Page 8 - Moravian Messenger March 2019

Sr Clarissa (Clarister) Johnson - a tribute
From the members and friends of the Hornsey Moravian Church in London, UK.
Sr Clarissa was minister of the Hornsey congregation from 1989-1998 when she returned to her native island, Jamaica.
During her time at Hornsey she was the driving force behind a period of numerical growth and spiritual development in the congregation. Morale was high and a number of practical projects were undertaken. We remember especially the rebuilding of the pipe organ and the repainting of the church interior.
The social side of the congregation improved. For example, the residents of the local sheltered housing complex were invited to share in the congregation's Christmas lunch. This contact led to services being held once a month in the centre's common room.
An important part of the pastoral life of the congregation was the visiting the housebound in their homes and in hospital. Sr Clarissa encouraged a team of visitors to share in this ministry.
During this period Clarissa also served as a magistrate on the local bench thereby fulfilling her civic responsibility.
Sr Johnson knew and understood her congregation: the members' backgrounds, needs, challenges etc, and supported them both spiritually and practically. She was assiduous in visiting and comforting those who needed a listening ear.
Johnny was supportive and proud of his wife and her achievements. When she was Chief Nursing Officer for the Waltham Forest area in London, Clarissa would visit hospitals on Christmas
morning. Johnny observed that he felt rather like Prince Philip following the Queen around on official visits.
On a domestic level, she was reputedly the best brandy sauce maker for Christmas lunch - almost 100% proof! Those who ate the most were almost asleep over the board games after dinner!
Jasmine followed Clarissa in the National Health Service and they were very competitive with each other - she was an impressive role model and mentor.
We join with you, our brothers and sisters in Jamaica, in giving thanks for Clarissa, for her friendship and compassion. We can be confident that she has now entered the more immediate presence of her Lord and Saviour but for those of us who are left, she will be sorely missed.
Service of Thanksgiving for the life and service of Sr Clarissa Johnson
On the 16th December 2018 the congregation at Hornsey met together for their morning service. During this service they received the sad news that Sr Clarissa Johnson had been Called Home. Sr Johnson served as minister at Hornsey for 10 years and prior to that she was a member of the congregation. Following this news, we decided to have a service of thanksgiving that would take place close to the funeral in Jamaica so that we could bring our own tributes, share our memories and give thanks for all that she did in her life and service of God. That service took place on the afternoon of the 6th January following our morning service. It was planned by myself, Sr Jackie Morten and Sr Rose Griffith who had known Sr Johnson for many years.
The church was almost full as people gathered for the service, which gives you a strong sense as to the impact Sr Johnson made in her time here. The readings for the service were Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 and Revelation 21:1-7 and there was a number of spoken and sung tributes delivered by members and
spoke to the caring and dedicated ministry that Sr Clarissa brought to the church and of her strong sense of service and love for the members. There were a few moments of laughter as well as we heard how her husband Johnny felt like the Duke of Edinburgh when he accompanied Sr Clarissa anywhere as she was the one people really wanted to speak to. Sr Clarissa's extra strong brandy sauce was also fondly remembered. We sang a number of Sr Clarissa's favourite hymns and finished the service with a rousing rendition of 'When we all get to Heaven'.
It was a privilege to be part of this service and to hear and see all that Sr Clarissa meant to all who knew her. I pray to God with a thankful heart for the life and service of Sr Clarissa and pray God in His mercy will give continuing comfort to those who mourn, and may we all be inspired by the service and dedication of Sr Clarissa Johnson who was called home to be with her God.
Br James Woolford
Minister at Hornsey Congregation
32 friends of the congregation and of Sr Clarissa. These tributes
© Br James Woolford