Sadness

There were some sad announcements at church this morning.  We have had a few people die in this past week.  My church is not really large although it isn’t the smallest church either. Average attendance hovers right below 100 each week. Although in the summer we can bump up to 120 or so for weeks.  I think we lose, on average, about two people a year.  Maybe three.  To have three people die in one week, two of them on one day, is highly unusual for us.

The first person was the father of one of our members. He had Alzheimer’s so it wasn’t entirely unexpected but he was only 78 so he was still fairly young. This prompted us to reschedule a party the women are planning for a few weeks so his (the gentleman who died) daughter-in-law could attend the party.

Then the word came yesterday morning that one of our elderly ladies had passed away. This was shocking since, even though she had broken her hip, she seemed to be doing much better.  But, with underlying medical conditions in play, it was just too much for her body to take and she died.

Later in the evening, word came that another one of our elderly ladies had slipped away during the afternoon.  This was also shocking because we really expected her to live forever.  We all knew she had health issues but we were hoping we would have her in our midst for years to come.

Needless to say, all of this cast quite the sad mood in church this morning. Pastor had to stand in front of us and inform us one after the other of these deaths. When he announced the first one, there were audible gasps among the congregants. Then he announced the second one and there were even more gasps. Then the third and more sadness permeated the gathering.

As Christians, we know that they are all in a better place and we would never want to take them back from the joy and happiness they are experiencing. But we also know that their passing will leave a hole in all of our lives…an especially large hole in the lives of their families.

Three deaths in one week.  Very, very sad. But hopefully this will be it for our little church. Hopefully everyone else will stay healthy, safe and alive for the remaining of this year.  That is my hope, wish and prayer.