07/30/2020
Dear Church Family,
My heart breaks at the passing of both Mel and May’s daughter, Lauren, and our dear Joan Graham within days of each other.
Words alone are inadequate to express my sorrow for the deep anguish we are all going through right now. Let us place our trust in the Holy Spirit to begin the process of healing and to strengthen us in our witness and outreach to those who grieve most deeply.
Earlier today, as I sought comfort from the Word of God, I came across this passage from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians 1:3-4, 7:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God; Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
It is in that same spirit that I write.
The road back from heartbreaking bereavements such as these is best travelled in community. So, I encourage you to support one another in love because our faith gives us more than enough reason for courage – for we worship a Savior and God who created life and conquered death. Moreover, we are part of God’s great family, and it is our character and legacy in Christ to love in the face of sickness and death.
At this time, we don’t have any details on the services that will be held for either Lauren or Joan, but we will inform you as the families make those arrangements available.
I pray that the love of God enfolds you all during this difficult period and that the Lord helps you heal with the passage of time.
In Christ,
Pastor Cherise Gardner
