Please note that the Spring Congregational Meeting takes place this Sunday at 2:30 pm in the Sanctuary at First Trinity Lutheran Church.

For the current listing of events and a brief meeting agenda, download our Weekly Announcements.

For the current listing of events, download our Weekly Announcements.

The program and materials for John Mack’s memorial service, held January 26, 2008, at People’s Congregational United Church of Christ, are available for a download as a PDF. This includes the order of the service, as well as the text of prayers, readings, and musics, and the full text of the remembrances delivered as part of the service.

Come help us celebrate Earth Day/Creation Care Sunday this week. “First Church 101″ is offered at 2:30, for prospective new members and current members alike.

For the current listing of events, download our Weekly Announcements.

Maundy Thursday Service of Holy Communion and Tenebrae, in the Sanctuary at First Trinity.
Thursday, March 20 at 7:30 pm

Good Friday Service at Peoples Congregational UCC
Friday, March 21 at 12:00 noon

Easter Sunday service
Sunday, March 23 at 1:00 pm
Preaching: Rev. Douglas Clark
Guest Musicians: Loretta Uzelle and the Community Chorus

Network for Good charges a 4.75% processing fee. This charge is tax-deductible and by default is added to the contribution amount. The Finance Commission asks that church members who pay their pledges through Network for Good use this default option instead of having the fee taken out of the pledge, as otherwise the church will not receive the full pledge amount.

Please direct questions, comments, or concerns to Karen Pence. The Finance Commission thanks you for your generous support of First Church.
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As most of you know, John died on January 15, Martin Luther King’s birthday, surrounded by Jessica, Peter and me, as well as Sara and Scott, with short visits with Antonio and Sofia. At the end, in his own inimitable way, John made it very clear it was time. He put on a dress shirt like he would wear to work each day and then took off his oxygen mask. We did what we could with our love and medication to make the end as peaceful and easy as possible. Many of you have felt like you missed a a step in the journey between our flight back to the United States and John’s decision to come home to die. I tried to fill in that gap in our belated Christmas message written a few days before John’s death. Since not all of you are on our Christmas card list, I am sending it out to the many circles who have held us in love and prayer. You are free to share it with others. Many of you were scheduled for visits and missed them because we all hoped John would have more time. If you have a memory, a story, an experience you would like to share, we are putting together a Memory Book so that the grandchildren and the whole family can know Papa John in his fullness as reflected back by the many people whose lives he touched. Please send them to Barbara Gerlach, 1302 Geranium St. NW, Washington, DC 20012, or gerlachmack@erols.com.

As most of you know, John’s Memorial Service, followed by a reception, will be on Saturday, January 26 at 2:00 PM at Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ, 4704 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, since the building of First Church is in the process of re-development.

Getting home to family was what kept John alive the past eight week. He kept saying he was in the right place and with the right people, and the air ambulance ride was worth every penny. We have included the photo of our family from our Christmas card, which may not transmit to all computers.

With deep sadness at our loss and great thankgiving for John’s life and love,

Barbara

Posted on behalf of Barbara Gerlach (gerlachmack@erols.com).
You can also read John and Barbara’s story and leave messages at their CaringBridge site.

John Mack died peacefully at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, January 15, 2008. Amazing Grace was playing in the background and we were singing along. Jessica and Peter and I, along with Scott and Sara, had been gathered around John’s bed in the living room since 7:00 AM, surrounding him with our love.

The Memorial Service will be at Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ, 4704 13th St. NW 20011 at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 26. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Congregational UCC designated for the Community Chorus or the Dinner Program for Homeless Women, 309 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011.

Thank you all for your outpouring of love and support. Please give us time alone as a family to gain our bearings until the Memorial Service. During this time, please be in touch by cards and email.

Love,

Barbara, Jessica, and Peter

Posted on behalf of Barbara Gerlach (gerlachmack@erols.com).
You can also read John and Barbara’s story and leave messages at their CaringBridge site.

As most of you know, we air ambulanced home from India on January 30 after 5 weeks in hospitals in Nepal and India after John’s lungs were severely damaged by high altitude pulmonary edema and pneumonia trekking in the Himalayas. John spent a week at George Washington Hospital for evaluation, which was also a time for personal discernment and conversations with the family and doctors. Despite the hope that rehab and a lung transplant might be a possiblity, John knew that their was no “comeback” in his body and chose to come home with hospice to find life in dying well and savoring the time he has left with family and friends. At the moment, he is burning brightly with conversation and his inner reflections. It is a rich spiritual time.

He said Christmas came for him this years when he crossed the doorway into our home. Life is going on around him, from his perch in the living room and he is very much the center of our lives.

We have assembled our team. Jessica and Peter have been “rocks” and an incredible support to John and me. Antonio and Sofia reminds us constantly that life goes on and make us smile through our tears — and we watch new life forming before our eyes as Sara and Peter’s antiicipate the birth of their first child in April. We have a great nurse through hospice, Ousmane, originally from Senegal, who comes twice a week, and a home heath care worker, Amelia, originally from the Cameroon, who comes from 9:30 PM to 9:30 AM every night. John’s sister Lucy and his brother Tal, and my family have been here frequently. We have been inundated with people from all parts of John’s life coming to visit. John has touched many lives and we are touched by all who want to share some “last times” with him, with all the intensity that brings.

At first, John wanted to have an “open house” from 3-5 most days and wanted to schedule the visits. That is becoming too much. I am now the scheduler, so call or email me — not John’s cell or email. I am printing all your messages for John to read. Starting the beginning of February, I will be scheduling times with John on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3-5, often in small groups. We may have to scale back more as his energy diminishes. Time is of the essence, so share what is on your heart and join John in these meaning-making conversations. Be sensitive when he is wearying, so he has some energy left for conversation with family in the evening.

Many have asked about how I am doing. Right now my focus is on John. The middle of the day is my time alone with him, often sitting next to him in his bed, and I am not answering telephones during those time.. Early morning, I go for a walk to get my bearings and do my grieving. At 3:00, I walk to pick up Antonio at school and we toss a ball on our way home. We have brought our bedtime reading down to the living room so Papa John can listen in. Several mornings and one afternoon a week, I am with Sofia between Jessica’s leaving for her internship and the arrival of the babysitter.. Evenings I am surrounded by my family, who are a great comfort and strength. I am also very moved by all the people reaching out and supporting us in so ways.

I will try to be in touch about once a week. I am not always able to read and respond to email daily, but I do get to all your notes in time and share them with John. My periodic messages to ALL will have to suffice for a while.

John joins me in sending his love and gratitude for all your support and caring,

Barbara Gerlach and John Mack

Posted on behalf of Barbara Gerlach (gerlachmack@erols.com).
You can also read John and Barbara’s story and leave messages at their CaringBridge site.

From family and community networks you have heard about my six week captivity in hospitals and ICU’s in Nepal and India. Last Saturday I was Fed Ex’d back to Washington. After a week at George Washington University Medical Center, I finally made it all the way home. In addition to the care of family and friends, I am now in hospice care. My bed is centrally located in our living room, a setting conducive to good conversation.

We all come into the world in basically the same way, but the ways of leaving are innumerable. The fortunate get to have some influence over their dying. I am one of the fortunate. I look forward to having you join me in the conversation.

In the early couple of weeks, family and friends from out of town are visiting. Please call my cell phone to set a time to visit, preferably in the latter part of the afternoon. I do rather well with visits, less well by telephone.

Barbara joins me in sending love.

John

Posted on behalf of John Mack.
You can also read John and Barbara’s story and leave messages at their CaringBridge site.