I Designed the Cover of Union Church's Long Night Service Bulletin in December

This past December, my friend Steve Rhodes asked me to design the cover of the bulletin for Union Church's Long Night Service. The Long Night Service is always held on the night of December 20, and is meant for those who grieve or otherwise are having a very hard time just before Christmas. I accepted his request, having myself experienced deaths of loved ones at Christmastime. My friend Charlie Howard died on Christmas Day in 2004 after having ruptured his colon when he was just 34 years old, and then my family's 16 year old toy poodle Missy was put to sleep on the night before Christmas of 2006 following seizures that day. Those deaths were very hard for me to bear, and I've been remembering them each Christmas. I had Charlie and Missy in mind as I designed the bulletin cover. I took this picture of it so I could share with everyone. The photo is actually a copy of a copy of my original drawing, so some of the lines are not very clear. You can click on it for a up close look. The bottom corner is dark because of the shadow of my camera. You should be able to read my poem well enough on the bulletin, but here it is in print anyway.

May our loved ones who die before us
Find a welcoming place in Heaven to be.
May we eventually get to join them up there
And enjoy each other's presence for eternity.


It meant so much to do this bulletin, and I got nice praise for it. It helps knowing I can comfort others who are grieving. I attended the Long Night Service myself, and was touched by what was being said. Sometimes, I just like to sit in my house with the bulletin and look at the angels and read the prayers inside the bulletin, while remembering those such as Charlie and Missy.