Sunday, Nov 7, 2021 - Memorial for Michael Riggall - Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Atlanta GA USA

Michael John Riggall January 27, 1947 ~ September 14, 2021 Michael John Riggall of Atlanta died at home on September 14, 2021 following a decades-long, courageous battle with cancer. He was 74.

Michael was born in Durham, North Carolina and the following year moved with his parents to Atlanta, where he resided most of his life. Michael attended Atlanta Public Schools, graduated from Dykes High School, and attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Enlisting in the U. S. Army, he trained as a military photographer and served in that capacity at Camp Zama in Japan.

While in Japan, he traveled around the country and developed an enduring love for Japan. Following military service, Michael returned to Atlanta, graduated from Georgia State University, and established a successful commercial photography business in Midtown. His experience in the Army was the beginning of a long, successful career. He traveled around the world twice on photographic shoots. He photographed a number of well-known people, including Haile Selassie; several U.S. Presidents, governors, and other political figures; and numerous legal and business people.

A man of eclectic interests, Michael loved films, music, fine food, and traveling the world with the love of his life, his wife, Jeanne. They had a special affinity for Venice, which they visited many times, and he photographed during all four seasons. During the 2019-2020 concert season, his Venice images were displayed at Spivey Hall, an institution that he and Jeanne loved and supported.

Michael was also a devoted art collector and a supporter of many charitable causes and candidates for public office.

Michael had an incredible memory for many details including who produced or starred in a movie years ago; the origin of an obscure quote; the history of Atlanta; his experiences from high school and Army days; and numerous other 1

trivial and non-trivial facts. Members of his family encouraged him on many occasions to try out for Jeopardy! certain that he would join the ranks of Jeopardy! Champions.

In addition to his beloved wife Jeanne, Michael is survived by two brothers: Steven Riggall MD (Gail) of New Wilmington, PA and Chris Riggall (Kitsie) of Atlanta; and nephews Forrest, Nick, Chart, and Hunter; brother-in-law Robert Reichelt of Irving, TX; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Linda DiSantis and Bob Kerr of Atlanta.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Michael's favorite charities: Dooley Intermed International (https://www.dooleyintermed.org/) RHF-Alzheimer's Research 640 Jackson Street, MS 11202C, Saint Paul, MN 55101 (www.healthpartners.com/donate/fightmemoryloss) Redeemer Lutheran Church, 731 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308 (https://www.redeemer.org/give/) charity of your choice.

2

PRELUDE GATHERING Welcome in the name of Jesus the Savior, who died and was raised to new life by the grace of God. We are gathered here to worship, to remember before God our brother Michael, to give thanks for his life, to commend him to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received from God. | Thanks be to God. THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death.

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

ACCLAMATION Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you. | We glorify you.

Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you. | We praise you.

3

Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you. | We worship you.

To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. Amen.

HYMN 733

4

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

GREETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our brother, Michael. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

REFLECTIONS

HYMN 781

5

Bill Frey, longtime friend - reflection read by Jeff DiSantis, Michael’s nephew Russ Shor, longtime friend William Thompson, close family friend Children of the Heavenly Father

SCRIPTURE READINGS Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Psalm 46: 1-11 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.

The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; 6

he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

John 11:17-27 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world."

HOMILY

7

Pastor Mark H. Larson

HYMN 638

Blessed Assurance

God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

APOSTLES' CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, 8

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYERS Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus, full of compassion, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Michael, and dry the tears of those who weep.

In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Jesus, man of sorrows, you wept at the grave of Lazarus your friend; comfort us who mourn.

In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Jesus, firstborn of the new creation, you raised the dead; give to our brother Michael life eternal.

In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Jesus, friend of sinners, you promised paradise to the repentant thief; bring Michael to the joys of heaven.

In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Jesus, wellspring of life, you washed our brother in baptism and anointed him with the Holy Spirit; give him communion with all your saints.

In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Jesus, bread of life, you nourished Michael at your table on earth; Welcome him at your table in the realm of heaven.

In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Jesus, bright morning star, comfort us in our sorrows at the death of Michael: let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.

In your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of all grace, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection opened 9

the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom 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 thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

HYMN 856

10

How Great Thou Art

COMMENDATION Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Michael.

Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.

Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

SENDING PRAYER O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.

11

DISMISSAL Let us go forth in peace.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

POSTLUDE Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #21979.

Officiants, Pastor Jenny McLellan and Pastor Mark H. Larson Organist, Sarah Hawbecker

12