21 May 2006

Tears of Joy, Tears of Sorrow

It is going to be one of those up and down days.

This morning Paul Anthony Kostich received the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit. His mother had been confirmed at the Vigil of Easter. Then we had joy of the Holy Eucharist.

Later this afternoon at 3:00 former vicar Karl Wesley Gregory will be put into the Office of the Holy Ministry with the laying on of hands at St. Paul's. Karl will make a great pastor, I believe. He has the personality that obsesses to get all the little duckies in a row! He's more prepared than any person I've ever met. Axios!

Then word reached me just moments ago that God has taken home one of his saints - Leola Engelke.

Leola is mother of David Engelke whom we buried a few weeks ago. Charles, David, Leola, Sarah, Kathy - all delight in the gift of music. And Leola had not only the gift of music, she had an overflowing a gift of laughter. She would make folks smile and laugh. She was full of love and kindness and a real sweetness - her hospitality was legendary. She was just FUN!

She's been through a lot in the last few years. I told Charles I was beginning to think she would lick everything that came her way. But at last her heart has stopped beating. No matter. She LIVES. She lives because was baptized into Christ, fed with His body and blood, and His precious Gospel promises. And how the Word and Sacrament bore fruit in her life! God bless and keep you, Leola!

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