Dear Caldwell,
Our church family is blessed to have a range of people “of the cloth” in our midst, ordained ministers both retired and still serving. One is Rev. Elizabeth Hyland, an ordained Presbyterian pastor who fills many roles here – social/fellowship chair, always-ready worship liturgist and preacher, counselor and comforter, friend and inspiration and more.
Today, Elizabeth and her family made the difficult decision to end life support for Elizabeth’s mother, Peggy Hyland, 89, who had succombed to pneumonia and a range of other challenges and was on a ventilator at CMC-Northeast in Concord. Veronica, I and others close to Elizabeth spent the afternoon with her and her mother, a true southern flower, praying and singing and telling stories as Peggy slipped the bonds of this mortal realm holding two beautiful, fragrant gardenias.
As we all take comfort in the assurance of the Resurrection, please hold Elizabeth and her family closely in your prayers and thoughts. Tentative plans are for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Margaret “Peggy” Hyland this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Caldwell. I will confirm plans when they are final.
As we say to our children each week, “May the Lord be with you there” in whatever is keeping you busy this week.
In Christ,
John