It would be the understatement of the century (or at least of this horrible, forgettable 2020) to say that this past week has been painful, difficult and challenging for my family and my sister's family.  The loss of our two anchors, like many of you can appreciate, leaves us feeling adrift on an ocean of uncertainty and peril.  BUT at the same time, the unbelievable out pouring of love and support has kept us afloat and has kept our sights on the sure and certain hope that is God's generous grace.  Many of you have offered your own journeys through the grief of losing a parent or parents. I can assure you that losing both in a two week stretch just makes it more surreal, more unbelievable and more stultifying. We continue to share stories and memories of the love that we received in heaping doses from our dad and our mom.  

Thankfully we will have a memorial service, a "Witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ" as we Presbyterians refer to it, this Saturday, August 8th at 4:00 p.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.  It will be for our immediate family only because of the continued risk of Covid-19.  The service will be for both of our parents, Bill and Joanne Rawson.  Brad Smith, the senior pastor at Eastminster, and Ron Shive, the senior pastor at First Presbyterian in Burlington, NC will officiate. The service will be live streamed on the Eastminster website, eastminsterpres.org  If you would like to "join us" go to the home page and click on the green link that says "live feed" and you can watch the service live.  It would do our hearts good to know that many of you joined us.