Good morning…
“Steve and I have had a good time of connecting about our day,” I texted my friend at 9:02 yesterday morning. “Here is what we have come up with.”
“Steve is leading communion at Kairos at 10:00 am, the vibrant little Presbyterian church off 285 on Riverside Dr.,” I explained. “After that service, we plan to go to Northside Church for the 11:15 am service for All Saints Day to touch base with friends there. Steve can drop me by your house after the service ends at 12:15 pm. I can hop in with you and go to the Suicide Prevention walk at Piedmont Park with our One Lamb friends from Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.”
By mid morning, another friend sent me a devotional about All Souls Day from the Church of St. Anne, her old parish on Long Island. So, on one special Sunday, I was ministered to by a Presbyterian church, a Catholic church, and two Methodist churches in our town. One scripture from the day highlighted God’s inclusive welcome. May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ toward the other (Romans 15:5, TLB).
The day unfolded beautifully. Photos from my experience captured the importance of each moment.
Personally I honored in my heart the eternal life of those I know from the Northside list, loved ones who are deeply missed. Jim Caswell. Phil Larkins. Audrey DeShetler. Jane Hailey (LeeAnne’s mom). Marilyn Davis. Benji Reiser. From other churches, I think of loved ones who also went to heaven this year. Tom Tate. Mary Lynne Hamilton. Josh Patrick. Steve Franks.
After church, I went with my friend to the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention walk. I passed by yard sign after yard sign lining the path on both sides, each filled with a name, a face, birth/death date, and words of tribute to unique people I never knew. Different genders. Different ages. Different stories. Each of these loved ones had lost their lives to suicide. There memories were honored by the colorful beads we wore around our necks. Parents. Siblings. Children. Spouses. Friends. Suicide prevention efforts matter to us all.
At 10:16 last night, I got a text from Jennifer DeShetler, my dear friend who buried her daughter, Audrey, an amazing young woman we remembered in the morning. “We went to the 11:15 am service at Northside Church also,” she texted, “I cried when they called Audrey’s name. It’s the second time since June that I heard her name out loud in that very special place and it seemed so surreal. I love our musical director. He led the jazz version of When the Saints Go Marching In to finish up the All Saints service. It really lifted up my spirit. It reminds me so much of the last song we sang at Audrey’s service.”
Then I headed to bed, after a very special Sunday, with this jazzy rendition reverberating in my soul.
…Sue…
