Dim Lamp/קנה רצוץ לא ישבור

Funeral Sermon for Helen Rutschke, based on Ps 23; Gal 6:1-10 John 14:1-3. By Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, at Prairie View Cemetery, Medicine Hat, AB, 11:00 A.M., April 28, 2009. 

There are many different kinds of death and a variety of circumstances that surround death. In some cases, death is indeed viewed in a very negative, tragic way, and it is seen as “the enemy.” In other cases, death is viewed in a positive, hopeful way, and considered a blessing. I believe that in Helen’s case that death was a blessing, as her life’s journey here on earth peacefully ended last week after a long and fulfilling life of 95 years.

   Those of you who knew and loved Helen will indeed miss her. Over the years, without doubt Helen touched your lives in many ways. Each of you here today will have your special stories and memories of Helen. You who are family members certainly shall remember Helen for her caring, generous, kind spirit. She loved her family; she also loved visiting with her friends. She could be described as “a people person.” In addition to that, Helen enjoyed knitting and crocheting, gardening, and, of course, her pets. She also supported the SPCA. 

   I’ve only had the pleasure of knowing Helen the last 7 years of her 95 years, as her pastor. During those years, Helen and I enjoyed many visits together in her home, and later at Riverview Care Centre. While she was still in her own home, she would always offer me her warm hospitality, insisting that I could not leave without having a cup of tea or coffee and something to eat with her. When I left she would shake my hand and hold onto it for some time, reluctant to have me leave.

   Speaking of hands, we trust that Helen was and is now in the hands of Jesus the Good Shepherd, whom Psalm 23 speaks of so confidently. Psalm 23 was Helen’s favourite Bible passage. The LORD, the loving, caring Shepherd of us all: it is he that journeys with us throughout our life on earth. It is he who promises to be with us in life, in death, and beyond.

   The 23rd Psalm follows a special line of thought, and when we concentrate on the words with heart, soul and mind, a new way of thinking and living are born. In only 112 words, we discover the power and inspiration, the comfort, guidance and strength we need to see us through life and death. Whenever you are sad, discouraged, feeling lost and alone, or sick, when life isn’t what it should be, here’s an exercise for you. Read out loud or recite from memory the 23rd Psalm several times. Slowly read every word. Let it sink into your heart and mind and soul. You will be astounded with the blessings you shall receive.

   In Psalm 23, we are given a beautiful picture of a God who is like a loving, caring shepherd. A God who is always with us, providing for our needs, and protecting us from danger and harm. A God who walks with us even to the end, to lead us through the door of death, into life everlasting. And so, we can give our thanks to God our Good Shepherd, God our loving Father, and Jesus his Son, who provides us with all that we need in this life and the next. We can give thanks to God for the life, memories and love of Helen. God who offers you here today his comfort and love, and provides for all of your needs now and in the future. God who, one day, shall call us all to that better place, to dwell with him and our loved ones forever.

   In our passage from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we learn too of our need to be connected with each other; to share each others’ burdens and joys; to, as Jesus taught us, do to others what we would have them do to us—which was certainly integral to who Helen was and how she lived her life. Paul, in this passage also exhorts us to “work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” Helen obviously had a strong work ethic, as she worked into her 70s at Woolworth’s, Eaton’s and K-Mart. As a people person, she was able to serve the needs of others through her work and receive great satisfaction from her contacts with people by serving them. What a blessing that is, because 99% of any work involves loving what you do.  

   The gospel passage from John 14:1-3, in the language of love and deep intimacy, describes further this comforting reality of death and the hereafter in terms of utter trust and hope. Jesus, speaking with his disciples reassures them, first of all with these comforting words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” In others words, he invites the disciples and us to trust in him as well as his message. “In my father’s house there are many dwelling places.” Here we have a wonderful example of relational language. Language spoken in the context of family life. Just as Helen no doubt showed her love to you by valuing family-life and being loyal to each of you as family members and providing for your needs—so too Jesus teaches his disciples and us that as members of God’s family, we are assured of an eternal dwelling place, a home. It’s a place where we can feel safe and secure, understood and respected, valued and loved. It is our LORD’s deepest desire that all of us, each and every one of us, be in loving relationships with him and other members of his family that we may all one day dwell in the Father’s house.

