Ben Judd Larson
In Memoriam- Benjamin Judd Larson 1984-2010
Son of First Lutheran Church Pastors Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. April Ulring (ELCA Bishop Emeritus) and Associate Pastor Rev. Judd Larson
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being. Psalm 104:31-33
Benjamin Judd Ulring Splichal Larson, 25, died in the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010. He was buried with a service of “song and prayer” with his family in attendence on February 6,2010 in Phelps Cemetary in Decorah, Iowa. As an infant Ben was wrapped in the arms of God in the waters of baptism, and from those waters, his life was an outpouring of love and joy, laughter and play, in response to God first loving Ben. Ben’s love of God, walking in accompaniment, passionately loving others, listening and learning from those who are poor across the globe, drove his serving. Music oozed out every fiber of Ben’s body. His passion was to sing Global songs of faith with the people of God. He played guitar, mandolin, trombone, cello, piano and any other instrument he could get his hands on. Ben picked up drumming—African and Latin rhythms especially. All who knew him loved when he picked up a guitar and sang one of the hundreds of songs he had written. Listen to Ben’s music …
Ben expressed his music, joy, and love for God through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Lifting up the new worship book of the ELCA, the ELW, Ben promoted inclusive and expansive language for God and human beings and was strengthened for service through liturgy and hymnody. With an appreciation of the all encompassing body of Christ, Ben proclaimed unity not uniformity, and paid close attention to those who were excluded and disenfranchised, drawing them into the body through the Spirit with transformational love. Driven by the Gospel, Ben challenged people to be mission driven by entering into deep theological discussions that reached beyond division into the Word through which all came into being.
Listen to Ben’s original music: