Today we attended the simple memorial service for an acquaintance of ours whose son pastors a fellowship that meets in a local high school gymnasium.
There's something about worshiping in such an out-of-the-box style.
Christ left heaven to come to earth, and was born in a manger, and we too often think we must have comfortable, elaborate, or cathedral-like churches before we can worship the humble Savior.
But shepherds knelt at a manger; wise men worshiped Jesus at home in His mother's lap.
We first came across this fellowship when the folk were meeting in a barn--
a barn remodeled into a simple but lovely sanctuary, granted,
but nevertheless, a barn, on a property that boasted some of the few trees on this area of prairie.
And now the fellowship meets in a gym.
The underside of bleachers is the backdrop to the musicians, who today happened to be the pastor's children.
And hanging above the preacher, quite unlike stained glass windows in most churches,
are multi-colored banners saying, "Hoops for Heart."
On Sundays, in the minds of the worshipers, that changes to "Hope for the Heart."
The prelude to Frank Holst's memorial service was played by his granddaughter, who chose, to my surprise and delight, "Away in a Manger."
I sat listening in rapt attention to the sweet arrangement of the different tunes to this children's Christmas hymn by Martin Luther.
And I couldn't help but think how appropriate it was for this children's song to be chosen to be played for a grandfather's memorial service.
For in light of eternity, we are all children--no matter how old we are.
And in light of Christmas, and in light of the sorrows of death happening at the holiday season,
not only Pastor Holst's father, but also the death of Jacinda Edwards Stetler whom so many of you know,
we all need the words that are shared in this song:
"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there."
In
light of the fact that today not only included a memorial service but
was also the first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Holst shared thoughts about
why we had to have Christmas,
based on Genesis 3, and titled "East of Eden."
He shared how God planted a garden eastward in Eden, how the gate of the former Temple opened to the east; how Adam, the first type of Christ failed, and how Christ, the fulfillment of God's plan and of Scripture, overcame and became our Redeemer.
Because of Him, Pastor Holst and this fellowship has hope, and we sorrow not as those who have no hope for Frank Holst.
Instead, the memorial service began with Frank's grandson reading a Scripture,
"Worthy is the Lamb."
We aren't worthy, but He is.
And because of Him, we can gather simply, a small group of mourners, to grieve,
but also to have hope.
Among Frank's papers when he died was
found the hymn, "Rock of Ages," with Frank's words about his deceased
wife written on it, "She is with the Rock of Ages."
And
that is the song we sang this morning, along with "The Old Rugged
Cross," which Frank used to play on the piano while his wife sang.
The pastor shared how some years back, after Frank's wife died, Frank found it very hard to attend church.
He
just couldn't do it much for a long time. The same church where he used
to go with his wife just wasn't the same without her.
But then about a year and a half ago, he began to come to this fellowship.
And he kept coming.
And he kept coming.
He had finally found a simple place to worship, to be comforted, and to belong.
"Because of the manger, Frank lays down his head,
And sleeps in the arms of the Savior instead.
And the stars in the bright sky remind us to say,
"Because of the manger, Frank is with Him today."
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