For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
It is another All Saints Day. As is my custom on this Day, I pause and give thanks – both privately and here on the blog – for those that I knew who were spiritual influences (small or large) for me and who passed from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant in the past 12 months.
Recent years have not been easy ones, and a month ago – as I note at the end – this became a very difficult year.
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
This year I remember and give thanks for the lives of:
- Marge – One of those faithful, quiet workers, seldom out in front but frequently back behind
- Ruth – A musician, and hard-working mother and wife
- Jake – A hardworking and creative pastor who is gone far too soon
- Dane – A talented pastor with a rich legacy and long history. A very close friend of our family who helped officiate three weddings, two infant baptisms (including mine), and a funeral. He ended up in academia and found that a good location for creative ministry.
- Judy – A delightful and joyful soul who did not let infirmity get in the way of her joy or her small acts of ministry
- Jane – Maybe the quietest of workers, but one of the most faithful and diligent
- Ann – She had a very interesting and rich life, and was one of the warmest and most confident believers. She certainly had the gift of hospitality
- Gerry – One of the quiet workers whose faith showed through in her way of life
- Pete – A character with a rich life and many stories. His faith was evident in the many conversations I would have with him.
- Larry – A pastor in many settings who led a rich and faithful life. The cognitive abilities he was painfully deprived of at the end of life have now been restored in his new life with Christ
- Gordon – Another character who led a rich life and had many stories. His years were filled with community service and a life of church ministry.
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The last person on the list is my father Lowell “Ozzie” Salyards. He was a Presbyterian’s Presbyterian and his enthusiasm may contribute to this crazy stuff I am doing today. He was a ruling elder, a deacon, and served as a trustee for the church. We had a lot of discussions around church polity and theology. On some matters, we did not agree, but we knew within the framework of the Book of Order and the Confessions where each other stood.
He served in community organizations and supported all of us kids in our various endeavers. Professionally he was an analytical chemist and if you used Kodak slide film he spent years leading company groups perfecting the process to develop it. Spending much of the last month cleaning out his apartment was difficult and made more so by the distraction of a large number of items of Presbyterian history I found that he had been associated with. (I hope to post some of that in the coming months.) But one of his greatest examples to us kids was caring for mother in her decade-long battle with cancer. It truly was “To be thy loving and faithful husband; … In sickness and in health; As long as we both shall live.”
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
As they have joined the mighty cloud of witnesses my life has been enriched by knowing and serving with each one of them. Well done good and faithful servants.
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
[Editor’s note: In case it has not been obvious from the note above, there have been many demands on my life over the last couple of months. While I regret missing multiple Assembly and Synod meetings in that time, the need to put energies elsewhere has been unavoidable. But Presbyterianism goes on and over the next couple of months I will be working to get caught up on at least some of it. Thank you for your patience.]