Some people get engaged in the church. Some people are really engaged, like Jim and Karen Gowan. If you arrive early enough on a Sunday morning you are likely to see them as altar assistants, where they will prepare trays for the Communion Service, then take their seats upfront to wait for the service to begin. On occasion one or the other will read the day's Lesson, or they may assist members or visitors as they arrive.
When we gather as a congregation for Communion they continue their altar assistant job, with the distribution of the wine and wafer trays, rotating them as they are emptied, and then will clean and store everything after the service is complete. But even then they are not done, as they will often be found in the kitchen making coffee, managing the treats, or cleaning the tables as the late service gets underway. Away from Spirit of Hope you might find them serving breakfast to the homeless at Grace Lutheran Church or meals for the 90 men at East Valley Men's Transitional Center. All in a day's work, as they might say.
The rest of the week, Jim is on his second term of three years on the Church Council, and has been involved in the Stewardship Ministry Team for years, understanding the importance of stewardship in the ministry of the entire congregation. He also assists with maintenance projects around the church, recently 20 feet in the air on a lift, installing a new parking lot light.
Clearly Spirit of Hope is a special place for them to practice their faith, a faith that has been challenged, first by the loss of a son in a snowmobile accident, and now with Caleb's disease. But they've dealt with it, leading a Grief Share group to help members with the loss of a loved one after having been on the receiving side themselves following the death of their son, and now devoting time and attention to Caleb and his disease.
At the recent fundraiser, Jim thanked all who were there with prayer, while Karen quietly applauded nearby. They were grateful for the TAG members who were in support, but the story is best told in Karen's words. "When he has been ill, it’s been heartbreaking at times. Yet, we know we are very blessed. Caleb has parents and step-parents with a strong faith to guide him along this uncertain path of this awful disease. We are so thankful for the successful fund raiser at Spirit of Hope, raising around $1900.00. We took the attitude, please pray, and if you’re able to donate, that’s great too!"
Part IV of Caleb's Story, to be posted soon, will speak to the support given by Spirit of Hope members for Caleb and his family.
Leave a Reply