Ernie, I first met Rev. Pipes as I called you then, when I became a new member in 1957. I remember the setting and the circumstance. You and Maggie were standing over there by the fireplace in the section of the social hall that is now part of the sanctuary. Maggie was holding 9 month old Heather.

We were a smaller church then by far. Not long after I joined, Norton Breiseith, Mitch Marcus and other church stalwarts guided the financing and construction of Forbes Hall to hold our growing crop of children and their families.

---While week after week we were exposed to your thoughtful, philosophically grounded, finely crafted sermons. I admired you from afar. Unfailingly courteous and courtly—you were our philosopher-king.

Early on I became active in the church school, at that time directed by Shirley Hood. Joyce Breiseth and I volunteered to teach the high school group, a group that had been long neglected. We were not satisfied with the Beacon Hill curriculum and set out to make our own under your guidance. Thus began my religious education with you as my mentor. It was a period of tremendous personal religious growth for me.

I remained in awe of you over those years not realizing that this dignified, courtly gentleman also watered the plants, tidied up the sanctuary and regularly joined the sewing group ladies for lunch—it was, you said, one of the most intellectually stimulating groups in the church.

We all know of your courage to stand up for what is right, and with Maggie to take action. You stand up and are counted. You did draft counseling during the Vietnam War, joined in the march on Selma, helped the farm workers negotiate settlements with growers, and helped guide our church in the sanctuary movement for Guatemalans needing a safe haven.

Ernie--from all those years and your work with the church—the marvelous and the mundane--you never lost connection with your flock. I associate the way you answer the telephone with who you are—very simply, “Ernie, here.”

Ernie you will always be here. You are the soul of this church.