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Doug's Weekly Words

Aug. 24th, 2009

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A Good Word for Rev. C. Tom Lane
Good word is what the word eulogy means- eu for good and logos which means word.  This is an easy good word to offer up, but it comes with a good measure of loss and sadness.  This past week our church said goodbye to a past minister, parish associate, father, husband, and good friend.  Tom Lane served as pastor of FPC in the 70s.  His tenure at FPC had some very high points, some hard struggles, with a rocky end.  Joyfully, there was great redemption and reconciliation when opted to return and serve as Interim Pastor in 2002.  Since then he has been serving as Parish Associate to the extent that his health allowed him to.

Our presbytery at the time had a policy to make sure that pastors were not part of a church they had previously served. The policy is based on all the bad things that can and have happened when pastors stick around too long.  During that time I regularly made sure that Tom, a previous pastor, was always invited to be a part of our congregation in his role as Parish Associate.  With all the bad things that could happen, I am so glad he was around.  it has been a gift to have Tom as part of our church these past six and a half years.

Tom was a dear friend to me.  I remember joyful meetings often around teriyaki, which we both love.  He delighted in visiting people in our church.  He was an inspired preacher and I know that many congregants remember and value his preaching.  He was preaching the Sunday that Laurie and I visited FPC and I still remember his words on Isaiah 41:10.

When we first met Tom went out of his way to tell me what he was involved with, how he had been serving the church, and to make sure that everything he did was supportive of the vision of the church.  He always checked in to make sure that communication between us was always good.   He was the model of how a previous pastor can be a tremendous benefit to a church.

Tom was a great encouragement.  He was supportive of the ministry and often had a kind word at the door.  When things were rough he would offer his thoughts and leave things on an encouraging word.  Once when we made a very unwelcome decision, he backed it up and complimented our courage.  Even when Tom was in the hospital he would have a kind word when I came to visit.

When our journey went into the Valley of the Shadow of Death Tom was a voice of hope and courage.  Tom and I were a part of club that no parent every wants to be a part of, parents who have lost children.  Tom’s son had been killed during his tenure as pastor at Bellingham.  He was a minister to me in sharing his own journey and pain.  He was a walking example of someone still walking even though the pain is a constant part of the journey.

Tom will be dearly missed by our church.  He will be missed by the member who delighted in his visits.  He will be missed by the family and friends who loved his smiles and stories.  Lastly he will be missed by this pastor who lost a friend, a colleague, and a fellow teriyaki lover. 

The Memorial service to Remember Tom and Celebrate the Resurrection will be Saturday at 11am at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham.  In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made in Tom’s Memory to First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham.

As Tom would say- Be of Good Cheer!

In His Good Cheer,

Do You Remember
Here is an article in a local paper about Zach Joy, who gave his testimony in our church in February.  There is even a mention of our church at the end. http://www.goskagit.com/home/print/15407/

Blest2Bless-BlestLife Practice Hospitality- Make sure to call someone you have meant to call just to check up on them.

Blest2Bless-One up Your Giving, we heard on Sunday about how to support a Ugandan Orphan, talk to Shawn Morton about making a connection.