Faith From the Roots of Our Ancestors

Like many people lately, I’ve found myself drawn into the world of roots, ancestry and family history. Watching Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. on television sparked my curiosity, and before long I was exploring my own lineage. Whatever began as casual interest has become a meaningful journey, one that has connected family stories, faith, and the seasons of the church year.

On my father’s side, I am the grandson of two immigrants. My grandfather, Fred L. (known as Fritz), was Swedish and firmly rooted in the Lutheran tradition. My grandmother was English and Episcopalian. Through research, I’ve been able to trace both family lines back to the 1600s and 1700s. Seeing generation after generation listed by name is humbling. Each represents a life lived, faith practiced imperfectly, and hope carried forward.

My mother’s side tells a different but equally rich story. Her mother was of Irish Catholic descent, while her father’s ancestry included English, Scottish, and German roots. Together, these strands form a tapestry of faith traditions and family histories that eventually shaped my own journey of faith. We were able to go back beyond Europe’s hundred and the thirty-year wars, I can only imagine what they endured.

As I’ve traced who begat whom, one old hymn has been echoing in my heart: “Faith of our fathers, living still, in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword.” During Lent, that hymn feels especially fitting. Lent invites us to look honestly at our lives, to remember our mortality, and to return again to the promises of God. In doing so, we remember that our faith did not begin with us. It was handed down, through baptismal waters, spoken prayers, hymns sung, and lives lived in trust.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight…and run with perseverance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Those witnesses include our ancestors, known and unknown, who trusted God in their own time and place. Yet, Lent does not end at the cross. Our personal family stories, like our faith, are not stories of perfection but of grace. They lead us toward Easter, where God declares that death does not have the final word. “If we have been united with Christ in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5).

As a Lord of Life congregation living between memory and hope, we give thanks for those who came before us and look forward to what God is still bringing to life among us. By grace, we are part of the story, and entrusted with passing faith on to those who follow.

Lord’s peace, Craig  

Gracious God, We thank you for the faithful who have gone before us, for parents, grandparents, and ancestors known and unknown, who trusted your promises and walked by faith. During this Lenten season, help us to remember that we are dust, yet dust claimed by your mercy. As we journey toward Easter, renew our hope in the resurrection, that we may live boldly, love generously, and pass on the faith we have received. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who was crucified and is risen for us.  Amen.