The Parish Church of Heanton Punchardon in North Devon

Rev Hugh Pollock

So many of you in the Villages Mission Community knew and loved Hugh Pollock. Whether it was his lovely smile, his sermons, his friendship and mentoring, his leading of worship, marrying, baptising, or taking funerals of one you loved or when he was part of our Staff Team, most of us have something special to remember about him.
Sadly he died at the end of May and at his funeral all of his children either read a poem or talked about him
Whether you knew Hugh or not,  you will gain a tremendous amount from reading Simon’s contribution.

‘If Hugh was here today he would want to share with you all a message from the Bible.

When I first got to Dad’s side after hearing from Isobel and Katy that he had died, I kissed him and said a prayer; then just sat by him on my own for a time. I grew sadder, and at that point I was thinking “Dad I can’t cope without you”. I looked up and saw his bible by his side - pages marked with coloured ribbons - I smiled, knowing my Dad - I knew I would find a message. I chose the red ribbon and read a piece to myself.  I then opened the blue ribbon and found the word Father underlined every time it appeared on both pages.  With one other sentence underlined a new command I give you, love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another.

I thought - just like Dad to keep teaching.  My smile grew bigger - as I knew Dad used this method of underlining and  marking his “best bits” and working as he went through every book he ever read.

I thought “good, I will have Dad’s help to write something for his funeral”. Dad, whenever he was taking a service, would always include a part that the children listening would be able to understand.  Here’s my description of Dad for the children.

Each day, my Dad gave bits of himself away, in whatever way he could, to help other people.  To each person he helped he would give a bit away, which is very tiring. So every day, early in the morning, Dad would just sit quietly and talk and pray to God.  Then before he stood up to get on with another day, God would send the Holy Spirit to refill and renew him, so he was full of energy again - ready for the new day of giving to people.  So Dad was a great big cake (I’m not sure what flavour) and he would give each of us a slice of himself to nourish and feed us. Then every morning, when he only had maybe one slice left of himself, he would pray to God who would make him into a whole cake again.

I said I would include a message from the Bible with Dad’s help. At this point I struggled a bit as to what to write - so I opened his Bible on the cover page, thinking “Dad, help me out here”. 

His first note as “now what to read” (Matthew 6/9) which lead me to Matthew 6/9 which didn’t seen to make much sense. I went back to his notes in the cover. The next one read “they make no sense unless Jesus is in the middle”, I asked for Jesus’ help too, then read the book of Matthew till I found Matthew chapter 10 verse 19.

“Do not worry about what to say or how to say it, at that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you”, at this point I did cry and was then very tired, felt I had been reading scripture too long and just started flicking through pages reading odd bits.  About to give up I read a single word in large capital letters, written by Dad - the work FOCUS - and I did so; this word FOCUS was right next to the title of the book of John “Jesus predicts his death”.

Jesus said “I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed, but if it dies it produces many seeds” verse 26 - “whoever serves me must follow me and where I am, my servant also will be, my father will honour the one who serves me.  (we have to follow by dying to be reborn, Dad’s now being honoured by God for serving Jesus).

Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit  chapter 14 verse 15 “if you love me you will obey what I command and I will ask the Father and He will give you another counsellor. Take with you for ever the spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit)” and chapter 16 verse 16 “Jesus says in a little while, you will see me no more! and then after a little while you will see me!”

This is a bit by Hugh in the back of his Bible.

It is not for us to solve the mysteries but to acknowledge them, research them with wonder/dread, reflect upon and allow yourself not to resolve and order them but to attend to Christ our God.  I am to delight and be comforted in Him, this is what a disciple is.

Keep looking for His presence, His sovereign activity, His love - keep being ready to be surprised by joy.  Go on loving and giving yourself away and receiving His loving touch. (Dad’s saying keep giving away and keep receiving, being refilled).

as it says “the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people, Amen.

Remember, death is not the end, but merely a new beginning!

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