A TRIBUTE TO HARRIET POLLARD

July 24, 2009

In 1958, when Harriet began playing the piano for Lewis & Clark Bible Church, Eisenhower was president, gas cost 30 cents a gallon, and the US launched its first satellite into space. Since those days many things have changed, but for fifty years at LCBC one thing remained the same--Harriet Pollard played the piano. when the old seed barn was torn down, and a new building took its place, Harriet played on. When pastors came and went, Harriet played on. When her dear friend and accompaniest on the organ, Helen Leigh, preceded her in death, Harriet played on. Even when severe arthritis made it difficult for her to get to the piano, let alone play, Harriet played on. I'm 53 years old, and Harriet was playing the piano for LCBC for most of the years of my life.

Lest we underestimate the significance of this, consider: "How rare is it for a person to serve in one particular manner in one place for that long?" I have no doubt that there were, in her life, many occasions when it would have been easier for her to quit. No doubt there were difficult relationships and musical disagreements and such. She once remarked to me, as she was struggling to get up the front steps, how she used to laugh at the old ladies who struggled to climb the steps into the church. Her health problems near the end of her life would have been reason enough to step down.

Her dedication to playing the piano was a reflection of her life. She faced many challenges in her life. She lived through the great Astoria fire, the great depression, and many wars. She faced many personal challenges as well. But she persevered by God's grace and kept that encouraging smile on her face through it all.

She loved music. God had given her a gift, and she loved to serve God with her gift. She was a good steward of that which God gave to her. 1 Cor. 4:2 says, "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy." She was trustworthy, and served the Lord in countless ways in our church. She meant a lot to us. Her encouraging presence is interwoven through the history of LCBC. We were all better off in Christ because of knowing her. She will be sorely missed. But we rejoice that she is now with the Lord Jesus Christ and we look forward to the day when we will be reunited with her in heaven (1 Thess. 4:17)!

Pastor Jerry