while telling a story. that hand is still now. but it left a deep imprint on the lives of family and dear friends, soldiers and sailors, presidents and prime ministers and a generation of aspiring young people. ralph waldo emerson said the purpose of life is not to be happy. it's to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. my father made a monumental difference. he lived. he lived well. i've heard it asked, are we still making his kind? i believe the answer to that question is up to us. to honor his legacy, i hope we do more than consign him to the history books. i hope we recommit ourselves to being a nation where we are still making his kind. for as he said in his auto biography, his journey was an american journey. colin powell was a great lion with a big heart. we will miss him terribly. we invite you to stand. the lord be with you. >> and also with you. >> let us pray. oh, god, his mercies cannot be numbered. except our prayers on behalf of thy servant and grant him a entrance into the land of light and joy and the fellowship of thy saints through jesus christ our son and lord who live and reign with you and the holy spirit, one god now and forever. amen. god, giver of all comfort, go graciously with colin's family and friends. surround them with the love that they not be overwhelmed by the loss but have confidence in thy goodness and strength to meet the days to come through jesus christ our lord. amen. be seated. >> a reading from the prophet micah. with what shall i come before the lord and bow myself before god on high? shall i come before him with burnt offerings? with calves a year old? will the lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with 10,000 rivers of oil? shall i give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? he has told you oh mortal, what is good. and what does the lord require of you? but to do justice and to love kindness? and to walk humbly with your god. the word of the lord. >> psalms. i lift up my eyes to the hills from where is my help to come? >> my help comes from the lord, maker of heaven and earth. >> he will not let your foot be moved. and he who watches over you will not fall asleep. the lord himself watches over you. the lord is your shade at your right hand. the lord shall preserve you from all evil. it is he who shall keep you safe. >> i looked and there was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, from all the tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne and before the lamb. robed in white with palm branches in their hands, they cried out in a loud voice saying, salvation belongs to our god who is seated on the throne and to the lamb. and all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped god singing, amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and might be to our god forever and ever amen. then one of the elders addressed me saying, who are these robed in white and where have they some from? and i said to him, sir, you are the one that knows. then he said to me, these are they who have come out of the great ordeal. they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. for this reason, they are before the throne of god and worship him day and night within his temple. and the one who is seated on the throne shall shelter them. they will hunger no more and thirst no more. the sun will not strike them nor any scorching heat. for the lamb at the center of their throne will be their shepard, and he will guide them to springs to the waters of life and god will wipe away every tear from their eyes. the word of the lord. >> thanks be to god. ♪ precious lord take my hand ♪ ♪ lead me on ♪ ♪ let me stand ♪ ♪ i am tired ♪ ♪ i am weak ♪ ♪ i am worn ♪ ♪ through the storm through the night lead me onto the light ♪ ♪ take my hand precious lord ♪ ♪ lead me home ♪ ♪ in thy precious lord linger near ♪ ♪ when my life is scarred ♪ ♪ in the river i stand at thy feet ♪ ♪ hold thy hand ♪♪ take my hand precious lord ♪ ♪ lead me home ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ precious lord lead me on ♪ ♪ take my hand precious lord ♪ ♪ lead me on ♪ ♪ lead me on ♪ ♪ lead me on ♪ ♪ lead me on ♪ >> the holy gospel of our lord jesus christ according to john. >> glory be to the lord. >> jesus told his disiepled, do not let your hearts be troubled. believe in god. believe also in me. in my father's house there are many dwelling places. if it were not so, would i tell you i go to prepare a place for you, and if i go and prepare a place for you, i will come again and will take you to myself so that where i am, there you may be also. and you know the way to the place 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 and the truth and the life. no one comes to the father except through me. the gospel of the lord. >> praise to you, oh christ. >> come holy spirit. fill us with your healing and saving grace in the name of god, father, son, and holy spirit, amen. please be seated. mrs. powell, anne marie, linda, michael, your children and all the family, today we stand in solidarity with you before the mystery of life and death in saying our prayers and farewell to colin powell, son, loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, friend, soldier, counselor to presidents, senior statesman, man of peace, child of god. i pray you will feel us holding you up in this time. but most importantly, the loving arms of god around you all. and i hope that also in this brief span of time in memory and honor of your beloved colin, we may know ourselves more united as americans. the measure of colin powell's life is good and great man is more than any one person can fully take in or tell. these heart felt moving and poignant tributes took us a long way. and so your presence here today as you stand with this family, all of you, your memories, indeed, even the person you are, is now a part of that larger mosaic that tells of the life of colin powell. the love and years you shared as family are forever with you imprinted deep within your hearts. and the impact of colin's life on you, his friends, colleagues and this nation reveals the fullest picture that we can have. you know the ways he formed and influenced you, whether up close or through historical events. this man had a discernible gift, to project gravitas, warmth, and goodness which called us all to our better selves. to strive for the good and the just, to face fully into duty and with integrity, resolve, and benevolence to carry it out. you all have memories of colin powell in heart, in mind, treasure, and share them. but most importantly, place them before god in gratitude. before god who created the wonder and mystery of all creation, gave you the last breath you drew, and who gave colin life from the first and receives it back again. the great 20th century rabbi abraham joshua was once asked what is the most important