Joel & Donna Cook: The Best Thing in Life

Submitted by: Joel & Donna Cook

As I sit in the cozy living room, I look around and see treasures from vacations and a collection of carved eggs. Joel and Donna sit together still very much in love with one another despite Joel’s growing dementia. I am here to talk to the couple about their relationship and history with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Both Donna and Joel have a connection to Holy Trinity that spans decades. Donna began attending the church in the late 1940s when she was around 5 years old. Her family had moved to Northern Virginia from Washington D.C. and found a lasting community here.

Donna has had the unique opportunity of attending Holy Trinity under all presiding pastors. “Pastor Ed was the funny one. He would come by around dinner time, sit and talk.” While at their home, he would ask her Grandmother what she was cooking and open the pot to see what delicious food was simmering inside. They always thought that was a hoot. With his funny personality, it was quite endearing.

Donna has also attended service in all three of Holy Trinity’s physical locations. When she first began attending our church as a child, the congregation gathered across the street inside Pastor Yost’s home. She later attended church when it was hosted inside the small building next to the original location. Once the church building that we know and love today was developed, she joined the congregation in one final transition.

Donna has fond memories of her most active years with Holy Trinity. “I’ve always loved going to church. My mom and I and my Grandma always went to church every Sunday.” She remembers going on little trips with the church, attending Sunday School, taking confirmation classes, and helping out at get-togethers hosted by the Luther League. As a member of the Egg Carvers group, she also carved and painted wooden eggs which are now prominently displayed in their home.

As Donna continued to grow within the Holy Trinity community, Joel was cultivating his own share of experiences with church. He recalls that his mother made him and his siblings go to church every week at a Presbyterian church off Route 50. Joel jokes that they followed his mother’s orders until they were old enough to sneak off or lie about attending. As he describes this memory, Donna states her disapproval but still can’t help but laugh at his mischievousness.

All jokes aside, he’s glad that his mother was adamant about his attendance. “As kids we didn’t want to go to church but I’m glad that we didn’t miss any of it.”

The fact that his appreciation for church grew over time served him well once he started dating Donna. When they got together, Donna said “you’re going to church with me every Sunday.” He wasn’t phased in the least.

Holy Trinity was a source of community for their two sons as well. One of whom was an active member of Luther League while he was growing up.

Throughout our conversation, Donna said again and again just how much Holy Trinity has meant to her. As she put it, “the best thing in life is going to church.” There is a hint of sorrow as she explains that they haven’t been able to go in-person for quite some time as driving is now a concern for them.

Although they haven’t visited the physical church in quite some time, the Holy Spirit remains strong in their hearts and their love for one another preservers. “Every day I get out of bed, I thank God for giving me another day,” said Joel. “I try to do something that counts for something.”

“You do,” responded Donna. “You take care of me.”