January 2012
Dear Friends at Northkirk:
Recently Dean Collins asked me to recall my part in the history of the cross in the sanctuary in Northkirk. This is what I wrote back to him: “When the Northkirk congregation purchased the property at 19th and Beryl in Rancho Cucamonga, they wanted a cross to be made for the sanctuary. Knowing I enjoy doing woodwork Dick Green asked if I might be willing to make such a cross. It was to be a simple design constructed of red oak, the dominant wood that is in the rest of the sanctuary. Dick suggested the dimensions of the cross and wanted lighting to come from the back of the cross.
I was honored to make the cross and constructed it from red oak purchased years earlier from a mill in the town of Alton, Iowa (most famous for being the town where the Rev. Robert Schuller was born and raised). The raw wood was transported here from Iowa when we moved here. A gracious truck driver took a shine to us and offered to stow the wood at no cost in a cavity near the wheels of his moving van. One must wonder if, even then, God had a purpose for that wood! So I selected from the pile of oak those pieces that I thought would best match. The most difficult part of making the cross was getting all the joints to fit just right…and fortunately it came together as planned!
One other very interesting part of making the cross: all during the time I was cutting and sanding and preparing the cross I was comforted by a powerful sense of God’s presence. Making the cross was like being in a worship service or having an extended time of prayer. It was a sacred experience for me and reinforced the saying, it is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Since July, I have had the privilege of serving this congregation as your “first response pastor” following the untimely death of your beloved pastor, Karen Greschel. People have been exceedingly kind and gracious to me during this time and I have been profoundly blessed to be with you and in service to Christ through this ministry. From the time I was first approached to do this task I felt a strong leaning in this direction as if God were calling me to this work. Moreover, during this time of minis-try I have felt inspired, rather the same way I was uplifted making the cross for the church many years ago.
I have looked admiringly on that cross more than once since I have been here. I now know it has stayed nicely preserved because Dean, Dawn and David took it down and refinished it during the time of the sanctuary renovation. I see something symbolic in that. The cross is not mine, it is yours, yours in the name of Christ. In a similar way, this church is not mine, it is yours, yours in the name of Christ. And just as others took responsibility for the cross, I pass the responsibility for ministry on to another who will succeed me in this task. I think you will be blessed to have the Rev. Tina Blair as your new interim pastor. She will work with you to go to the next stage of your life as a church and in God’s good timing, you will be readied for another installed pastor and the wonderful things God has in store for you.
As I muse on all this please know, again how thankful and grateful I am for the time I have had to be with you. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers in the days ahead and you will be remembered fondly for your love and kindness to Barbara and me.
In Christian love and friendship, Gary Hindman
Dear Friends at Northkirk:
Recently Dean Collins asked me to recall my part in the history of the cross in the sanctuary in Northkirk. This is what I wrote back to him: “When the Northkirk congregation purchased the property at 19th and Beryl in Rancho Cucamonga, they wanted a cross to be made for the sanctuary. Knowing I enjoy doing woodwork Dick Green asked if I might be willing to make such a cross. It was to be a simple design constructed of red oak, the dominant wood that is in the rest of the sanctuary. Dick suggested the dimensions of the cross and wanted lighting to come from the back of the cross.
I was honored to make the cross and constructed it from red oak purchased years earlier from a mill in the town of Alton, Iowa (most famous for being the town where the Rev. Robert Schuller was born and raised). The raw wood was transported here from Iowa when we moved here. A gracious truck driver took a shine to us and offered to stow the wood at no cost in a cavity near the wheels of his moving van. One must wonder if, even then, God had a purpose for that wood! So I selected from the pile of oak those pieces that I thought would best match. The most difficult part of making the cross was getting all the joints to fit just right…and fortunately it came together as planned!
One other very interesting part of making the cross: all during the time I was cutting and sanding and preparing the cross I was comforted by a powerful sense of God’s presence. Making the cross was like being in a worship service or having an extended time of prayer. It was a sacred experience for me and reinforced the saying, it is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Since July, I have had the privilege of serving this congregation as your “first response pastor” following the untimely death of your beloved pastor, Karen Greschel. People have been exceedingly kind and gracious to me during this time and I have been profoundly blessed to be with you and in service to Christ through this ministry. From the time I was first approached to do this task I felt a strong leaning in this direction as if God were calling me to this work. Moreover, during this time of minis-try I have felt inspired, rather the same way I was uplifted making the cross for the church many years ago.
I have looked admiringly on that cross more than once since I have been here. I now know it has stayed nicely preserved because Dean, Dawn and David took it down and refinished it during the time of the sanctuary renovation. I see something symbolic in that. The cross is not mine, it is yours, yours in the name of Christ. In a similar way, this church is not mine, it is yours, yours in the name of Christ. And just as others took responsibility for the cross, I pass the responsibility for ministry on to another who will succeed me in this task. I think you will be blessed to have the Rev. Tina Blair as your new interim pastor. She will work with you to go to the next stage of your life as a church and in God’s good timing, you will be readied for another installed pastor and the wonderful things God has in store for you.
As I muse on all this please know, again how thankful and grateful I am for the time I have had to be with you. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers in the days ahead and you will be remembered fondly for your love and kindness to Barbara and me.
In Christian love and friendship, Gary Hindman