Life in the parish has been very hectic this past month. Ever since Ash Wednesday it seems like I have been on constant go. Part of what has kept me, and the rest of the parish staff, busy, has been funerals! We have had an extraordinary number of people die since the first of the year. It has not always been people we expect, either. One funeral was for a woman who was in worship on Wednesday night and seemed fine, and she was found dead the next day. One woman was only 58 years old. Many of her friends took that funeral very hard. In total we have had eight funerals so far, and another person in our little town of Dundee died yesterday. His funeral will be number 9. One thing that can be said is that we are getting really good at doing funerals! Another thing that can be said is that, despite my title, funerals are a great place to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is through Christ we are saved, and the funeral is the fulfillment of that promise, so we get the opportunity to make that proclamation into the midst of the grieving community. It is a privilege that God has charged us with. Despite losing members to death, we can trust that the Holy Spirit uses our words of assurance to move people's hearts to faith. In that way, a funeral is a great evangelism tool.
As the end of March approaches, people in our little town are looking forward to spring. Our snow is gone, and the birds have returned to the trees. We like to watch the robins troll our back yard for something to eat, and we have put up a couple of bird feeders to encourage them and other feathered critters to enjoy. Jasper likes to watch the birds, and he gets really excited when one lands on the rail of the steps right next to the back door. He chatters excitedly, wishing he could go outside and play with that little bird. We won't let him, though. And just so you will know that life is not all work around here, and once in a while Jasper leaves the new antique rocker (now T
HERE'S a contradiction in terms!) I will include a rare picture of me relaxing in our new, old rocker. I know it has been a month, but hey, time flies when you're planning funerals! Blogged by Don
As the end of March approaches, people in our little town are looking forward to spring. Our snow is gone, and the birds have returned to the trees. We like to watch the robins troll our back yard for something to eat, and we have put up a couple of bird feeders to encourage them and other feathered critters to enjoy. Jasper likes to watch the birds, and he gets really excited when one lands on the rail of the steps right next to the back door. He chatters excitedly, wishing he could go outside and play with that little bird. We won't let him, though. And just so you will know that life is not all work around here, and once in a while Jasper leaves the new antique rocker (now T
HERE'S a contradiction in terms!) I will include a rare picture of me relaxing in our new, old rocker. I know it has been a month, but hey, time flies when you're planning funerals! Blogged by Don
