A Legacy of Care

My friend and our Pastor of Congregational Care died recently. Here is what I put on my computer screen for our church newspaper:

How much compassion can God pour into one person? You can easily answer that question if Bill Green ever spent any time next to your hospital bed.

Seemingly tireless, absent of a watch to take note of the pre-dawn hour, eagerly surpassing the boundaries of Des Moines, always ready with a word from his well-worn Bible and a firm but comforting grasp of your hand, Bill was ideally designed by God to provide care and compassion to God’s children.

In the letter written to the believers in Rome, Paul passionately exhorted each of them to live lives of sacrifice which would ultimately bring glory to God. Later in that twelfth chapter, Paul said that could best be done by doing service in the way God has gifted us. Certainly Bill Green had a number of the gifts listed in that chapter, but one does stand out from verse 8, which has been paraphrased: “Let the man who feels sympathy for his fellows in distress help them cheerfully.” Those words do characterize Bill and the wonderful ministry to which God called him.

Of course Bill didn’t do all of this alone. His wife Clarice was never far from his side. In fact, she has been with Bill since he took her to the circus at the tender age of 12. Bill finally married Clarice in 1951, the same year he graduated from Drake University. Passionate about his country, Bill also spent 2 years, 3 months and 27 days in military service (according to Clarice who tracked their days apart).

As we recall the tremendous comfort Bill provided to so many of us, our hearts go out in sympathy to Clarice and their son, Ed, daughter-in-law, Kem, and grandchildren J.D. and Emily. Our prayer is that in time God’s enduring love will be of comfort to each of them.

Another ministry Bill carried out here at First Federated Church was that of conducting the funerals and the home-going ceremonies and celebrations for so many saints who have gone before him. As we pay tribute to God for the work He has done through Bill, we may come to recognize that Bill is finished leading us in saying those “good byes.”

However the tremendous ministry God gave Bill can be used to inspire each of us to more fully practice God’s instruction to “comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted.” As Bill looks down on us carrying out this command, I’m sure it would bring that familiar smile to his face.