Dear brothers and sisters of Stone Hill Church,
I am writing to share some difficult news with you. I write in collaboration with your pastoral team at Stone Hill and with Richard and Helen Lee, beloved members of our congregation. Together we want to inform you about the Lee’s oldest son, Nate. We do so because of Jesus and the difference that he makes. And so we write with candor, we write with sorrow, we write with hope and trust in the Living Christ.
This past Sunday afternoon, June 9, Nate took his own life. He had struggled with depression for seven years and had attempted suicide in the past, as recently as January of this year. Nate will be dearly missed by all who knew him, including his friends, family, parents, and two brothers, Noah and Caleb.
We share these things with you in part to request sincere and informed prayer. The Lee family, their friends, the Princeton and Montgomery communities, and our whole congregation are now travelling through a period of painful loss and grief. We want to travel together. We want to do it before God. We want to do it in a way that doesn’t allow for shame or whispering; instead, we want it to be done with honesty and kindness and hope and light. So please be praying for all of us, and especially the family, during these difficult days.
We share these things as well to remind you that it is no embarrassment to seek care and help in times of personal struggle. What a shock it is to learn that a young person has taken his life. But it is a fact that for some people, the world feels like a very dark place with little hope and few choices. Even the good things around us – including love of family and friends – can seem to have no impact on feelings of despair. So please, as you look upon this situation and the Lee family, do so with compassion. And do so also with the knowledge that, if you struggle, there are people just a phone call away who are ready to listen and help.
None of us need be alone. All the pastoral staff at Stone Hill Church – Matt, Tracy, Michael, Jin, Jim, Lindsei, and Mary—are open to you. We are here to pray with you and for you, and to serve you in any way we can. And never overlook the power of your own words of encouragement and hope; talking with others who may be hurting can be a real lifeline. There are good resources available online as well. The NJ Hopeline can be contacted at 855-654-6735, and on the web at njhopeline.com. The Crisis Text Line is also available by texting 741741 or at https://www.crisistextline.org/.
On Saturday, June 22, at 11:00 a.m., a memorial service will be held for Nate here at Stone Hill Church. All are welcomed to come; all are welcomed to remember a young man who was genuine and kind and struggled with life’s darkness; all are welcomed to do such remembering in the presence of one another and with hope from the Living God, who is love and life. Details will follow in the church bulletins.
May God’s grace, hope, and peace be with you,
Pastor Matt, along with Jim Erickson, Jin Hyo Lee, Lindsei Lanski, Mary McCormack, Michael Sentance, Tracy Troxel