Chapter 1: Dedication
Parsonage
A novel about
life behind the scenes for an evangelical pastor's family:
in the church,
the parsonage, the community.
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The
third Sunday in June was a major holiday for several familles in the church. Babies
would be dedicated today. Of all the professional duties a pastor was called upon
to perform, dedicating babies was Jim's favorite. He loved to hold each precious
bundle of potentiality and ask God to use this child in His service. Maybe this
one would be a missionary or an evangelist. Or maybe this one would be a born-again
teacher or typist. No matter. Each bundle was precious to God and to the families
entering into the covenant of infant dedication.
The
organ was softly playing "Jesus Loves Me" as the baby processional started
to move slowly down both central aisles. Jim had asked Sandy to make up the order
for the processional in alphabetical order according to the baby's last name.
Sometimes a baby would be presented by both parents and both sets of grandparents.
Older children were dedicated, also, when parents came to accept Jesus Christ
as their personal Savior after children were already born into the family.
In today's
dedication, the Court family led the procession down the left aisle. Patricia
and Dave were both from the west coast so the grandparents would not be able to
attend. However, the Court entourage did include one other person. Dave carried
their new daughter on his left arm, and Patricia walked at his right side. And
Jim smiled broadly as he watched the fourth person in the Court party walking
sturdily down the aisle and holding Patricia's right hand. Two-year-old Tessa
Stetson had been named the baby's God-sister and would be a proud witness of Beth
Ann's dedication.
The
fact that Tessa was even in the service was something of a minor miracle. Her
mother, Carla, had been opposed to the idea of her little girl having anything
to do with the dedication of the Court baby. She had refused to discuss it with
either Jim or Dave. Ever since the trial, Carla had been very cold to everyone
having anything to do with Wesley.
Then
Thursday night at eight o'clock, Carla had left a message in the church voice
mail. It was very short and simple, and the caller didn't identify herself. But
that brief message would bring much joy to Dave and Patricia. The voice was very
faint. Friday morning when Sandy took the messages off, she had to listen several
times to make sure she understood what was said. When she was satisfied that she
had it right, she typed it up and put it on Jim's desk:
"I
got Tessa a new dress, and she can do it Sunday morning."
By
the time the organ had completed the third verse of "Jesus Loves Me,"
there were five family groups across the upper platform, facing the congregation.
While the procession was moving down the aisles, an usher had placed a small lectern
down on the floor and facing the congregation. Jim now took his place at this
lectern.
"Ladies
and gentlemen, the ceremony of infant dedication is a very important element of
worship here at Wesley Church. If this is your first time to attend a dedication,
I'd like to outline what is about to happen. There will be two separate parts
of the service. First, I will ask the parents to make their vows of dedication
as a group. Then, I will pray a prayer of dedication for each child in turn. The
processional was in alphabetical order, so the prayers will be in reverse order,
with Elizabeth Ann Court being last."
With
that, Jim turned and faced the group on the platform. He had a special smile for
Tessa, who looked cute in her new long, white dress trimmed in pink.
"Do
you covenant before God and in the presence of these witnesses to do everything
in your power to raise these babies and young children in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord? If so, answer 'I will.' And do you covenant to bring them regularly
to God's house for instruction and worship? If so, answer 'I will.' And do you
covenant to strive to bring them to an early knowledge of Jesus Christ as a personal
Savior? If so, answer 'I will.' And do you promise to give your child over to
God's service, in whatever area He sees a need? If so, answer 'I will.'
"Now
that you have promised in the presence of God and these witnesses to discharge
your scriptural responsibilities as parents, I will dedicate each child in turn,
beginning with--" and Jim glanced down at his list, "beginning with
Aaron Zettlemoyer."
Baby
dedication was a joyful church ceremony, and at times it was somewhat noisy. Not
all babies take kindly to being passed to a stranger in the midst of a Sunday
morning nap. But when Jim had worked his way around to Beth Ann, she was lying
quietly in the crook of Dave's left arm. The pastor took a moment to congratulate
the happy parents and had a special wink for the God-sister. Then he picked the
baby up in his arms and turned to face the congregation.
"This
is Elizabeth Ann Court, the daughter of David and Patricia Court, born May fifteenth.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of life with which you have blessed
the Court family. Surely this is an answer to prayer and we rejoice with Dave
and Patricia in the coming of this blessed child. We pray that you will give these
parents the wisdom of Solomon, the courage of David, and the strength of Samson,
as they contend against the forces of evil which will strive to destroy her never-dying
soul. Now, we dedicate Elizabeth Ann Court to You and to Your service, in the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Jim
always watched and prayed, and as he concluded the prayer for Beth Ann, he was
aware of a person moving very slowly through the dimmed sanctuary, right down
the center aisle toward the altar. It was Carla Stetson, Tessa's mother!
At
first, Jim was concerned there may be another eruption similar to the one in the
court house the day of Dave's arraignment. But this time, Carla appeared calm.
However, Jim sensed a monumental spiritual struggle, with the young woman at the
epicenter. In her face, there was evidence that Satan and all his demons were
doing their utmost to keep Carla from moving toward that altar. Dave handed Beth
Ann to Patricia, as he and several prayer warriors started to move toward Carla
in her support.
But,
Jim signaled them to stay back and pray from a distance. This was to be Carla's
struggle, and Carla's victory. The spiritual confrontation was great. God, Jesus
Christ, the Holy Spirit, all the Holy angels-- they were all urging her to move
forward toward forgiveness. Toward reconciliation. Toward peace.
However,
Satan and all his demons were using their powers to hold her back
Suddenly,
the woman fell down flat on her face, and began clawing her way along the carpet,
toward the altar. Immediately a mighty volume of oral prayer rolled up from the
congregation. Little Tessa's eyes were huge with fear but she took her cue from
her Unca Dave. She folded her tiny hands, bowed her head, and joined her small
voice with the many prayers which were being lifted for her mother's deliverance.
"Please
Jesus, please help my Mommy. Please help my Mommy!"
Carla
worked her way beyond the last pew to within five yards of the altar. A lady usher
dropped a light blanker over the struggling body as Carla inched along. Her face
was covered with tears and perspiration. Her voice was hoarse with the prayers
of supplication.
As
she came within eighteen inches of the altar, the congregation rose to its feet
and the volume of oral prayer became a mighty roar. Inch by precious inch she
moved ever closer until she was able to reach out and just touch the base of the
altar with the tip of her index finger.
Instantly
her faith was rewarded and she was delivered from the demons which had plagued
her for so many months. Demons which had caused her to hate her church, hate her
pastor, hate her God. Tessa ran across the platform and leapt into her arms. They
hugged each other fiercely. Then Carla turned and hugged Dave, hugged Patricia,
and then everyone was hugging everyone in a spirit of true revival.
Many
years later, Beth Ann would ask Mommy and Daddy about all the tear drops on her
Certification of Dedication. Her parents would be too choked with emotion to do
a very good job of telling her why.
That
night, Jim lay in bed, too emotionally keyed up to sleep. Downstairs the grandfather
clock sang it's Westminster song of midnight. Debra couldn't sleep either.
"Jim,
ever wish we were still back in Ashtabula? That you never made that trip here
to Mechanicsburg in that snow storm?"
"Sometimes
yes. Sometimes no. I think this morning's dedication service was definitely one
of the no times."
Debra
yawned, feeling more sleepy. "I still miss the old parsonage, kind of. Don't
you?"
Jim
was flat on his back, sound asleep, snoring softly, and dreaming of driving through
a Pennsylvania blizzard.
Parsonage
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