Charlie Wear: I met Palmer at a Church Planting Weekend at Jason Evans' home in Vista, CA. in September 2003. He was freshly grieving the death of his wife, Jennifer. I remember Palmer from that weekend because of the clear anointing of the Holy Spirit on every word he spoke. Mark is survived by his wife Amy and his 4-yr. old son, Micah.
Here is a quote from Mark's blog last May:
"So, in the midst of all the questions and the doubting and anger and grief and all the other emotions that I know at least I am feeling, please find belief on some level, and offer that. It's all we can do, offer what we have. There will be plenty of time for theologizing and philosophizing about good and evil and healing and non-healing and the apparent interest or disinterest of God in this situation, but for now maybe we just need to believe apart from all of that. Or maybe not apart from it, but in the midst of it."
I am praying for Amy, Micah, and all of those who loved Palmer. I am also praying for the Ohio cohort of warriors in the Spirit who have lost one of their beloved.
 I didn't really know Chad Canipe. Over the years we had exchanged a few emails. He had written a couple of articles for Next-Wave, the first one was published in September 1999. It was a review of a Leonard Sweet book. Chad was one of a number of ordained pastors who have given up the role of paid clergy to pursue something called "missional" church planting.
He was part of that group of guys I watch with great interest, the ones in the Cincy area. I think of them as the emerging church "apostles." Through their blogs and their articles we get a glimpse of the post-denominational leadership of the church in the new millenium.
He died March 10 and his loved ones mourn. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Pray for them, take time to contribute to their care.
Kevin Rains: I'm preparing this morning to bury another dear freind and kingdom ally this morning. Mark Palmer died this past Monday at the age of 31. He was a church planter, pastor, soul friend to many, husband to Amy, and father to a 4 year old boy he called his 'little prophet,' Micah. Here's a poem I read at his memorial service...
Hope : : Elpida
There is a tree that grows on my arm
It’s for a friend, an eternal marring of my flesh for his.
A beauty mark, intentional, not God-given
A gift from a friend who speaks beauty through his hands.
A solidarity sign stretched across my skin. Blood brothers united in heart years ago now visible to all
Brothers in arms.
Rooted in Elpida,
Lovely leafless limbs smooth and supple as veins
Climb quietly like ivy clinging to skin and bone
Growing toward my heart where he now resides. This tree grips, grips my arm,
12 leaves for 12 friends coupled, man and wife
12 leaves for the healing of nations
12 leaves for Yahweh wins. I hope in God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost.
Now and Forever I hope. No ounce of regret not one single ounce.
Yahweh wins.
Yahweh wins.
Yahweh wins. I pledge allegiance to his cause. mark palmer 
Poema This is the name of the church Chad Canipe intended to plant this Spring. He left a podcast of his vision. If you haven't listened to it, I highly recommend it.
Turns out Poema is the spanish word for 'poem' and the greek word (poiema) for creation. It is related to our word poem and carries the idea of a masterpiece, artistry and creativity. It is from Ephesians 2.10 where the ideas - 2 of my favorites!- are forever linked: creativity and mission, artistry and purpose. We, you and I, are God's workmanship twice created: once on the flesh and once in the spirit, the Imago Dei united with the New Humanity that is resulting from the resurrection. So I paraphrase and pray...
+++ Lord, we are your masterpiece, your poem, your treasured art created once in your image and then re-created by the power of your new life for the very purpose of loving you, loving neighbor and caring for creation. Help us to fulifll this high call. Lead us to the purposes you have for us. Today. This hour. Help us to see what you are doing and follow your lead. Amen. +++
Don't forget to set your watches and palm pilots for 10:02am to pray for God to raise up 100 workers to carry forward Chad's vision of planting grasroots communities of faith... Communities of poemas: creativity and mission. I'm praying for 100 in Cincinnati, 100 in Vermont, 100 in San Diego, 100 in North Carolina, 100 in Minneapolis...
3 Chad quickies... 1. Our house church, the Tuesday gathering that Chad was a part of, processed Chad's death together. Steve N captured it in writing so well that I don't want to attempt a partial treatment. Just go check it out if you're interested. It was an amazing time -- somewhat speculative, very joyful and hopeful. The kind of gathering Chad loved. Heady and Hearty stuff together.
2. We began the time together listening to a podcast of Chad's voice, telling the vision for Poema, the church he and Renee intended to start in a few short weeks. It is well worth a listen just to hear his voice but to hear him sharing vision and he closes with some remarks about God bringing good out of pain and tragedy. Stellar.Click on the Podcast...
