May 2, 2020 - Pastor Ray's Memorial Service

This week many individual conversations at Creator shifted from the inevitability of the stay at home we are all sharing to the inconvenience of isolation and what we have lost since it began There were a few temper flare ups.

Saturday Pastor Ray's memorial was held. For some, who strongly yearned for a traditional memorial where we could have been gathered, Saturday did not give them the sense of closure they expected. My prayers are that they may come to that sense of closure whatever way it finally comes.

The thought and effort in planning the memorial from Pastor Janell, Bishop Laurie and showed.  Bishop Laurie spoke of how grateful she was to come from a tradition that honors lament. That honoring was present throughout this service. Kim, Toni and Patsy were invited to share their stories about Pastor Ray and they represented many of the different ways we experienced him well.

The Hymn of the Day, Beautiful Things by Gungor,  was an inspired choice by Eric and a fitting way to remember what was important to Ray and his life of lived prayers to God.

The fact that this service was shared by so many and could be shared here was a great gift. It brought people from Alaska, Colorado and Washington together with those who were mournng in the Oregon Synod with this friends and family and that did feel fitting to have happened for Pastor Ray.