Funeral and Memorial Services can be such a difficult time for family and friends. For many these services are a coming together to say "goodbye" to a loved one or friend, an opportunity to try and remember good times with the individual and a smack-in-the-face moment to realize one's own mortality.
But for believers in Christ Jesus, a Funeral or Memorial Service can be a different thing. Such a service is not a "goodbye;" because of the Lord's promise that "whoever lives and believes in me will never die," we have the hope of the resurrection of the dead and a homecoming with our loved ones and friends in heaven.
So today we say "see you later" to Pastor Loel Haak. After faithfully serving the Lord's Church as pastor and shepherd, Pastor Haak helped to plant the congregation I serve - Life in Christ. He even worked with us for a time as a pastoral assistant and helped to start our Stephen Ministry. The Lord used Pastor Haak to bring His good news of new life in Jesus to many people. And we've heard from many of them this week.
Our "see you later" takes place at 1 pm this afternoon with a Memorial Service. Special music is planned. A number of Pastor Haak's friends will participate in the service. It will offer a great opportunity to show and share our love for Pastor Haak with his wife, Annemarie, their four children and many grandchildren.
We anticipate a full-to-overflowing attendance and a packed parking lot. If you are planning to come please consider parking at the professional center at Thunderbird and Greenway and walking a couple of blocks south to the church. It will be a beautiful day and the walk will do you good! And doing so will enable those unable to walk that far to have a place in the church parking lot.
Later today, will have a worship service at 5 pm; music will be provided by the Kevin Svec Group and Deacon Jerry Klink will serve as preacher.
Tomorrow we'll worship at LICL at 8 and 10:45 am. I'll speak on how the Lord needs a voice - our voice - to share His message of forgiveness and love with the world. Sunday school and Bible classes will meet at 9:20 am. This will be the first Sunday that our children will not meet in the Ed. Building. Classes for the kids will be held in the offices on the west side of the main building. This will be the location for Sunday school for the next seven to nine months as we construct a new Education and Fellowship facility.
Join us, won't you, for worship this weekend at Life in Christ? See you soon!
