Richard Ferguson, a two times church founder NASA man

Yes it is the name of a man in whose living room Clear Lake Presbyterian Church was born as a community of worshippers. Today there will be a memorial service for him at the Church where he had served his Lord faithfully for all the years of the Church's life. Richard and Valerie his beloved wife were also a part of a small group that had founded a Presbyterian Church in Virginia long before moving to Texas. I was and still is amazed by this man whose love and work were for the Church and NASA! I can still feel his skinny but warm, gentle and strong hug back at the end of last August. I can here his voice when I said, "Dick I have come to say good bye for a year. I will see you next September." He walked me to my car and after giving me a nice warm fatherly hug and said to me, " Good bye my dear. Thank you for being with us on Valerie's last leg of journey.....". He thanked me for the little I had done for him and his family while Valerie was dying and after her death. He reassured me of my call to ministry. He told me that rules are there for good reasons and I should follow. I am and I will not go to his service today. Now sitting at my breakfast table I say my prayer of thanks to God for this child of His. Thank you Lord for your son Richard whose baptism is now complete in his death. Thank you for the gift of Richard's life for all in him that was good and kind and faithful, for the grace you gave him that kindled in him the love of your dear name which enabled him to serve you faithfully. Thank you Lord for all the ways he had shown and practices your love all the people including me who came into his life near the very end. Thank you for the room had prepared for him and calling him home to you. Be with his daughter, sons and that big tall grandson he was so proud of. He loved them so. May they be blessed by your grace in the days to come. In Jesus' name. Amen. Psalm for today: Psalm 116:15 Precious in your sight O Lord, is the death of your servants.