September 21 Greetings

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This week is the first anniversary of the passing of my sister-in-law Sara. Something about anniversaries brings up the grief, like an open wound. What makes it more difficult, I believe, is that we have not been able to gather as a larger group of family and friends to celebrate her life and grieve together. Covid has taken so much from us in so many ways. Sara’s husband has just sold the house as well, and that brings up sadness as we had many family gatherings there over the years.

I share this as I know you will hold us in prayer in the coming days. This weekend we are going to stay overnight with Shannon’s great aunt “Dodie,” which will help to be with family. We also grieve as other family members are travelling to Buffalo, New York, this weekend to visit with Sara’s friends and take some of her ashes. We cannot fly yet, of course, as Lilyan is not vaccinated. Covid continues to take from us.

Here’s us with Sara around the time of her high school graduation.

Again, I sincerely appreciate you reading this lament. As we bring our hearts into the Light, we feel less alone and burdened to carry them alone. I also want to acknowledge the fact that Covid, and its influence, continues, even though many wish it was over….maybe even some are pretending it’s over. But we have a personal friend whose husband is currently hospitalized here at YRMC and not doing well. May we continue to be vigilant and compassionate for the sake of others.

Between hurricanes, homeless Haitians, the Afghan refugees, and Covid-19, we have plenty on our plates to deal with. In speaking with someone the other day, I heard the statement that being surrounded by this onslaught of bad news has actually increased people’s focus on themselves. On one hand, we are concerned for our own well-being; but on the other, we have also become almost immune to caring for others and their dilemmas. Some of this is due to good ol’ self-centeredness, while some of this is also due to the fact we don’t know which tragedy to focus on…so we focus on none.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Matthew 24:35

The above passages help to keep me centered in moments like these. Though our prayer lists grow longer and more exhaustive, we are indeed called to stand in the gap for others. Not with anger and adding to the conflict and division….but instead with open arms and the intention of peace. People are looking desperately for respite, for people to trust, for calm and a light on the path ahead. May we be those signs of hope in our daily words and actions, in our prayers and plans for Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

This awesome song from 1985 was brought up to me by my Confirmation teacher from the LCA church I grew up in. I was a senior in high school at the time, and he helped me discover this song that was on the radio was a prayer, with words we are very familiar with in the Lutheran tradition: “Kyrie Eleison” (Lord, have mercy)!!

Last week the Good Samaritan Society Hospice took part in an event called “Stand Down,” at the US Vets Center in Prescott. Stand Down or “take a break” was designed to offer the community’s services to homeless vets in the area. Many tables and resources were available. As you see below, the Clarks showed up, and we made it into the September 18 issue of the Prescott Daily Courier!!