For those of you who missed it…

There was a blessing to be experienced in the memorial service yesterday for Hugh Carr, 94, who went home to be with the Lord last week.  Mr. Carr’s life was celebrated in a service led by two of his grandsons, David and Tom Carr, with music provided by a grandson, granddaughter, and great-grandson.  So many aspects of the service were a blessing to me, but two stood out.

First, the gracious blessing of God on our church in sharing in the ministries of David and Tom.  David, a chaplain in the Air Force, and Tom, a missionary to Japan, both grew up here and we are their “sending” churches into the works they do.  What a wonderful reminder of the ongoing influence for the kingdom that Grace has been blessed to have through so many who, like these two men, have been shaped through being a part of this church family.

Second, I was so encouraged to hear the story of how Hugh began to attend church at the invitation of a lady who taught a children’s class there.  She got Hugh and his brother to go, and in his own words, made it so that he could hardly wait for Sunday to come.  “Aunt Wealthy” (that was her first name) may have been a single lady teaching a children’s Sunday school class, but through her interest Hugh and his brother eventually became believers.  And later, Hugh’s children, and many grandchildren, and great grandhildren, and soon some of the great great grandchildren professed or will profess faith.  Dozens and dozens of believers traced back to one lady, that most people will never know until we get to Heaven.  Amazing. 

It was also quite a moment for me when I heard the song, “Finally Home” at the service’s end.  Roy Carr sings that at a lot of memorial services, and I love to hear him do it.  But he didn’t sing it this time.  Instead, Justin Carr, Roy’s grandson, David’s son, did so in a voice every bit as moving as Roy’s.  That was something to experience.  Praise God for moments like that.