It seems as if it were only yesterday (kinda!) Jan and Molly had arrived in Aledo a day
before Zach and I because Jan was to attend the closing of our home. Zach and I were
left behind in Alabama while the moving van was getting packed for the direct trip from Prattville.
I remember Zach and I left Alabama on his 13th birthday, October 31st, 2001. We’d
planned to spend that night in a hotel in Clarksville, Tennessee (we took the last train
there anyway!) to break up the trip.
Early the next morning, Zach and I began the final leg of our trip. I remember it was a
beautiful day. A couple of hours before we hoped to arrive, Jan called me with some
alarming news. One of our elders, Daryl Michael, had been in a serious car accident;
he was in the ICU at one of the Quad Cities hospitals. I needed to get there as soon as
possible. I pulled into Aledo, we unloaded our Honda Accord, and I then drove to the
hospital where I met Daryl’s mother Bev. (Daryl was ‘out of it’). That was November
1st, 2001. 25 years ago. Where has the time gone?
After that visit to the hospital, I returned to Aledo where Jan, the kids, and some of
you helped us unpack. I was to have a week off before preaching the first time here at
Trinity (the old building). That was before Daryl’s accident. Now, I needed to prepare a
sermon and design a service of worship with all my commentaries and books still
packed. I preached my first sermon here (not counting my candidating messages) on
Sunday, November 4th, 2001.
I never thought we’d leave Prattville, Alabama. We had met so many beautiful people
there. We loved them, and they loved us (even if we were a bit too much Yankee!)
Yet, the same can be said of the flock here in Aledo. So many dear saints that have
entrusted the preaching of God’s Word to me and the elders of Trinity Church. You
know who you are. You have been so faithful in supporting us and our ministry. We
thank God for each of you, and to those also who await us in glory!
Speaking of that, I estimate I’ve preached some 1,150 sermons in that time!
I’ve found that as a pastor, the longer we’ve stayed in one spot, the more we love
those that are there to be ministered to. Whether you’ve been a part of Trinity Church
for a long time, or a short time, you matter. And you really matter to us, and to the
church family.
See you Sunday? Pastor Daren & family
