HUNDREDS PAY TRIBUTE AT PASTOR'S FUNERAL CEREMONY.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET SENIOR COLUMNIST

LANCASTER -- Pageantry was in full flower when hundreds of past and present parishioners, clergy and family members filled to capacity Lancaster United Methodist Church to pay homage to the Rev. James C. Ledgerwood.

Lancaster United Methodist's pastor died suddenly at his home Sept. 8. It was the church's only loss of a sitting pastor.

The Sept. 23 service drew Methodism's California Pacific Conference hierarchy, represented by Pasadena District Superintendent the Rev. Thomas Hill and California Pacific Annual Conference Bishop Mary Ann Swenson.

With them were many of the church's former pastors Ledgerwood called his friends, as well as representatives from almost all of the other religions in the Antelope Valley.

A Jewish shofar sounded the call to worship; the Hope United Methodist Church Tongan Choir came from Long Beach to sing the ``Hallelujah Chorus''; Devotion in Motion Hawaiian dancers performed the ``Kanaka Wai Wai'' (Let Me Walk Through Paradise); the Lancaster church Praise Team, the Oliver Handbell Choir and the Chancel Choir all performed music.

Longtime friend the Rev. Don Guerant, former pastor of the Quartz Hill United Methodist Church, spoke of their friendship and Pastor Jim's love of fishing.

``He was no halfway person,'' Guerant said. ``He did everything way too much. He loved to cook and he loved to eat. He was a very giving person, overly generous, too gracious and way too merciful. He'd say, `Let's give `em another chance.' And he had way too much fun. You know those mansions up in heaven waiting for all of us? Well, Jim's is bound to be beachfront property. He had a personal relationship with Christ and I can hear him now saying, `Hey, Jesus, how about you and me, we go wake up Simon Peter real early in the morning and we all go fishin'!'''

College chum the Rev. William Kintner, the official eulogist, described their college days when they ``were partners in crime.''

``Jim was a great storyteller and children loved him as much as he loved them. He always had a joke to tell and he was adventurous. We shared many adventures in our two-member Sacred Secret Order of the Red Stole,'' he said. ``We had lots of, sort of, illicit fun. If I know him, by now he has probably set the heavens on fire.''

Said Swenson: ``Jesus exhorted Peter to `feed my sheep','' she said. ``That's just what Jim did for all of us until God touched him and took him home.''

Hill told the congregation that their pastor's unexpected death is proof of the biblical warning that ``We don't know the time or the place that our life will end.''

``I do know that Jim was a pastor that wanted you to live life to the fullest.''

``I will miss my friend,'' he said. ``Our leader has fallen but we are not lost.''

Born Aug. 31, 1942, Ledgerwood had just turned 64, and only recently returned from a fishing vacation.

He leaves behind his wife and associate, Pastor Kathy Ledgerwood, daughter Tiffany, son Jordan of Hawaii, mother Pauline, sister Linda and other family members.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ledgerwood family fund at the Antelope Valley Bank.

The Rev. James R. Powell, pastor of the Palmdale United Methodist Church, who is serving as interim administrator for the Lancaster church until a new minister is appointed.

Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk, for the suggested donation of $2.

Monday: Braised beef and noodles, peas and carrots, marinated beets, pudding.

Tuesday: Herb-baked chicken, mashed potatoes, zucchini squash, tossed salad, mandarin oranges.

Wednesday: Tamale pie, Spanish rice, green beans, coleslaw, cookies.

Thursday: Creole chicken, brown rice, Normandy vegetables, tossed salad, pie.

Friday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, carrot/raisin salad, pineapple in juice.

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