West Main

LEARNING TO BREATHE

In the Company of Job

Job looked at his would-be comforters and said, “Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth. When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh” (Job 21:5-6). The patriarch Job tried to point out the obvious—He was in unspeakable pain and suffering. Therefore, no words could comfort Job. There are moments in time when words ought to fail us, and silence should lead us. This week is a time for silence. News of Merlin Ragsdill’s passing has caused many of us to clasp our hands over our mouths in disbelief and silence. What words can we utter? How do we fill a seemingly un-fillable void?

Brian Pannell spoke well at our prayer service repeating the words of the Trappist Monk, Thomas Keating: “God’s first language is silence. The rest is translation.” Truth is we cannot hope to translate perfectly the silence of God in the midst of our present sadness. By silence is meant what seems to greet us when we ask, “Where was God?” or “Why did this happen?” We desire often to speak away our pain and our doubts. We long for a word that will make sense out of this senseless moment.

Grasping for words is understandable. We perhaps believe that if we can somehow match words to our sorrowful experience, then we can somehow manage this pain. We try and frame with our words an experience in time. We next hang our understanding on the wall of our minds and comfort ourselves saying, “Yes, now I know; now it all makes sense.”  Yet unexpected death will not fit within the picture frame of our thoughts. Our thoughts as a result become fragmented. We become angry. We become sad. We become numb. We do not know what to think.

As a minister, I confess that I long for the ability to say just the right thing. But what is right when things are so wrong? I cry to see others cry. I want to be able to wipe away the tears. I want to turn time back and make everything right. However, time is not in my hands. Words escape me. Thoughts elude me. “Be still, and know that I am God,” so our Creator reassures us (Psalm 46:10a). Our speaking for and defending God is not a necessity. The Almighty is capable of speaking for and defending Himself.  God promises in the Psalm declaring, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:10b).

So maybe the best that we can do for now is to clap our hands over our mouths, and simply acknowledge the obvious—West Main is experiencing unspeakable pain. Yes, we will cry. Yes, this does not make sense. Yes, we will be angry. Yet, as Paul teaches us, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (1 Cor 1:20). The yes of our pain will be swallowed up by the Yes to our Jesus. Yes, the day will come when “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Rev 21:5-6).  Until that day of “Yes” is fully realized in Christ Jesus, let us for now sit silently in the company of Job.

                                                                                – Terry

In Memory of our Hugging Elder

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and elder at West Main, Merlin Ragsdill, on Tuesday, September 6^th. Merlin was born in West Texas and his family eventually settled in Salinas, California.   After high school he went into the Army.  He and Mary were married in June, 1952.  For their honeymoon, they drove the road to Anchorage, Alaska, where  his duty station was.  It was there, that  the first of their daughters, Dianna, was born.  After his army stint, he and Mary moved to Eugene, Oregon, where they welcomed another daughter, Christie. In February of 1959, they moved to Medford, Oregon.  In Medford, they welcomed their third daughter, Brenda.

Where does one begin to say how much Merlin meant to West Main?  Merlin was one of the most memorable men in West Main’s history.  He became an elder in 1976 after serving as a deacon for many years.  Merlin was the elder of finance for many years and was also the office liaison elder.  He  served West Main as a faithful servant to the Lord since he moved here.  He loved to sing to the Lord and lead singing - even when he lost his pinkie on his song leading hand. He worked in every capacity, even doing the odd jobs at the church that nobody noticed, as our “on call” handyman.  If we had a potluck, Merlin was there setting up tables or doing the dishes afterwards, or taking down the tables.  If a light bulb needed changing, he was there.  If somebody needed visiting or was in the hospital, he and Mary were there.  He fixed our chairs that were broken.  If the ladies were having a yard sale, he was there helping to set up for them.  If something was needed at camp - he was there.  He served as one of our camp staff for many years doing various things and keeping an eye on the kids.  If we had an Ice Cream Social - he was there with homemade ice cream.  If the trash needed to be hauled away, he was there with his truck.   He helped with the remodels on our building doing whatever was asked of him.  He loved to help when we had our annual fish fry.  He also loved to take photographs.  He had many a photo album and would love to share his memories with you of all the church activities, his family or his trips.

Merlin loved to play pinochle, play his ukulele - entertaining us at the Hawaiian dinners or our Teacher Appreciation dinners; go to Chinese dinners, but most of all, he loved to give hugs to everybody.  Nobody got by without a hug from him on Sundays.  The kids loved his tic-tacs or tootsie rolls.  He loved to hear the laughter of children and the noise of little babies. He loved going to our Friday nights to be with our Safe Harbor kids. The teens loved him as their youth elder.  He was a friend to children of all ages, in particular, as the Elder in care of orphans.  He was also a man of compassion.   He hurt with the hurting, he wanted to take on other’s pain, he wanted to relieve other’s problems - he had a heart that reflected God. During our Sunday morning services he would carry our prayer request cards to the front, handling those prayers when it was his turn.  We remember him with tears in his eyes, his voice choking, hardly able to get through the prayers more often than not.

After Merlin’s retirement from his business, he and Mary took a long vacation to Kauai. This became an almost yearly event for them.  He also enjoyed fishing on the Oregon coast. He took many of our members fishing with him each summer.  He enjoyed making beef jerky and smoked salmon and giving out samples to people.

Our love goes out to Mary and their children and their families.  We may never see our “compassionate shepherd” again in this life, but we are sure that after walking through the gates of Heaven, Merlin will walk up to us and say “hey you,” and give us a big hug and we will share a laugh.  Merlin will make Heaven feel more like home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the West Main Church of Christ Youth Fund. Merlin’s Celebration of Life service will be  Saturday, September 17 at 1:00 P.M.  We will have a potluck fellowship following the service.  Please bring lots of your favorite foods to share.

NEWS AND NOTES

Life Groups will begin this Sunday, September 11.  Please be sure to pick up one of the “Life in the Body at West Main” pamphlets for a full listing of all the Life Groups.

Our Tuesday Morning Ladies Bible Class will begin September 13, with a potluck luncheon at 11:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room.  Classes will begin September 20, starting at 9:45 and ending at 11:00 a.m. All ladies are invited to come. Call Barb Viera for more information.

New Adult Bible Classes for the Fall Quarter will begin Sunday, September 18.

The West Main Leadership Picnic / Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, for the elders, deacons, ministers and their families.  It will start at 11:00 a.m. at Cantrall-Buckley Park, Area A.  See Dan Beeks with any questions.

Children’s Worship begins this coming Sunday, September 11.  We are always in need of volunteers.  Please consider helping out during this special worship time for our children. * Snacks are also needed.  Please remember to read labels, as we do not want any foods with peanuts or peanut butter in them, or that have been processed on shared equipment.  Thanks for your help.   :)

Tupperware Party / Youth Group Fundraiser has been postponed.  Be watching for a new date and time.

Thank You Note . . . Sometimes God answers our prayers through special people like you.  Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers.      Reed Barlow

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sept 11: Life Groups Begin

Sept 13: Ladies Class Potluck Luncheon

Sept 30-Oct 2: Women’s Retreat

Coffee Servers are needed for September.

Nursery Help is needed for September 25.