Today is the day

I’ve been dreading for years,

I couldn’t imagine goodbye

Without a bucket of tears.

So I told my friend, Graham,

“I think I’ll skip my last day.”

He said, “That’d be alright,

But there’s one other way.”

I’ve heard all your sermons,

Some of them twice,

And to go home early

Would be kind of nice.

But, another thought,

If you’ve got the time,

Is to make up one of your

Campfire wrap-up rhymes.

And, don’t be too heavy

Don’t go too long.

You’re a lame duck now

So just sing your swan song.”

Thank you, Graham,

I think that’s what I’ll do.

And if I belly flop

I’ll just blame it on you.

So, thanks for the memories

For the good times we’ve shared

And for all the ways

You’ve showed us you cared.

Last week we communed

At God’s banquet of grace,

Taking time to go slowly

And say goodbye face to face.

The music was gentle

And it soothed my soul,

As we broke bread together,

Making Christ’s body whole.

Anni and I wanted

To serve you each personally,

Gazing into the eyes

Of our church family

And I held it together

Until almost half way,

Then the kids gave us cards

And the floodgates gave way.

But that’s all right

I was weeping with you

And I read in the Good Book

That our Lord has wept too.

And that’s not to say

There aren’t other paths.

I’ve got a drawing of Jesus

Enjoying a huge belly laugh.

And we thank you all

For the party you threw,

I was rendered speechless

Which is something new

It was just like Thanksgiving

And Chris invited us back.

So, we’ll see you all then -

Except maybe Jack.

Every song you sang

Just hit the mark,

The words were perfect

Going right to the heart.

Like, how to describe

The time we’ve spent here?

525,600 minutes, times 13

Moments so dear.

And, climb every mountain,

Forge every stream.

Follow every rainbow,

Until you find your dream!

We could feel the love that night

Like Alice says, “we’re blessed.”

It’s enough to make us all want

To give God our best.

And only in Ashland,

Or so it seems,

Would you sing a Cohen song

And then ask what it means

To be tied up in knots

To a kitchen chair,

While your throne was broken

And they cut your hair.

Well, Hallellujah anyway,

We sang it soft and slow.

There’s love enough in that one word

To make our spirits glow.

And the book you made

Filled with words of love,

Will remind us forever -

This church fit like a glove

There are pictures and letters,

Poems and works of art,

All shared with us

In the love of God’s heart.

And we got a prayer wheel

Like the Buddhists use

But with a cross in the center

To reflect the Good News

When the Spirit of God

Breathes through it like wind,

The Christ Light of love

Shines the prayers that we send

Soaring to heaven

With each turn and swirl,

Beaming God rays and son beams

Out into the world.

Our image of this church

Includes you all,

Now the painting you’ve given

Will hang on our wall.

And I still can’t believe

We got a tree for a gift.

We’re moving to Salem

How about a lift?

Graham, your slide show

Was the absolute best,

Especially of the saints

Who have gone to their rest.

Well, enough is enough

I’ve sung my swan song,

And you did remind me

Not to go too long.

But I want to leave you

With a final word

About hope and faith

That I hope will be heard.

There’s a hole in the ground

Just outside next door,

With a firm foundation

And the start of a floor.

It’s the house of God

But it’s your house too

And the words we keep saying

Will always be true:

“Unless the Lord builds the house

We all labor in vain.”

The Church’s foundation

Is the power of Christ’s name.

You’re building for the future

And the future is near,

It’s a future of blessing

Not based on fear.

It takes money and work

Faith, hope and prayer

And a willingness to trust

That God’s leading us there. 

We are all so rich

We have all been blessed,

And the future is bright

If we give God our best.

So, as Jesus once said

To his disciples of old:

“Fear not, my friends

Have faith, and be bold.”

The future is in

The palm of God’s hand,

And this church is a part

Of God’s Master Plan.

To give back to God

What God’s given you,

Is to give God our best

And that’s all we can do.

So build the Lord’s house

With joy, love and peace.

The abundance of God

Will never, ever cease.

Preach the Good News of God

Teach the love of God’s Son,

And the truth that in Christ

We are all made one.

Well, enough, that’s it,

I’ve said it, I’m  done.

We’ve had a few laughs

We’ve all had some fun.

So, let’s do it again -

If it were up to me

It’d be Thanksgiving at the Hjelts

Jack, just leave us the key!