The cake celebrating more than half a century of service in ministry sat in the center of a table at a weekend reception.
And the Rev. Eric Erickson readily understood the symbolism as he relaxed in the gym of First Presbyterian Church, where he has served as a backup preacher in semi-retirement in Columbus since 1999.
“The memories and the cake are both very sweet,” said the 74-year-old Erickson, a former Columbus High School English and speech teacher and debate coach. Earlier, his wedding to wife-and-later-minister Norie was the first to be held in the then-new First Baptist Church of Columbus in 1965.
Erickson, a native of Springfield, Missouri, and Seymour native Cal Brand, 74, marked 50 years in ministry Sunday at a simple gathering after the morning worship service at the local downtown church at Seventh and Franklin streets. Both have spent a lifetime focusing on others’ lives and needs — Brand heavily in chaplaincy and training others for such, and Erickson in pastoring and, as a sideline, a law practice, mostly as a public defender.
Brand grew up in Columbus at First Presbyterian, and he humorously and indirectly acknowledged that perhaps the angel food cake being served might not be a good, symbolic fit for his time as a youngster there. He and wife Donna returned to Columbus in 2006 after ministry in places such as Missouri, Florida, New Mexico and elsewhere.
“Mostly today, I have feelings about how grateful I am for all the church people who put up with me in Sunday School, in youth choir and youth group,” Brand said. “We were a pretty rowdy class.”
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
