This past few weeks you, as a congregation, have experienced the death of some of your members 4 times. All had been members more than 40 years. All had been active in various ways throughout the years. All had faced significant health issues, but 3 of the 4 had been in church within the last year and 2 within the last few weeks before they died. They ranged in age from 65 to 92.
You continue to show your kindness and your concern for those families in your midst who are facing these changes through death. Even though some deaths are anticipated and expected, they always change our lives. The worry, the dropping by for a visit, the taking care of details for a person, the being-able-to-share something that happened today or yesterday or will occur sometime soon stops. The relationship changes from being with a living person to being with one's memories of a living person.
One of the gifts of a church family is that people really do show compassion and caring for each other, even when they aren't relatives or when they don't know each other very well. It is such a blessing when members of the church family reach out to others in the midst of loss and sadness to surround them with love and remind them that they are not alone.
There are many who are fragile in your congregation these days. That means that there are also many who are worrying and caring and trying to meet the needs of family members and friends who are in need of more attention and care. Thank you for being among those who offer to help, to listen, to be present in whatever way for those who need you. Thank you for reminding them that a family of God's people cares for all who are part of the family and doesn't just wait for care for one's self.
One does hope that there aren't 4 deaths in 3 weeks too often. But, that is not for you or me to decide. What God asks is that we continue to be present for each other in the midst of whatever life brings. Keep on being the caring community that you show you have the capacity to be!