Thankful Still
When last I wrote on this "notes page" the holidays were still in front of us. So much as transpired in the days since November. We've had great Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations here at Ash Creek. So have the Masseys.
Our celebration was tempered by the passing of my brother, Richard on December 26. Thank you so much for the many, many cards and expressions of care and sympathy during these days.
I'm sad at this loss. We usually talked every week on Saturday or Sunday. I'll miss that. But it is a great comfort to know that he had such a full life, lived the way he chose up until the last few days.
Richard, was an artist, a collector of books and assorted other things (you never know when you might need that piece of something which was just too good to discard just yet), and he was a steward, quite literally of the Lord's house. He was never on a church staff officially, but was always busy taking care of the church's business and facilities.
At his memorial service it was evident that his servant attitude and his continual behind the scenes acts of service were recognized and will be missed. In the thirty years since he and his family moved to the northwest they've been members of three different churches, one in Pullman, Washington and two in Spokane. The presence of members from those three churches and their testimony that he was the same kind of servant leader in all three made my heart glad.
Our conversations on Saturday or Sunday were often filled with what was going on at church. He would share the good things that were happening and the concerns he had, often filling me in on his newest project or repair job. One of his pastors, a mutual friend, once remarked that Richard could have been a Minister of Education - he was their Sunday School director at that time. My friend was right, but my brother chose to serve behind the scenes as a layman. He was a minister for sure, just not a vocational minister.
I'm thankful today for Richard and his life of service. I'm thankful that I serve with so many ministers just like him here at Ash Creek. Our church is blessed with lots of servant leaders who work behind the scenes because they love God and His church. I'm blessed to be called to this church to share ministry with you.
Thankful still,
Ralph
Our celebration was tempered by the passing of my brother, Richard on December 26. Thank you so much for the many, many cards and expressions of care and sympathy during these days.
I'm sad at this loss. We usually talked every week on Saturday or Sunday. I'll miss that. But it is a great comfort to know that he had such a full life, lived the way he chose up until the last few days.
Richard, was an artist, a collector of books and assorted other things (you never know when you might need that piece of something which was just too good to discard just yet), and he was a steward, quite literally of the Lord's house. He was never on a church staff officially, but was always busy taking care of the church's business and facilities.
At his memorial service it was evident that his servant attitude and his continual behind the scenes acts of service were recognized and will be missed. In the thirty years since he and his family moved to the northwest they've been members of three different churches, one in Pullman, Washington and two in Spokane. The presence of members from those three churches and their testimony that he was the same kind of servant leader in all three made my heart glad.
Our conversations on Saturday or Sunday were often filled with what was going on at church. He would share the good things that were happening and the concerns he had, often filling me in on his newest project or repair job. One of his pastors, a mutual friend, once remarked that Richard could have been a Minister of Education - he was their Sunday School director at that time. My friend was right, but my brother chose to serve behind the scenes as a layman. He was a minister for sure, just not a vocational minister.
I'm thankful today for Richard and his life of service. I'm thankful that I serve with so many ministers just like him here at Ash Creek. Our church is blessed with lots of servant leaders who work behind the scenes because they love God and His church. I'm blessed to be called to this church to share ministry with you.
Thankful still,
Ralph
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