thing a religious person can do? his answer was given in one word. remember. that is what we do this day. it is what we do as religious people every time we gather. we hear again and again the sacred stories of encountering god ancient and cherished. stories about god as a mystery, yet, still revealed to our fragile and mortal humanity. we remember god's saving love of the human race, and in that act of remembering together, the god of life and giver of every good gift is present to us just as in this moment. this god is the one who raised up and delivered israel out of bondage in egypt, fulfilling ancient promises and who raised jesus from the dead into resurrection life, colin knew this god through all his years. his faith was of first importance, and his life was marked by those words of the prophet micah. he has shown you what is good, to do justice. to love kindness. and to walk humbly with your god. the god to gathers and comforts us this day is a god of justice and mercy, who seeks to lift up all who seek him. those who grieve the lost, weary, forgotten, the vulnerable and poor and all in the margins of life. and god wants you to know in every circumstance of life, that you are beloved, whoever you are. whatever you are. whatever you've done, god looks at you today and he loves you. this is the god we know. who loves fiercely. who traffics in life and death. and is known in every dimension of life even in the cross currents of the emotions we experience today. in speaking with many people in these last weeks as colin powell's life was remembered, there was at the beginning of most those conversations, just a slightest of pauses, a recalibrating of the mind and the heart, and a realization that we are now talking about a member of the family. respected, admired, and loved. former secretary of state condoleezza rice captured this in a recent remembrance writing, colin loved soldiers and always held them to the highest standards, yet he also took time to understand their struggles, personal and professional, and so comfort them when they suffered. the military was his second family, and he cherished the opportunities that it had given him and others. do you hear what is at the heart of this? this might seem unusual or new to you, but those who serve together in the profession of arms, especially when in harp's way, come to know that there is a component of love in that bond. and one that you actually depend on. i discovered this personally in 2005 and 2006 deploying into the persian gulf as an army chaplain. general colin powell was the epitome of this reality and truth. recently a dear friend, erik montly, a younger african american man who grew up as a young boy in madison park, alabama on land that had been seated to the ancestors of slaves, shared this memory with me. when i was in high school my grandmother gave me a photo of general powell adorned with a chest full of medals and prompting me, you need not look far for your own hero. i carried that photo all through school, and have it to this day. after reading general powell's book, my american journey in college, erik said, for the first time in my life, i found myself and all i wanted to be. and all these years later, i still do my best to imitate the man himself, trying to make my life journey as good and honorable and centered on service. i have held a light to his life, and it has been a true affirmation of faith. i've often wondered how many young men and especially young black men were given that book accompanied by the same admonition, you need not look far for a hero. there are many loves we recount this day. in all the tributes we've heard, and the ones that are deep in your hearts, as beloved wife, children, family, friends, those in the profession of arms, colleagues and untold numbers of men and women across our nation. many loves. but i am here to speak with you about an even greater love. we are here today because of a person, and that person is the man in the glory, jesus christ. in him the greatest love ever known was given to the world. we know this most supremely in christ's life, death, and resurrection, climaxing on that first easter morning. each gospel varies in telling of the last days of his life, providing both a veracity and a stereo skopic truth unparalleled in all of literature. in his last hours, as jesus was tried, mocked, beaten, humiliated, crucified and spiked to his cross, he took into himself all the sins of humanity past, present, and future. his closest zies disciples fled in fear, but finally strong women came to his tomb. there god had acted. a cosmos altering explosion of divine light and life was released, surging at god's command, breaking that three-day canopy of silence and from that tomb, jesus rose to new life, resurrection life, and all creation rises with him. in that newly beheld radiance that is without analogy, sins are forgiven. death is vanquished forever. god raised jesus so that you and i might share in his resurrection, and if you turn to him and accept him in faith, he will come into you and raise you into that new and eternal life now. just as he has for your beloved colin who now stands upon another shore and in a greater light with that multitude of saints that no mortal can number. in colin's last hours, his loving family went to him in the evening that walter reed to say good-bye. in the pre-dawn, he took his last breaths, fell asleep, and awakened into the heart of god. and now colin knows intimately of what the 17th century priest and post john dunne wrote. bring us, oh lord, god, at our last awakening, into that household and gate of heaven to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light. no noise nor silence, but one equal music. no fears, no hopes, but one equal possession. no ends nor beginnings but one equal eternity in the habitation of thy glory and dominion. colin, may you gaze upon our lord face to face. may angels surround you and saints welcome you in peace, and may your heart and soul ring out in joy to the living god in his presence you are held forever. may god bless you all. ♪ oh lord my god ♪ ♪ when i in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands has made ♪ ♪ i see the stars ♪ ♪ i hear the rolling thunder ♪ thy power throughout the universe displayed ♪ ♪ then sings my soul my savior god to thee ♪ ♪ how great thou art ♪ ♪ how great thou art ♪ ♪ then sings my soul my savior god to thee ♪ ♪ how great thou art ♪ ♪ how great thou art ♪ ♪ and when i think of god his son not sparing gave him to die i scarce can take it in ♪ ♪ that on the cross my burden gladly bearing ♪ ♪ he bled and died to take away my sin ♪ ♪ when christ shall come with shouting to take me home what joy shall fill my heart ♪ ♪ and i shall bow in humble adoration and then proclaim my god how great thou art ♪ ♪ then sings my soul my savior god