In Memory ofVera Chapman ShawMay 19, 1917 − May 9, 2004 I know that my Redeemer lives…whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold. Job 19: 25, 27 Vera was born May 19, 1917 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada to George and Jennie Chapman, the youngest of four children, three daughters and one son. The Chapmans were generous, devout Christians of Northern Irish heritage. Vera gave her life to Jesus when she was fourteen. The minister at her baptism gave her as her life verse II Cor. 2:14: Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. She celebrated and fulfilled that scripture throughout her life. Vera helped establish a chapter of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at McMaster University where she attended college. This ministry to college students was just beginning in Canada, a few years after its inception in Oxford and Cambridge Universities. After graduation as a Science major, Vera was preparing to enter library school when World War II began in Europe. For the next two years Vera worked as a chemist in a tanning factory in Kitchener, Ontario. Then Vera worked in Ajax, Ontario as a chemist for the British Supply Board in the largest shell-loading factory in the British Empire. On both jobs she organized and led Bible studies in the dormitories where she lived. On Dec. 18, 1943, Vera and Jim Shaw were married; they had been classmates from 9th grade through graduation from McMaster University. They moved in January 1944 to Madison, Wisconsin where Jim was a fellow in Nutritional Biochemistry and they were active in the InterVarsity group. On the Easter weekend of 1945 Vera and Jim moved to the Boston area where Jim had been invited to be an Instructor in the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Easter Sunday evening they attended Park Street Church; Dr. Ockenga’s sermon was on the Holy Spirit. Both marveled at his Christian commitment and erudition. Because of its Christ-centered vision, Park Street Church became their church home for the ensuing 55 years.In June 1947, Vera and her family moved to Newton Center to the home where they still live. Sandra Yvonne was born in January 1946 and is married to Gareth Eaton. Both are Professors of Chemistry at the University of Denver. Stephen was born in May 1948 and is married to Wendy Hayward Shaw. He is a Principal Investigator at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland; Wendy is a speech pathologist in the Montgomery County School System. Stephen and Wendy have two children, Andrew Dana and Kathryn Cushing.Vera had great joy serving the Lord as a volunteer. As a young mother she was active in organizing and leading Bible studies for young mothers. These activities led to her appointment by the Massachusetts American Mother’s Committee as Massachusetts Mother of the Year in 1972. She wrote two guides for young mothers, entitled Let’s Celebrate the Family and Let’s Celebrate the Family II. Vera also led Bible studies for women of all ages, one of which still meets biweekly in Newton after 35 years.Vera loved students and throughout her life was involved in InterVarsity activities on campus. She and Jim were active advisors of the Harvard Radcliffe Christian Fellowship for 50 years. She maintained a file of over 800 graduates and friends of HRCF to help them communicate as a group and keep them aware of what is going on in Christian activities on the campus. International students always had a special place in Vera’s heart. For many years she and Jim hosted a dinner and Bible study at their home on the first Saturday night of every academic month for Internationals; as many as 35 students participated. She became a “second mother” to many of them and maintained contacts in some 30 countries.Vera loved all of God’s creation and believed that environmental responsibility is part of the core of Christian life and faith. One part of God’s creation that was particularly special to her was Sutton Island Maine where she and her family spent parts of 51 summers. She especially liked to remind everyone that each human individual is created in God’s image and that Adam was charged to keep (preserve) God’s creation. In her mid-70s Vera wrote “Thorns in the Garden Planet” (Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1993). In it Vera described three Biblical gardens:Eden: The Garden of Beginnings: This garden was beautiful and man had the opportunity to walk and talk with God in it. However man was self-centered and did not want any prohibition. In his free-will he broke the one restriction placed upon him by God. Sin entered the world.Gethsemane: The Garden of Suffering, Obedience, and Cleansing: Here Christ died to pay the penalty of sin for everyone willing to accept His Lordship, and Calvary: The Garden of the Resurrection. Here Christ was raised from the dead as the promise of the redemption that is available to all who desire to live in fellowship with the Living Savior. Vera cherished God’s emphasis on justice throughout scripture. Therefore she became committed to support the International Justice Mission (IJM) whose goals are to release underage girls from brothels, to release bonded laborers from their captors, and to secure suitable punishment of the perpetrators by working with local authorities. She supported the mission in prayer, and led a prayer service at their Prayer Gathering in Arlington Virginia in February, 2004.As you walk on throughout your earthly life, Vera’s life reminds you: You are made in God’s image and so is everyone else you meet; and GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME. The verse that she wrote on many scripture calendars that she sent around the world was Psalm 118:24: This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.