GREETINGS TO THE HOLY PEOPLE OF GOD,
Carole and Ray Hegtvedt were very faithful servants of God at Christ the King Lutheran Church and in all they did. They recently died. Both within a day of each other.
Carole would so faithfully come and help us to assemble the newsletter when we used to do that, and Carole and Ray helped us count the offering. They had their quiet behind the scenes serving. Neither wanted to draw attention to themselves or be “a bother” to others but loved to serve and care for others in a quiet and behind the scenes manner.
It is that attitude of not wanting to be a bother and just plain trying to get through each day for the Hegtvedts that left our community surprised to hear of their deaths although we knew they were struggling with their health. Some of the residual results of being disconnected from one another for such a long period of time and getting swept up in the challenges before us. I am grateful for the care they received through hospice.
Carole and Ray were a gift to us and we give thanks to God for them and the opportunity to walk together in faith for a period of time. Ray once shared with me something he observed in worship in the park. He was wondering if I had noticed the snow egret flying over us. I had not as my attention was on the order of worship. But Ray’s attention had been captured by that bird. Egrets are symbolic of purity, strength, balance, concentration, longevity, and piety. Egrets tend to enjoy solitude, freedom, and independence. Maybe in sharing this observation of this beautiful, rare bird, Ray revealed a bit about himself and Carole.
That same worship service, he also noticed that as Bekah Ode was making her way to communion, she said, “We are blessed.” I loved that Ray shared that with me as he was encouraged by Carole to do so. Yes, how true, we are blessed. Thank you, Bekah. Thank you, Ray.
What a beautiful gift. This is the gift of the community of faith. We help each see how we bear the image of God in this world. We give thanks to these servants of God, Ray and Carole as they now cheer us on in the communion of saints.
Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,
Pastor Connie Spitzack
