THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Many of you might still remember John Beringer, Susan Elwell’s beloved, who passed away last Monday and whose memorial service will be held tomorrow at church. He actually came to worship in our church over a year ago and I believe it was the last church service he attended. Subsequently his health just spiraled down, requiring numerous hospitalizations and nursing home cares until he went home to be with the Lord last Monday. THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Many of you might still remember John Beringer, Susan Elwell’s beloved, who passed away last Monday and whose memorial service will be held tomorrow at church. He actually came to worship in our church over a year ago and I believe it was the last church service he attended. Subsequently his health just spiraled down, requiring numerous hospitalizations and nursing home cares until he went home to be with the Lord last Monday.

John was a strong man, seasoned and forged by a tough life, but as Susan always said, he was a good man. John was not a man of many words; the few times we met at the hospital bed, he did not say much, but he listened to the spiritual comfort I shared with him. And, he always prayed along when I said a prayer for him. John always said that he wanted to go home. Today he is home.

The day he died, he still had breakfast. The nurse said, he was still talking to her when suddenly his heart just stopped. They tried to resuscitate him but God had His will. Once again we are reminded that life is in the hands of God and we’ll never know when He will call us home. Susan was caught by surprise, too, because the night before they still talked over the phone. We don’t know God’s time.

But, there is one more thing l learned: We will never know when our last church service will be! I am glad the last time John attended church, he was well-received. He sat at the table and ate lunch with us. I certainly hope that would be his last memory of Christ’s church—warm and welcoming. It’d be unfortunate if his last memory of Christ’s church was cold and unwelcoming. And, it’d be unfortunate for us if Jesus Our Lord would ever have to say this to us, “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat . . . .”

Pastor Paul

John was a strong man, seasoned and forged by a tough life, but as Susan always said, he was a good man. John was not a man of many words; the few times we met at the hospital bed, he did not say much, but he listened to the spiritual comfort I shared with him. And, he always prayed along when I said a prayer for him. John always said that he wanted to go home. Today he is home.

The day he died, he still had breakfast. The nurse said, he was still talking to her when suddenly his heart just stopped. They tried to resuscitate him but God had His will. Once again we are reminded that life is in the hands of God and we’ll never know when He will call us home. Susan was caught by surprise, too, because the night before they still talked over the phone. We don’t know God’s time.

But, there is one more thing l learned: We will never know when our last church service will be! I am glad the last time John attended church, he was well-received. He sat at the table and ate lunch with us. I certainly hope that would be his last memory of Christ’s church—warm and welcoming. It’d be unfortunate if his last memory of Christ’s church was cold and unwelcoming. And, it’d be unfortunate for us if Jesus Our Lord would ever have to say this to us, “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat . . . .”

Pastor Paul