Tim Hauxwell - 1948 to 2004
Canon David Eaton's sermon at the funeral.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

There is an unavoidable paradox in our gathering to share together in this service.

We come to give thanks for Tim’s life and to celebrate it. There is so much to celebrate: we raise our glasses.

But we are also sorrowful and cast down at such a loss as this, such a loss to Linda and her family to whom we give our love, to all who knew and respected Tim. We are shocked at the loss of someone so vibrant and full of life. We are undermined by the speed and suddenness of his passing.

Frank has given a fine tribute to Tim. Let me add to that by speaking of Tim’s association with this church and his journey of faith. It is a journey that took-off something over ten years ago with Tim’s confirmation. An abiding image for me is of Tim retelling his story, of his being confirmed, on a parish video we have used for baptism preparation, and telling how much confirmation meant to him. The faith to which Tim committed his life he shared with Linda and their whole family. It binds them together.

When the move came to go to Nottingham for three years a link was made with St Nicholas Church in the city centre. This was also a significant step for Tim in his journey of faith. He gained in confidence in speaking about his faith; he saw and experienced the importance of home groups and in sharing in prayer with others.

As Frank mentioned, each summer in recent years Christians have gathered at a Christian Festival called New Wine. Others here will have been part of that. Tim co-ordinated and led a team from this parish. It you don’t know, New Wine is a kind of Christian Woodstock or Glastonbury, only with your clothes on. It is a source of inspiration and companionship to those who go. There is a focus on worship, discussion and love. Tim valued and was inspired by all of these.

Over the last year Tim has been a churchwarden here, in partnership with others. It is a team that has worked well together. Tim brought his good business sense and judgement to bear; grappling with the budget. He was able to get into the minutiae of drawing up a lease, for the PCC to grant, which only left me dazed and confused. We relied on him.

But he also had a vision of what Church as a Christian Community could be and was keen to see this develop.

He was a great friend and patron of the Music Group playing today.

Like many congregations we are a mixed bunch (a mixed-up bunch some think) of traditions and preferences when it comes to church life and worship. Tim had his. But he was willing to work with and alongside others whose views were different. In this he lived out the kind of dialogue and partnership which the Church needs to have. He was wiling to do the hard work of living together, and working together, on the shape of church life, knowing we are not all the same.

Tim was much appreciated amongst the congregation here. Comments Linda has received since his death include:
- Tim demonstrated to me how someone could be powerful, successful in life, respected by a whole community and somehow remain gentle, amiable and humble. He gave me a role model of Christianity in action.
- Always hopeful, bright and caring.
- Friendliest greeter, with the widest smile.
- I valued his input and passion.
- He was a gentle inspiration to many, many people. I was always struck by his wisdom, his firm faith and sheer natural talent, not to mention his tenacity and appetite for hard work.

How can a loss like this be borne?

As Jonny read to us:

“We lift up our eyes to the hills but where shall we find help?”

Grief is a long journey.

When you have only known someone casually a parting can easily be made. But when someone has been close, and touched your heart, that parting takes much longer. There is no diverting the natural God given process. Appeals to pull yourself together have a hollow ring.

We are on the cusp of Palm Sunday and Holy Week: the events which lead up to the crucifixion of Our Lord on Good Friday. The Cross is at the heart of our faith: because sorrow is often at the heart of life. Easter doesn’t snatch away grief and sorrowing. It is much more within the agony of our experience that the Easter God is to be found. The journey to which he calls us is to travel the road of sorrow with him: the Via Dolorossa. It is here he is present to draw you out of the deep, to sustain your heart. ‘He will not let your foot stumble and he who watches over you will not sleep’.

We shall never forget Tim.

Our hope is in those words of St Paul which Ruth read for us.

“That Christ through faith may dwell in your hearts, that you may be strong to grasp what is the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love… which is beyond our knowledge.”

With this confidence we know that whilst Tim’s journey in this life has ended, a new journey has already begun. Heaven opens for him life in another dimension. A closer walk with God, because nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even death. And we also know that in the turmoil and agony of this loss God’s love is also present to bind up and to heal, to strengthen and sustain, the broken hearted. Present in the love we give and share with each other.

Today we give thanks for Tim.

For the generous and good person he was, the person we have known and loved.

For all that he gave and shared.

We commit him to God’s safe keeping.

We hold him always our hearts.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

David Eaton 29th March 2004