Celebration of Life Phyllis West September 24, 1931 – July 29, 2021 Saturday, August 21, 2021 – 3:00 pm PRELUDE Heather Hinton WORDS OF GRACE Darren Cushman Wood GREETING *CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. God’s mercies never come to an end; People: they are new every morning. *OPENING HYMN #384 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav’n, to earth come down; fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into ev’ry troubled breast! Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty. Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive; suddenly return and never, nevermore thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love. Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be. Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee; changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise. OPENING PRAYER FIRST LESSON Isaiah 40 PSALM 23 WITNESSES Emily West Ruth Hayes SECOND LESSON 1 John 4 SERMON Darren Cushman Wood PRAYER OF COMMENDATION *CLOSING HYMN #364 Because He Lives God sent his Son, they called Him Jesus; he came to love, heal, and forgive; he lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Refrain: Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives, all fear is gone; because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives. How sweet to hold a newborn baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives; but greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because he lives. [Refrain] And then one day I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; and then as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he reigns. [Refrain] *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Senior Pastor: Darren Cushman Wood Pastor of Care & Nurture: Diane Gattone Organist: Heather Hinton A/V: John Hague Phyllis M. West (nee McRoberts), a long-time neighborhood and education advocate, died at her home in Indianapolis on July 29, 2021 at the age of 89. The widow of former City-County Councilman Stephen R. West, she was born on September 24, 1931, to Thomas Lowell McRoberts and Evelyn Goad McRoberts in Evansville, Indiana. Following her childhood in Sullivan, Indiana, West attended Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, and graduated in 1953 with BA degrees in Biology and Chemistry. She immediately relocated to Indianapolis, working as a medical technician at Methodist Hospital before entering Butler University as a master's candidate. Her MA in Education was completed in 1957, which led to employment as a first- grade teacher for the Indianapolis Public School system. Upon her marriage in 1960, she opted to retire from active teaching to concentrate on issues of family and community service. West dove into civic life through service on a number of committees at First Congregational Church of Indianapolis and as a troop leader for Girl Scouts of America. Later, she served as chair of the Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association and as president of the Parent-Teacher Association at Indianapolis Public School #86 and Shortridge High School. Following service in these capacities, West was tapped by the Indianapolis Public School Board to assist in an evaluation and rating of all high schools in the Indianapolis Public School system. She rounded out her commitment to improving public schools in her adopted hometown by founding and chairing the Coalition of Indianapolis Task Groups for Youth (CITY), a non-profit watchdog organization that monitored activities of the school board and promoted progressive change for the Indianapolis schools. West's civic participation also included membership in the Indianapolis Women's Club, and service as a regular speaker for the Panel of American Women series and as a Symphoguide for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, she served as president of The West Foundation, on the board of St. Richards Episcopal School and on various committees for Japan International Christian University and North United Methodist Church, of which she was a member. West held other memberships at the Columbia Club and Woodstock Country Club. In honor of her accomplishments, she was honored by the Mercy Foundation (Spirit of Africa Award) and the Wishard Health Foundation (Indiana Public Health Award). She is survived by her daughter, Emily Allison West. Contributions can be made to The West Foundation. .