What a week!
We have had three very large funerals in the last week at FBC. Since the sanctuary is being remodeled we are using the fellowship hall as our meeting area. Last week's service was for a local man Sparky Parks about 55 yrs. old that had suffered through several rounds of cancer. Yesterday was Howard Upchurch, age 93, that was born in the same year as my mother. Both of these services filled the fellowship hall.
Today's service was for Chad Lyle, age 36, who died of a seizure while walking home from work in Crowley. Chad had a very serious car wreck while a teenager and has had health problems since then. Today's attendance was one of the largest that I have seen at our church. We packed the fellowship hall completely and then filled the youth hall with a few people still standing in the hallway. Some of our men had run a video cable to the youth department and connected the projector to serve that audience. Someone told me they saw people parking downtown beyond the red light and walking to the church.
Monday we will be having the funeral for Ruby Fleece who lived to be 104! Immediately after each of the funeral services in fellowship hall while the family went to the cemetery we stacked the chairs and set up tables for the family meal as they returned from the cemetery. After the meal the tables were folded and put away so that the carpet could be cleaned.
Everyone has really pitched in and worked hard to make these services a success. We had plenty of volunteers to setup, take down, and prepare and serve the meal. There has been a great spirit of cooperation and willingness to serve. I count it a blessing to be a part of such a group of believers.
