They are with the Lord!

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord;
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live;
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  John 11:25

St. Paul wrote these words as a statement of fact and to comfort those who were grieving. When a Christian dies to this earthly life, earthly grief follows, but grief is not a concession to despair; rather, it is simply a confession of emotional pain. For the Christian, earthly death is simply a state of temporary separation.

For none of us liveth to himself,
and no man dieth to himself.
For if we live, we live unto the Lord.
and if we die, we die unto the Lord.
Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. Romans 14:7-8

While we are apart and see each other here no longer, we are not bereft of consolation and peace, for those are the promised gifts of our Lord. Jesus gave Himself up for us that we would live forever with Him, and with each other in the Heavenly country. 
Our Parish Family is grieving the earthly death of three of our beloved members,
Carroll Jones, Sam English and Jack Hardy.

Carroll and Elizabeth Jones were members at Creator for over thirty years. Devoted attendees of the 10:30 service, servers of multiple parish ministries, and bringers of genuine companionship to all they knew. Several years ago, Carroll and Elizabeth retired to the Richmond Masonic Home and so have been absent from our Church services, but never from our hearts. Carroll died to this earthly life two months ago and received services from Grace Church in Purdy, Virginia, where he and Elizabeth had lived. 

Jack Hardy was an original member of Creator and constant attendee of the 8:00 Sunday service. Jack had served in multiple positions through the years until he left the parish several years ago. Jack was a delightful companion, always ready with a smile and good humor. Jack was a “keeper of the history” of Creator and a guardian of the hopes and dreams of our Parish. Of the many gifts Jack gave to our Parish, the blue Advent accouterments which currently adorn the Church were a special gift in memory of his wife Shirley.

Sam English was also one of Creator’s original members. Sam was an attendee of the 8:00 service and a beloved servant of the Lord. Always available to help, Sam was on speed dial for those times when a sage point of view and friendly assurance were needed.

Carroll, Jack and Sam are here no longer, they are with the Lord! Our grief is that of separation, but our celebration is the victory over death and the assurance of the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love.   BCP  pg. 481

Please continue to pray for all who are grieving this earthly separation. 

Jack Hardy’s visitation is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Parkway, Mechanicsville, VA 23111. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Signal Hill Memorial Park, 12360 Hanover Courthouse Rd, Hanover, VA 23069, followed by a reception at Monaghan Funeral Home.

Link to Jack Hardy's obituary


Sam English’s visitation is scheduled from from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, December 7, at the Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Road. A funeral service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, December 8, at The Episcopal Church of the Creator, 7159 Mechanicsville Turnpike. Entombment will follow in Signal Hill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Virginia Thoroughbred Project (virginiathoroughbredproject.org).

Link to Sam English's Obituary

 
Carroll Jones’ obituary is below. 

https://www.owenfh.com/obituaries/carroll-jones

Elizabeth lives at the Masonic Home (15 minutes from the Church, and you can find more information here).  You can visit her or send correspondence (she loves cards) to:

Elizabeth Jones
MAHOVA 
500 Masonic Lane 
Richmond, VA 23223

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

He that raised up Jesus from the dead
will also give life to our mortal bodies,
by his Spirit that dwelleth in us.

Wherefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoiceth;
my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Thou shalt show me the path of life;
in thy presence is the fullness of joy,
and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.     BCP pg. 484-485

O Almighty God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who by a
voice from heaven didst proclaim, Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord: Multiply, we beseech thee, to those who rest
in Jesus the manifold blessings of thy love, that the good
work which thou didst begin in them may be made perfect
unto the day of Jesus Christ. And of thy mercy, O heavenly
Father, grant that we, who now serve thee on earth, may at
last, together with them, be partakers of the inheritance of
the saints in light; for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.      BCP pg. 486


Peace in Christ,

Fr. Bill+