father Maurice Branscomb

~ Charles Kinnaird

-