It was good to be with the folks of the Raritan Valley District on their day of learning today. Laity and clergy alike gave great input in the workshops on “I Refuse to lead a dying church” and “Roadmap to Renewal.” It heartens me to see how conscientious these folk are in the effort to make disciples.
Today I attended the funeral of Marcos Canfield. Only 26 years old, he died in his sleep just a few days after his father’s funeral. We don’t yet know the cause. Rev. Bob Costello presided at the funeral and at the committal service that followed at the cemetery giving testimony to our faith in Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of such sorrow, Bob reminded us of the everlasting God who loves us and comforts us. My heart breaks for this family that has suffered the loss of Estevao, the father, and now Marcos, the son, all in a week. Rev. Costello articulated what many of us felt in our hearts–we just don’t know the answers in these times. What we do know is that God knows and God accompanies us even in the midst of such tragedy. What gives us comfort is the presence of many brothers and sisters in the faith who surround us with love. We all need to keep the Canfield family and the New Canaan United Methodist Church in our prayers.