Memories of Marcy Colvin
Twenty-two years as Youth Director at Trinity ensured that Marcy Colvin probably touched your life in one way or another.
Like many of you, my sons grew up with Marcy playing a big role in their lives. A warm smile, a real conversation, and enough energy to light up a town, Marcy was an effervescent ray of sunshine and a person who truly got along with everybody. She had a certain knack for getting teenagers to break out of their shell and serve others as we do in our servant church.
Michelle Murray
One memory that will forever stand out happened when I had to drop off a permission slip for one of my sons to go on a mission trip. It was probably on the last day for doing so, because I remember being stressed out about that along with so many other things, none of which I can recall now. Marcy invited me into her office as she cleared away a spot on her couch so I could have a seat.
Picture this: an office filled to the brim with pictures on every blank space of her walls and stacks of youth trip memorabilia galore. It was a happy place that was full of old memories as well as a staging area for developing new ones. We talked about my family, the upcoming Trinity youth trips and some of the tchotchkes in her office. And suddenly, I found my stress bubbling over and tears streamed down my face.
Fortunately, I couldn’t have been with a better person to deal with me at that moment. Marcy walked over to me and gave me a hug. She pointed to a pile of prayer shawls ready for the upcoming trip. “Pick one out,” she instructed me. “You need one more than anyone else right now.” As she gave me those instructions, she picked one out of the pile. “This looks like you,” she said. It was a beautiful soft blend of autumn colors…muted orange, olive green and gold. “It’ll match your coloring!” she exclaimed as she put it over my shoulders.
Then she told me how she and the kids on her mission trips offered these prayer shawls to people in need in inner cities. There was a prayer attached to the shawl, and Marcy asked if she could pray for me, just as she did with the kids and recipients of the shawls. She prayed; I silently sobbed. I felt seen. I felt heard. And most of all, I felt as if a load was lifted off of me.
This happened so many years ago, and I’ve never forgotten it. One act of kindness goes a long way. Marcy’s kindness endures.
Nic and Noah Murray
I can only imagine what went through Marcy’s head when she saw either Nic or Noah Murray on her trip roster. It wasn’t that they were difficult human beings; it was because something almost always happened to them when they were on a Trinity youth trip.
Nic went on a canoe adventure trip to Camp Amnicon in Wisconsin. As he and his friend were floating down the river, a tree branch came up out of nowhere and came in direct contact with his head. Marcy had to take him to the ER in Duluth and we received a call that our son had suffered a concussion. The “adventure trip” was over for him, and he spent the rest of his time hunkered down at the camp while his buddies were out having fun on the river. Marcy helped salvage some semblance of fun for him, though. They drove back into Duluth on another day and Marcy took Nic to a store, a restaurant, and best of all, an ice cream shop.
Nic said, “We ate at the Green Mill so we didn’t have to eat at the camp. I just don’t remember much of anything more after going to the hospital. I only remember I enjoyed eating at the Green Mill because of the bad food on the trip and at camp!”
When it was Noah’s turn to go on youth trips at Trinity, we warned him to stay away from canoes…and trees. We forgot to tell him to stay healthy. Another son, another trip (this time to Minneapolis), and another malady. This time, we had a call from Marcy, telling us that Noah had a fever and was throwing up. We jumped in the car, drove to the Cities as quickly as we could and picked him up.
Two sons. Two trips cut short. Life got in the way and Marcy helped both boys navigate around it. There were other trips, and they were successful and fun, but I always joked with Marcy that she probably prayed a little extra when a Murray boy was with her.
I know both sons sure appreciated her, for so many reasons. Noah shared: “When we were at a Bible camp deep in the mountains (or Milwaukee? I can’t remember), the camp would not let any of the campers leave. On any trip with Marcy, ice cream was a nightly ritual. Even though we were very far from civilization, Marcy drove to the closest gas station and picked up ice cream sandwiches for everyone.” The way to a Murray’s heart…ice cream. Marcy knew.
Kathy Dobrzynski
“I went on a servant trip to New Orleans and a lot of our Trinity youth. When Marcy [initially] asked me, I told her I was too old! She convinced me I was not. Since all three of my kids were going, I agreed. Preceding our departure, I continued my walking every day to build up my stamina. Marcy had told me we would be doing a lot of walking and boy, was she right!
