Letter from Bishop Ken upon Pastor Rob's death

Dear Church of the Advent,

I am praying for you this morning – wishing I could be with you as you gather, grieve and worship. Many of the Psalms are laments – pouring out our hurt is part of worship: we are to bring all of who we are into His presence. I am praying that the Lord Jesus is powerfully present with you this morning.

I am grieving with you.
The whole diocese is grieving with you.
Rob was a good friend – and he was a spiritual giant. He brought such life to so many.

There is comfort in knowing that Rob now sees Jesus face to face, and that Rob is now more fully Rob than he has ever been before: his glory now is greater than we can imagine. Thursday was the Ascension – when Jesus ascended to heaven. Part of what Jesus was doing was opening the way for us to come home. This is what Jesus tells his disciples in John 14:2, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” He has gone ahead to open the way and prepare a place for Rob and for us.

And there is deep loss for us who can no longer see, touch and hear Rob. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 3:13 that we grieve – we are supposed to grieve – but in our grieving we are also held by hope. We look forward to the New Creation where “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.” As we come to the Communion this morning, we join Rob at this table because we are participating in the inaugural banquet of that New Creation: the wedding feast of the lamb where all the faithful from all time gather to celebrate Jesus and be celebrated as the bride of Christ.

I pray you know the comfort of Jesus, His grace, love and presence in this day and in these days.

Much love, +Ken and Sallie