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SAYING GOOD-BYE Pastoral Care to Those Whose Congregation is Closing A "Reflections" column about that service REFLECTIONS FROM INTERNSHIP - JULY, 1995 Well, we did it. We closed Vang Lutheran Church. Actually, it is OFFICIALLY known as "dissolving a congregation". But when I hear it referred to that way, all I can think of is water washing something down the drain. Yuck! We worked long and hard on our closing service. I spent many hours with the people of Vang church. We talked about their memories - their dreams - their feelings - their regrets. And, in many cases, I invited them to write those feelings down on paper, the better to help them sort it all out. And so, part of the service was a sharing of memories. Some of the people I had encouraged to write got up and spoke what they had written. And it was good. And there was music - and that was good. And Bishop Rick Foss of the Eastern North Dakota synod preached - and it was good. And the scripture that had been chosen spoke clearly to our need - and it was good. And then it came time to celebrate Holy Communion. Now, yours Truly, being a novice at working with a Bishop, was not too sure of proper etiquette in this instance. My Supervising Pastor was the Presiding Minister at this service, the Bishop was the Preaching Minister, I was the Assisting Minister. But I KNEW that I wanted to serve communion to the people of Vang Church one last time in this place. So I had boldly asked the Bishop ahead of time if I could serve with my supervisor and he had graciously agreed it was only right and proper - and so, the time to serve the people came. As they came forward, many with tears streaming down their cheeks, I had a moment of panic! I felt my OWN tears welling as I realized that, for many of these people - most in their 70's and 80's - the altar at Vang Church had been the place they had received their FIRST Holy Communion. What could I ever say to them that would help them make peace with what was happening THIS day??!!?? As the first tearful face knelt at the rail and I approached with the bread, I realized that I didn't have to DO anything at all to help them find peace. what needed to be done had already been done and was still being done today. "The Body of Christ - Given for You". what greater peace could there be? And so we CELEBRATED Holy Communion. And we sand and we prayed and we "had a little lunch". And we wandered in the cemetery. We hugged and cried and laughed and took a million pictures. And then we closed the doors - giving whispered thanks to those pioneers buried just outside for bringing The Faith with them to this land and seeing to it that there had been a place for it to be shared with succeeding generations! Sandy Larson |
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