Went to church at the Church of the Nazarene this morning. Opening song was Number 434 in the old Nazarene hymnals -- and I didn't look at the hymnal once for that song. When I was a kid going to church there, we sang that song almost every week. Victory in Jesus. That church brought back so many memories. There was cake and ice cream for birthdays after church, and we were able to visit with some people for a while. Yet, I remembered some special people who have passed on from that church. Bob and Dean were so special. I would pick on Dean and she'd always say "I'm telling you!" Gayle is why I started going to church there back in the 1980s. I'm so thankful for her influence in my life. A good day day remembering as well as knowing the future holds good things in store.
I neglected to mention my friend Shelly who went to church there as well. Shelly passed away this summer.
It feels like so much has been ripped from me this year. Nothing feels normal. Nothing feels even remotely the same.
But going to church where I spent many an hour, hearing 434 being called -- the hymnal fell open to it yesterday, and the strains of "I heard an old, old story" -- a song so familiar I hadn't heard it in years and yet I remembered every word.
I remember the time the we were coming home from a church picnic about 25 years ago, and a kindergartner started singing Victory in Jesus. Only he sang ONLY the words "Victory in Jesus", on repeat. I saw his name in the church directory yesterday.
I remembered the time my friend Dean was decorating the Christmas tree and had a strand of Christmas lights that were plugged in at her feet. She asked, "What hymn am I?" (Answer "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning".) Corny, but her laugh was so infectious that we laughed until we almost cried.
I remembered the time after revival we all gathered around the piano and Angie played a number of hymns and we sang until we were hoarse.
I remembered the time I met the principal of the Christian high school from which I graduated. My parents and I didn't even know it existed until I greeted her after the service and she told me she was there to give someone information on the school.
And my precious Gayle. She invited me (no pestered me) to go to church with her, and I got connected in that church. She passed away a couple years later. I was an awkward teen, and she reached out, and in so doing honestly changed the course of my life. Her brother told me on my Facebook page:
What terrific memories and testimony of our sweet Gayle. Thank you Jenn for remaining true to Jesus and honoring my sister by dong so. May the Lord richly bless your marriage!
I feel humbled that he would say such. My life was made much more full for having known her.
There are others who have passed on from that church, but I've had a rare two days. Instead of looking at the grief around me and feeling sad, I'm hopeful. I heard about a mansion he built for me in glory. . . and some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of Victory.
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