During a January phone call with a long-time friend, she remarked how glad she was that she and her husband had recently completed important plans for “when we’re gone.”  They had organized their financial papers, begun giving away cherished possessions to family, outlined their funerals with their pastor, and even chosen their burial plots.

My friend was grateful for these preparations because now she has mere weeks to live.

In late fall she was diagnosed with a surprise, fast-moving cancer.  In these final months of life, she has been able to visit with friends, spend precious time with family, and face the future with faith in the Lord.

She is not distracted!  She is absolutely focused on what is most important – human and divine love.

This Sunday we’re blessed by Ken Feske’s own reflection on faith and planning.  Ken’s plans have culminated in his retirement this week and move to Port Orchard, Washington, where he looks forward to life as a volunteer and creating a new home with Nancy.

This is the final sermon in our series, Fresh Starts to Finish Strong.  We’ll consider this Christian imperative for aging well:  I Will Plan Ahead for When I Won’t Be Here!

Ken’s sermon builds on our planning series from late 2019 – early 2020, “What Really Matters.”  Have you completed your homework from those meetings  – your spiritual will, your medical directives, your instructions about where to find important information — like those computer passwords?!

Let’s be a faith community known for wisely facing our mortality, planning well for when we’re gone, and living joyfully each day.