One night on the way to the Dome for the nightly program we were all walking as a big group with Marcy leading the way. I was close to the front. Marcy turned around to see where all the kids were and they were back a ways. She yelled at them to get going because a couple of old ladies were beating them! I had to laugh at that because I considered myself old and didn’t even think I could make this trip!
Jeff and Doug Dobrzynski
Kathy’s sons (Jeff and Doug) also shared fun Marcy memories. Jeff said: “I’ll never forget the nights at Trinity playing Romans and Christians in the church during our lock-ins. And Marcy always had the brightest smile waiting for us in the chalet on our youth ski trips, eager to share in our excitement and hear how the slopes were. We always had the most positive, fun-loving role model leading us in serving others on service trips.
Marcy was the greatest example of what it meant to show endless love and support for others. From leading our numerous local volunteer activities, youth service trips, and being everyone’s #1 fan at extracurricular events, Marcy endlessly gave so much to others and loved everyone as her own family. I am so blessed to have learned from her how to love life and love others.”
Doug shared: “While I was lucky enough to enjoy going on two national youth gatherings, I have many more fond memories of the smaller, everyday moments. Here’s one of my favorites. In high school I attended a church leadership camp at Luther College in the summers. Marcy always attended the closing ceremony and drove me home, just the two of us.
We were deep in conversation when all of a sudden Marcy stopped and said, ‘Doug, we’re in Minnesota.’ If you’ve driven from Decorah to Mason City, you’ll know there’s a very big, clearly marked point at which you have to make a left turn to stay on the same route. Somehow we both missed it and ended up something like an hour off course and in Minnesota. This exemplifies the type of relationship she developed with others: deep and caring.”
Rhonda Schmidtke
“I was not a part of Trinity when Marcy was here but I did work with her for a year at Call of the Wild. She was always the mom of the group and the thing I remember most about her was that she was always ‘on.’ She never had a bad day or got upset with anyone. She was a bright light to work with!!”
Jo Pearce
“When I think of Marcy, I think of all the memories she helped us create. One of my favorites is from the 2015 Youth Gathering in Detroit, where I was a chaperone. In the middle of everything going on around us, Marcy sat down—and somehow managed to fall asleep right there! The kids were laughing and carrying on around her, and she just napped. And I managed to snap a picture.
That was Marcy. She gave so much of herself to all of us and somehow kept going, even when she was obviously exhausted. She helped make those trips more than just places we went—they became lasting memories we still carry with us today.
I’m so thankful for the adventures, the laughter, and especially for Marcy. This picture has always made me smile, but now it means even more.”
Mindy Farland
“About 2015, when my younger boys were old enough to go with me, I began to chaperone ski trips and Valley Fair trips with Marcy. I didn’t ski, so Marcy and I spent much of our time in the lodge, guarding bags and checking in with skiers.
We took a charter bus in the early days, [but] when student numbers were down, Marcy drove the big church van, and we filled my van as well. Trips home ALWAYS included eating at the McStop (McDonald’s) in Lakeville, MN. Marcy always had a sandwich, small fry, and a small strawberry shake. Marcy was lactose intolerant as a result of damage to her intestines from past cancer treatment, but she didn’t care. She was going to sip on that shake, making it last the entire ride home, even though it [didn’t agree with her].
Marcy had a way of talking that made kids listen and do as they were told. She occasionally had to yell to get their attention, but then the kids listened and followed directions. She had so much energy and was so positive about everything that it was hard to say no to her.
Marcy got Spencer to do volunteer work, something he would have refused if anyone else had asked. Nathan developed a very strong faith because of Marcy. And although Eric only had Marcy in Confirmation for one year before she retired, he got to know her a little better through all those trips I brought him on while being a chaperone! Marcy always called our kids “my boys,” and they knew she sincerely meant it.
I feel blessed to have known Marcy, for I learned as much from her as the kids did. Until we meet again, my friend.”
Indeed. Until we meet again, Marcy. Thank you for your service to our youth…and everyone else. †
Comments