In a few days we will gather for All Saints’ Sunday, in which we will name those in our church and the wider community who have died since last November. We will ring a bell and a light a candle in their memory, and prayerfully reflect on their enduring legacies in our lives.
I have done thirty-one funerals this year, fifteen of them members of the church. To fight the temptation of collectively treating them as mere statistics, I have developed over the years a practice of preparing for All Saints’ Sunday by rereading the eulogies I preached at their services. This helps me remember that the names we will read are not faceless numbers, but storied lives drawn into and defined by human relationships. They were your parents, your children, your grandparents, and your siblings. They joined you for ballgames, met you for coffee, shoveled your snow, and brought you soup when you were sick.
But more importantly, they were – and are - living and lasting embodiments of the Christian faith. They exemplify the holy life, model for us a life well-lived, and bear witness to the eternal truths of the gospel. And this time around, I discovered just how much this particular group of saints illuminates the Scriptures for us.
We remember Dale Nelson and Don Henderson, real-life prodigal sons who returned home to restored relationships with their families, and a reconciled relationship to God.
We remember Bob Lundquist, whose boundless optimism and fearless grit in the face of an eleven-year battle with cancer exemplified Paul’s exhortation to “not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.”
We remember Terry Burkhart, whose amazing story of redemption from alcoholism and his self-giving love for others is nothing short of a resurrection story.
We remember George Moore, whose ninety years of life were marked by a commitment to the narrow, costly road of following Jesus, grounded by his beliefs about his own baptism.
We remember Bob and Phyllis Torrey, married 68 years ago last June, who died a mere six weeks apart this fall, for the way they epitomized the bonds of love and commitment in marriage.
The list goes on, of course. And amid the remembrances of the past year is the way we eulogized our own kitchen and dining hall.
Shortly after the fire, I received an email from my friend Greg Jones, a faculty member at Duke Divinity School, and great-nephew of Victor Schuldt, former pastor of St. Paul’s after whom the Schuldt Dining Hall is named. He offered his prayer and condolence to our church family, and shared with me his own memories of “Uncle Vic and Aunt Ruth:”
Victor Schuldt was my great-uncle, the younger brother of my grandfather Arthur Schuldt (who was also a Methodist minister in the Iowa Conference). I remember when Uncle “Vic” (as I knew him) and Aunt Ruth (his wife) were in Cherokee when I was a young child. We would see them every summer up at Lake Okoboji.
Uncle Vic and Aunt Ruth became even more important in my life as they retired in Denver, where my family lived. They became an additional pair of grandparents for me during my teenage years, and I loved and admired them both very much. I had a high school teacher who stopped me after class one day. She told me that a relative of mine named Victor had visited her home the day before to invite her to come to their church. My teacher said, “I’m not the church going type, and probably won’t ever be. But if there was ever anyone who could tempt me, it would be your relative. He was one of the most gracious and kind people I have ever met.”
In retirement, Uncle Vic was a minister of visitation at a church in Denver, and his pastoral gifts were regularly in evidence. I loved to hear him talk about his commitment to ministry and his love for the people with whom he ministered. He took me out on the golf course from time to time and those were conversations that I still cherish. Uncle Vic was amazing in his commitment to visitation and pastoral care – it was one of my most vivid images of him as a pastor.
I’m honored to be serving in the shadow of Victor Schuldt. And if I ever need to be strengthened by his commitment to ministry and reminded of his love for the church, I need only join you at the communion table. As a result of the fire, all of our communion hardware was irreparably damaged. So in memory of Uncle Vic and Aunt Ruth, Greg and his wife Susan Pendleton Jones sent us a gift of $500, which we used to purchase a beautiful new chalice given in loving memory of Victor and Ruth Schuldt.
This Sunday, when we gather around the table to observe communion, I’ll be elevating that chalice, as a reminder that Victor, Ruth, and all of the saints are gathered with us. Their lives illuminate the scriptures, call forth the promise of the resurrection, and challenge us to make holiness a part of the present. Most of all, they remind us that we are not alone.
We hope to see you this Sunday, as we remember the saints together.
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
Email: mdevega@sp-umc.org
INGATHERING THIS SATURDAY
Join United Methodists across the state of Iowa in support of our annual Ingathering. This Saturday morning, starting at 7:00, volunteers are needed at the old Sanford Home Health building to receive donations and load boxes on delivery trucks. Those supplies will be sent directly to people in need all around the world. Then, at 10:00am, gather for a program at WITT featuring speakers, videos, music, and a meal. There will be representatives and displays from mission agencies, as well as crafts for sale and a quilt auction.
NEW YOUNG ADULT SMALL GROUP
A new study for young adults begins tonight at 6:30 in the church library. For more information, please contact Liza Parker at 261-5492 or lizafullada@hotmail.com. Come take your faith to the next level and enjoy some fun company.
RELIEF FOR STORM VICTIMS
The United Methodist Committee on Relief will be heavily involved in relief and recovery efforts for those affected by Superstorm Sandy. You can donate money to UMCOR through the offering plate, by making your checks payable to St. Paul’s and designating them for “Sandy Relief.” You can also donate directly online and read the latest developments at UMCOR.org.
FOOD DRIVE FOR MID-SIOUX AND I.C.
The Missions Committee is sponsoring a food drive for the food pantries of Mid-Sioux and the Christian Action Program at Immaculate Conception. During the Sundays of November, shopping carts will be in the narthex and north entrance to collect the following items: Canned Fruit / Frozen Juice / Applesauce / Corn / Peas / Green Beans / Pork & Beans / Manwich / Ketchup / Soup / Crackers / Tuna / Tuna Helper / Hamburger Helper / Peanut Butter / Jelly / Pasta Sauce / Long Spaghetti / Elbow Spaghetti / Diced Tomatoes / Pancake Mix / Pancake Syrup / Stuffing / Pasta & Sauce / Mac & Cheese / Instant Potatoes / Cookies / Jello / Cereal / Cake Mix / Cake Frosting / Toilet Paper / Eggs / Margarine / Cheese Slices (Wrapped) / Hot Dogs / Hamburger / Chicken / Ramen Noodles / Laundry Detergent / Hand Soap / Instant Potatoes / Pancake Mix / Cake Mix / Frosting / Jam.
TIME CHANGE THIS WEEKEND
Just a reminder to “fall back” one hour this Saturday night as we switch back to standard time.
To view past editions of the Mid-Week Message, visit http://mdevega.blogspot.com
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