A tribute to David and Robin

A Tribute to David and Robin


We come to church on Sunday morning to a warm, familiar place
Where we've grown to know acceptance, a friendly smile, a warm embrace.
The music welcomes us as always, every note and every song
Speaks this true asseveration: "It is here that you belong."

And now throughout the sanctuary friends and those we've seen before
Having finished tasks or duties take their places just before –
Just before our Pastor David steps on to the center floor,
And then the conversations cease and quiet is restored once more.

Everyone is duly focused, now the choir takes its place;
The liturgist and bearer of the cross are seated in their place.
Reaching out to every member, every one of us who's there;
Pastor David counsels wisdom, teaching us that we must care --

Care about the people near us starting with the folks we know
And also reaching out at times we'd really rather turn and go.
His lessons are so natural, so clearly pure in their intent;
The truth of scripture gives them power, as if his words were heaven sent.

The messages we hear on Sundays, well rehearsed though they may be
Say little of the total cost, his full responsibility;
For David, Robin and their team supporting them throughout the year
A thousand acts of Christian outreach all begin with prayer, right here.

For scores of people, volunteers assigned to their respective tasks;
In class and choirs, groups, committees, cleaning up from dinners past;
The missions vary, deadlines change, resistance sometimes comes which masks
This ultimate and lasting truth: the work we do for Christ shall last.

The meetings, groups, and constant calls for folks like us to volunteer
Are orchestrated with a skilled precision as an engineer
Would monitor the progress made, the costs, the gains, the goals surpassed
And focus minds and hearts on point -- what's done for Christ will surely last.

The overall administration, while unobserved by most of us;
The goals, the budgets, hopeful plans -- some went well and some went bust --
Are ultimately all the obligation, charge, and incubus
Of Pastor David who, alone, has borne the burden of this trust.

And herein lies the substance of the gift which Dave and Robin gave
"The buck stops here" has been their mandate; sometimes, possibly, a curse.
Their work demanded Christ-like faith, at times requiring them to brave
Objections, critics, sometimes folks who really could have used a nurse.

Now here's the essence, here's the point of this attempt at poetry;
With Dave and Robin our church has stayed the course for you and me;
Bless you, David, bless you, Robin; we thank you more than we can say;
Now Godspeed, go with Christ, stay safe; remember us, please, when you pray.