Thursday Evening, October 6

Because Cerwin’s mother died in February, her family was invited to Landis Homes for a Service of Remembrance for those on campus who died between September 2015 and August 2016.

We had two other stops (flu shots and supper at a restaurant) and gave ourselves plenty of time. Each stop went faster than we planned, so we had time for a half-hour-visit with Cerwin’s uncle John – who lives at Landis Homes. He will be 101 in December.

Someone recently interviewed him about the construction of New Holland Mennonite Church. He was ten years old at the time and told us a lot of memories from that event and from attending the church. We love hearing his memories.

We only had to walk down the hall a bit to West Bethany Chapel, and arrived early enough to listen to the piano and violin concert.

These are all cell phone pictures. I did not have my Nikon along.

There was scripture reading and group singing before the slide show began that featured each resident who died.

This was the photo that was used of mother. It made us miss her. I didn’t get a good picture from the slide, so pulled this one from my file.

After the service in the chapel we walked to the Prayer & Memory Garden where there was a meaningful candlelight service. If you look closely, you can see Cerwin’s sister Velda and her husband, Mel, on the back left.

Mother would have enjoyed it.

Thank you Landis Homes for this service to your resident’s families.

There were a few comments, and we sang: I Come to the Garden.

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him,
Tho’ the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go, thro’ the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.