Strangers and Pilgrims

These stones that have echoed their praises are holy,
And dear is the ground where their feet have once trod;
Yet here they confessed they were strangers and pilgrims,
And still they were seeking the city of God.

Remembering George Blackshire, who died October 5 at the age of 85. He had been a trustee of St. Mary the Virgin for many years and was in his latter prime when I was there. He was also the head of the Brother Lawrence Guild and for many years was in charge of the hospitality after services. Although he disapproved heartily when St. Mary's went to Rite II, he remained loyal when others fled to more traditional parishes. As expected, he had requested a solemn requiem with black vestments and the Faure Requiem. I'm sure he would have been happier with a true solemn requiem with subdeacon instead of the missing man formation now in effect at St. Mary's, but the Faure was divine and the reception afterward adequate, although I missed the sherry and jalapeno jack that were regular staples of George's receptions.

We were also notified of a sudden farewell by Alan McClare yesterday, of as yet unknown causes. Alan was a longtime vestryman and warden of St. Ignatius who had in recent years been absent from our midst. In keeping with recent history of male wardens, he had disappeared soon after being relieved of warden duty, for reasons still unclear. I wish now I had made more of an effort to keep in touch, as he was such a constant figure in our parish life for so many years and did so much for so long. I was just thinking of him rather vividly the day before and wondering what had caused him to suddenly disappear. Now I guess we'll never know.