to thee ♪ ♪ how great thou art ♪ ♪ how great thou art ♪ ♪ then sings my soul my savior god to thee ♪ ♪ how great thou art ♪ ♪ how great thou art ♪ ♪ how great how great how great thou art ♪ >> amen. amen. as you are able, please stand. in the assurance of eternal life given at baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say i believe in god, the father al mighty, creator of heaven and earth. i believe in jesus christ, his only son our lord. he was conceived by the power of the holy spirit and born of the virgin mary. he suffered under conscious pilot, was crucified, died and was buried. he descended to the dead. on the third day he rose again. he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father. he will come again to judge the living and the dead. i believe in the holy spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. amen. and now as our savior christ has taught us, we are bold to say 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 or 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 power and the glory forever and ever. amen. >> in peace let us pray to the lord. >> almighty god who his knit together the body in christ our lord. the whole church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace, amen. grant that all who have been baptized into christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life, and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection, amen. grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage and who walk yet by faith that thy holy spirit may lead us in all our days. grant to thy people pardon and peace that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve thee with a quiet mind. grant to all who mourn assured confidence in their fatherly care that casting all their grief on thee, they may know the consolation of thy law. help us we pray in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. amen. brandt to us to entrust colin to they never ending love, receive them to thy mercy. grant that increasing in knowledge and love of thee, he may go from strength to strength in the life of perfect service in thy heavenly kingdom. grant us who have died in the hope of the resurrection to have our consummation and bliss in my eternal and everlasting glory and with all thy saints to receive the crown of life which thou promises to all who shares in the victory of jesus christ who lives with you in the holy spirit one god now and forever amen. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ give rest, oh christ, to thy servant with thy saints. neither sign but life everlasting. >> thou only art immortal, the creator and maker of mankind, and we are mortal, formed into earth and to the earth we shall return. dust thousand art and unto dust thou shall return. all we go to the dust, yet even at the grave we make our song, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. >> into thy hands savior, we command thy servant, colin. acknowledge a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock. a sinner of thine own redeeming. receive him into the arms of thy mercy, into the bless of everlasting peace and into the glorious company of saints in light. amen. >> now go forth into the world in peace. be strong and of good courage. hold fast to that which is good. render to know one evil for evil. love the lord your god, love your neighbor, and love yourself. the blessing of good almighty, the father, the son, and the holy spirit be on you and the entire human family and all of god's creation this day and forever more, amen. >> let us go forth in the name of christ. >> thanks be to god. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> center. right. right. down. forward. march. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> you have been watching, of course, an emotional and personal remembrance of the life and legacy of secretary colin powell at the national cathedral in washington. you can see his wife alma there, former president barack obama, former first lady michelle obama, in attendance with president biden and first lady jill biden. many current and former high ranking military members as well. this service bringing together not just those former presidents and current president but multiple secretaries of state. what a testament to secretary powell's leadership. former president bush and his wife there as well, to share their stories about how much secretary powell meant to them including long time friend richard armitage, madeleine albright, and his son michael powell remembering his dad as a great lion who loved his family. michael calling on all of us to emulate secretary powell's character and example. as we see president biden there shaking hands with former president bush, former secretary of state hillary clinton as well, peter baker, helene cooper, jack jacobs, "washington post" columnist eugene robinson. 44 years you knew secretary powell. you like so many in this building, so many in this cathedral are remembering his life and legacy today. >> yeah, the most moving part of it all, of course, was his son michael's eulogy. and every time he mentioned his father's name, you remember something else about him that really struck you. and the thing that's most significant about all of it is -- was the fact that he was a genuine -- he was the genuine article. i hate to use a cliche. he was the real deal. when you talked to colin powell, you got the unvarnished colin powell. there was no messing about. he cut straight to the chase. and he gave you the kind of guidance you needed exactly at that time. but he was a friend. he was even -- he was even a friend of people who barely knew him, because he was such an engaging character. you heard how he struck up a conversation with somebody who helped him out on the belt parkway to fix his tire and so on. but he was like that to absolutely everybody. and one of the interesting things about him that was preempted by -- i heard repeated by lots of people who worked for him, nobody likes to be in meetings, and certainly colin powell didn't like to be in meetings. and he would escape from meetings just so that he could go down to whatever organization he belonged to, to go down to the bottom of the food chain, to see exactly what was going on. he always told everybody that you'll never learn anything at all in a meeting, the only way you're going to learn anything at all about your organization is to talk to the people who are actually carrying out those orders. that's the only way you're going to find out what's going on. he taught that to absolutely everybody he met. >> secretary powell's casket emerging now from the national cathedral just behind me. we expect to see his family depart. i want to take just a moment here, as we watch this scene unfold. [ bells ringing ]

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