Good morning…
The eternal life of two faithful women have passed through to the other side. Dictionary.com explains: “A matriarch is the female head of a family, tribe, clan, or organization, or a respected and influential senior woman.” This month, Northside Church is missing from our midst two gifted matriarchs.
On October 11th, we celebrated the 88 vibrant years of Barbara Trimble’s life, and this morning we will celebrate the 90 faithful years of Connie Calhoun’s life. Both Barbara and Connie have deeply impacted our church family as respected and influential senior women. As Kate Doerge writes in Reimagining Grief, “It’s not your lifespan that matters, it’s your wingspan.” Barbara and Connie have each reached wide, wide, wide and touched many of us with the unending love of God.
One of my favorite church services of the year is All Saints’ Sunday, when we celebrate the life of loved ones who have gone onto heaven, entering the full presence of God, joining the “communion of saints.” This year, in our 8:30 am, 9:00 am, and 11:15 am services, we will celebrate All Saints’ Sunday on November 1st. In our tradition, we ring a bell in honor of each church member who has died within the year, and anyone who has been impacted by that person stands for a moment of silence in reverence and gratitude.
In addition, this year we are adding a new opportunity for anyone in our community who has lost a loved one, recently or in the past, on the following Wednesday evening. Following the lead of the Holy Spirit with longtime Northside member Laura Currie and partnering with Rev. Angela House in the Pastoral Care department, we are sharing with you the details. Please feel free to invite family members and friends, and reach out to me with any questions at SueA@NorthsideUMC.org.
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All Saints Program: Connecting with Our Loved Ones Through Letter-Writing
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 6:30–8:00 PM | Northside Church Chapel
Join us for a special evening honoring loved ones who have gone before us in the faith and reflecting on the “communion of saints.” Susan Patterson, founder of Gifts from the End, certified dying coach, and member of the Threshold Singers, will guide us through letter writing as a meaningful way to honor and connect with those we have lost.
Cumberland Counseling and the Threshold Singers will also be part of this meaningful evening. Men and women, young and old, anyone who have lost a loved one, recently or a long time ago, are welcome to gather for this sacred experience.
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Along the path of goodness there is life; that is the way to live forever (Proverbs 12:28, ERV).
The process of dying is part of every life. Following the path of goodness blazed by our loved ones, those dear to us live on forever as we honor and continue to connect with them in life-giving ways.
…Sue…
