Dear Esperanza Family,
Today we come together in inexpressible grief at the death of Heidi Gerrish.
Heidi died at the scene of an automobile accident Saturday morning, May 21, while traveling to her sister Julie’s graduation from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Also in the car were her friend Justin, and her brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Katherine, who were all injured in the head-on collision with a driver going the wrong way on the freeway. Those three have varying severe injuries requiring surgeries and extensive care. The Gerrishes ask for prayers for everyone involved in the accident, as their outcomes become clearer.
When we gathered in worship yesterday, we shared the hope of the Risen Christ from scripture, we sang our trust in God in hymns and songs requested by congregation members, and spent extended time in conversation and mutual consolation, comforting one another in our grief.
We will share more information, including information about services for Heidi, as it becomes available. For now, I encourage you to visit the memorial page for Heidi on our Grand Canyon Synod website at https://www.gcsynod.org/news/in-memoriam-heidi-gerrish where you will be able to write your prayers and thoughts for the whole Gerrish Family and read the stories of the countless ways Heidi touched others with her light and joy.
Please join me in prayer:
“Merciful God, out of the darkness we cry to you. Enable us to find in Christ the faith to trust your care even in the midst of pain. Assure us that we do not walk alone through the valley of the shadow, but that your light is leading us into your resurrection life.
“Merciful God, you are our source of healing, you alone can bring calmness and peace. Grant Stephen and Kat and Justin an awareness of your presence and a strong confidence in you. Support Paul and Cindy and Julie as they wait by their bedsides, and grieve the loss of Heidi. Surround them all with your strong and tender care.
“Merciful God, your Son wept at the death of Lazarus. Look with compassion on all who hold Heidi in their love, now knowing inexpressible pain and sorrow and anger and grief. Draw us near to you in faith and to one another in your gracious love. Help us cast all we are feeling upon you. Grant us all your tender presence. Rekindle our faith and light your lamp of hope within our hearts, through your Son, Jesus Christ who died and rose again, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”
In the hope of the Risen Christ,
Pastor Annemarie
Cindy, Justin, Heidi, Julie, Katherine, Stephen and Paul
From Romans 8:
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A Go Fund Me has been set up to defray medical bills and funeral costs. In addition, Caring Bridge sites were set up by Kat and Justin’s families:
https://caringbridge.org/visit/katherinescrewsgarrish
https://caringbridge.org/visit/justinrheault2