07/11/05
Dear friends –
I send out this news this afternoon with a most heavy heart.
If you were in worship last Sunday (July 11) here at Beulah, you heard news of Ben Watson, son of Jim and Terry Watson – who was in the hospital suffering from a head injury.
Today I am saddened to report that Ben died later on Sunday afternoon.
Ben was out visiting with some friends at one of their homes on Saturday night. Around 8:00 in the evening he suffered an accident that caused a severe trauma to his head, particularly the back of his skull. Despite the immediate arrival of paramedics and the best of care at University Hospital, Ben died around 5:00 Sunday afternoon.
As you can well imagine, everyone is devastated. Ben was a young, strong, 19-year-old young man, a sophomore at Western (his GPA last semester was a perfect 4.0), a brilliant person – active at Beulah, in our youth groups, and part of a large family and larger group of friends. I spent a lot, and Terry Hargrave spent many more hours with Ben in youth groups, on mission trips and Montreat Conference trips – Ben and his family are a strong presence here at Beulah Church – and many hearts are heavy this day.
Prayers are needed for so many – particularly for his family - parents Jim and Terry, older sister Hope Watson Schmidlapp and brother-in-law Rob Schmidlapp, older brother James, younger brother and sister Jack and Tessa – for his many aunts and uncles and cousins, including Beulah members Brigid and Chris Breetz, Aden, Austin, Tristan and Emma, and Beulah members Mark Minch, Ann Minch, Brian and Drew Minch – and for his many friends in our youth group here, and for those friends who were with him when this accident occurred.
There will be a memorial service here at Beulah on Thursday, July 14, at 11:00 AM. Calling Hours to visit with family and friends will take place at the Fern Creek Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 13, from 2:00 until 8:00. The family made the difficult decision for organ donation, so that others in need will benefit from this tragic loss.
As you many know, the Hockenberrys were out of town on vacation, and we were all due to come back home Tuesday (tomorrow, July 12). Fortunately I was able to get a Southwest flight out of Baltimore, and arrived back home later on Sunday night. I was able to visit with the Watsons that night and again this afternoon. Jenny came back home early with me, and the rest of the family will be driving home on Tuesday.
I would ask that all of keep the Watsons in your prayers, and for all of those who are close to Ben, all who feel the pain of this loss. And then – for those who are parents, wrap your arms around your children, no matter their age, and tell them that you love them very much.
There will be a reception for visiting family and friends at 12:00 noon, following the service here at 11:00. We are requesting that food be prepared and brought to the church – you can contact Wilma Smith (239-1858) who is coordinating this ministry of care and hospitality. Those in the youth group are also asked to help with food and set up and take down for this gathering, as a way to help in this time of need, and to honor our friend, Ben.
While I was at the funeral home today, helping with these arrangements, Terry asked “what she had to do” to help with this reception on Thursday. And I was most proud to be able to tell her, “Terry, not one thing.” In times like these, we need the fellowship of the church to hold us and cradle us and care for us – and to see to our needs when we need it the most.
Terry and Jim also expressed their gratitude for the many folks in the church who visited at the hospital, particularly Terry Hargrave our CE Director, our Deacons - Martha Stepro and Mark Leach – and Linda and Frank DeSanto and Elizabeth, Ben Blake – and I know there are others who visited and cared and supported. Please keep that all coming this week.
Please also remember others in these days who are going through a time of loss and grief, particularly Walter Frank as he grieves the loss of his loving wife Yvonne. Diane Adams led the funeral service for the family, and I am grateful to her for this work of ministry as well.
In the midst of grief, there is also events to celebrate – and this Saturday, two of our newest members, Robert Thompson and Jodi Wells, will be married here at Beulah Church. This Sunday is our church picnic (though if it is still raining, we may reschedule it) and we will have worship here at 10:00, and then the picnic at Cedar Ridge at 12:00. If you need directions to Cedar Ridge, you can call the church office or click on this link: http://cedarridgecamp.com/
Grace and peace to you all in these days.
Pastor Ken H.
