Dear Glen Mar friends,

I’ve been thinking and praying a lot about the word “legacy.” All Saint’s worship was a powerful reminder of the saints that surround us each day and cheer us on to imitate their faithfulness. While “legacy” is not an explicit term in most biblical translations, “inheritance” is.  In Christ, we are given an inheritance of eternal life, and an inheritance of salvation and joy and peace. And as Christians we believe all that we have is a gift, and that we will leave a legacy, an inheritance, to those who remain in this life—a legacy that we hope is about love and wisdom and faithfulness.

This is particularly poignant for me, as I got news that Len Hart passed away yesterday. Len certainly left a legacy of love and faith, for Julie and the family, and for all of us who knew and loved and served with him. We give thanks for Len’s life and the witness he gave to his faith throughout his life, and especially in these last 7 months, where so much was a gift, and so much love and strength was required.  We lift all Len’s family and friends in prayer. We will have a service celebrating Len’s life here at Glen Mar on Saturday, December 9, at 3 pm.

It’s a good season, between All Saint’s and Thanksgiving, to think about and pray about the “legacy” or “inheritance” God wants us to leave. What do you want people to say, when the time comes to celebrate the life you have been given? What is God calling you to do now so that legacy is built and secured?

I’ve been spending a few vacation days this week caring for my dad in NC, and we listen to songs he loves—and just yesterday, as I was thinking of Len and all the Glen Mar saints, we sang along to a song whose chorus is, “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you. It’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

Thank you for all the ways your “legacy” is built, through the choices and the sacrifices of daily life. And thank you for making Glen Mar part of your faith journey, and part of the legacy you will pass on to our youth, to our mission teams, and to the next generation.

See you in Church on Sunday—Come to the Table!

Pastor Mandy

PS If God is calling you to make Glen Mar part of your estate plan, Pastor Andy will be at a Gathering Place table with more information about how to do that. If Glen Mar is important to you now, what a powerful way to show your faith and priorities with your estate. Thank you to those who have already made these plans, and let us know about them! We are so grateful.