3. I've been praying Luke 10:2 everyday for a number of months now. It is a prayer Jesus told his followers to pray about God raising up workers for a harvest of souls. There are many others praying it as well. It was a movement started by my friends John White and Kenny Moore in Denver, CO. We pray it at 10:02am (from Luke 10:2) everyday. It has just taken on a much deeper meaning and focus for me in Chad's death. I literally want God to AVENGE Chad's death by raising up 100 workers to replace him in greater Cincinnati; 100 new kingdom minded people who will plant "grass roots communities of faith in the city" (Chad's words) over the next 2 years. Will join me in this daily prayer at 10:02am and 2 year goal? ** if yes, post in the comments below and we'll keep track of who is praying who is beign raised up as workers **
I wasn't ready... I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my friend and ally Chad Canipe. I grieve for the gap his wife and boys and parents and the rest of his family must feel. His memorial service was yesterday and it truly turned out well. I knew we did well when Renee told me that Chad would have loved it. I am overflowing right now with thoughts and emotions, many that I hope to process here and in person with many of you. We've been telling Chad stories all weekend long and it has been good to remember what an amazing life he lived. I miss him and long for our reunion.
For now though we battle on without him.
+++ May we honor him and the One he loved the most in the fight for justice and peace, joy and love to rule our lives and the neighborhoods we find ourselves in. +++
In Chad's words, "God is not far away and in fact he is using our 'place' to help us find him."
I miss my friend.
From Alan Creech:
palmer's day
 Today was a "good" day. Sounds funny I'm sure. I said to Eric Keck in the cemetery this morning, "nice day for something sucky." It was a very odd day of flashbacks for many of us. The burial - "committal" - ceremony was first, in the morning, in the exact same place as another one we all attended 3 years earlier for Jennifer's burial. That day Mark was alive, reading prayers over the body of his wife. Today, he lay there (well, his body) and one of his friends read the same prayer over him.
Sun shining, birds singing, Spring all sprung today. And a very sad gathering of friends and family to say goodbye to a great man. Well, this I know, he's still a great man. We don't stop being men when we cross the divide. We also don't stop being members of the Body of Christ. We still share a communion of Life with Palmer. He certainly understands that a bit better than we do at the moment.
So, we cried some more, prayed, laughed - memorial service afterwards was wonderful. Stories about how Mark had effected so many people's lives in the Kingdom - amazing. Amy was as strong as you could expect her to be, gracious. The LP Kids are full of Grace. Their road has changed but not ended. They are strong and their community will continue to blaze as a fire for the Kingdom of God in Columbus and in the world.
We worshiped and prayed. We were blessed by their community - THEY prayed a prayer of blessing over US! For all our protection, for God and His Life to cover us. Thank you for that guys.
Then, we ate. You have to eat. We went to Palmer's favorite restaurant in Columbus, near his home, Haiku - good stuff. The waiter actually remembered him as Chris had a photo in his phone. We were there only customers at 2pm in the afternoon - took up half the restaurant. Good time to be together. Then many of us went back to 64 King Ave. to be with the Kids, the family, more friends, etc. Once again, we walked through that house, ate food from that table in the dining room, and watched Micah play in the back yard with other children. Pray for him, Jennifer and Mark. He'll be fine I think. He has a strong Mother now in Amy, an amazing community/family all around him, and the odd "blessing" of being young enough not to remember the pain so much.
  Some got tattoos as other had before - elpida - "hope" in Greek. We were encouraged not to loose our hope, even in Palmer's own words. Strong man while he was alive here, strong man alive now. I didn't get a tattoo but I do have the hope. A large contingent wore black Chuck Taylor Allstars as well - classic Palmer. His Dad even wore Mark's own pair. We're on our way home to Lexington tonight. I write this copy as a text file on my laptop in the van as Liz drives us. I wanted to share it while it was all fresh in my mind. I did take photos as well. Might sound unusual, but we wanted the day "documented." As Kevin said, "because we won't be doing this again for a long time." It's good to see those memories, even if bittersweet. Just so you know, there are not casket pictures or anything like that (I'll put them up on my flickr tomorrow). People mostly, being together, and the places. There was definitely joy there today, even in the obvious sadness, and there will continue to be.
UPDATE: Check out the photos here. Peace.
Great Grace and blessings be on Amy and Micah Palmer! Great Grace, Peace and Wisdom be in and upon the Community of The Landing Place with all it's members! May the Healing and Protection and Guidance of God in His Holy Spirit be with you all as you continue to walk - and do continue to walk. Palmer would tell you the same thing. He lived the example of it before you all. Time to keep on walking. Amen. |