   So, family and friends, let us give thanks to our Triune God for the long and fulfilling life of Helen; for all of the memories that you will cherish of her; we also give thanks that her suffering is now over; she is at peace and will dwell in the presence of our loving God and Saviour forever. Amen.

Funeral Sermon for Evelyn June “Judy” Hall, April 24, 2009, at Pattison Chapel, Medicine Hat. Text: Jn 20:11-18 Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

“Singing Our Goodbyes”

A mother, grandmother, friend, companion, a woman of faith in the Lord, Evelyn June “Judy” Hall, has departed from this life. You who knew and loved her best shall surely miss Judy. Death can be a sad reality for you. However, to grieve is not a sign of faithlessness. Rather, our grief and mourning are natural expressions of the loving care we have for each other, and the genuine sorrow felt when a loved one dies.

Yet, as Christians we are an Easter people, and this is still the Easter season. So, for those of us who believe in the risen Christ, sorrow is trumped by joy; death is trumped by life; grief is trumped by hope. And so we can joyfully sing our goodbyes to our loved one—trusting that they shall share in new, resurrection life with Jesus Christ the risen Lord and Saviour.

The old adage is true: God works in mysterious ways! His wonders to behold. As chaplain of The GSS facility, South Ridge Village, I had the privilege of meeting and knowing Judy for these last few years of her life. Over the years, Judy would enjoy her outings with her friend Henry, and they would sometimes go for drives and, on some Sundays, they would come to the afternoon church services at SRV. Judy was a woman of faith and she loved coming to church—this may well have been one of the legacies she inherited from her grandfather, the Reverend Woods.

Over the years though, I came to realise that Judy especially loved music—both singing and dancing. Whenever musicians came to SRV, Judy would like to attend and participate with great enthusiasm. Attending the weekly Hymn Sings was no exception. Judy seemed to light up with great joy when she could sing her best loved hymns. I would always know that Judy was in attendance at the Hymn Sing, because I knew she had to request her favourite hymn. You see, Judy loved to sing “In the Garden,” which Wally sang earlier. In the garden was definitely Judy’s all-time favourite hymn. And today we included it along with the others to help us sing our goodbyes to Judy.

I find it fascinating and providential that this was Judy’s favourite hymn. Let me explain. In the garden was written by the hymn-writer C. Austin Miles, back in 1912. At heart, it is an Easter hymn, because the garden here actually is based on and refers to the Gospel passage I read, John 20. In the garden, beside Jesus’ empty tomb, on that very first Easter morning is where Mary meets the risen Christ, who calls her by name, and then her grief turns into joy as she recognizes her living Lord and Saviour.

Here is what C. Austin Miles says about the process of writing this hymn: “One day in March, 1912, I was seated in the darkroom where I kept my photographic equipment and organ. I drew my Bible toward me; it opened at my favourite chapter, John 20…That meeting of Jesus and Mary had lost none of its power to charm. As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life, when she knelt before her Lord, and cried, “Rabboni!”…Under the inspiration of this vision I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music.” Miles goes on to say: “It is as a writer of gospel songs I am proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my Master, whom I serve willingly although not as efficiently as is my desire.” (From: Forty Gospel Hymn Stories, by George W. Sanville). This hymn, some of you may remember, was sung in the movie “Places in the Heart,” which won two Academy Awards in 1984.

Speaking of heart, Judy shall certainly be remembered by her family, adopted family, and friends as a wonderful, big hearted person. She was kind, welcoming and loving to most everyone. Her life was albeit an imperfect, yet beautiful parable of spreading love around. In a way, Judy’s love and loyalty to her family, was similar to the love and loyalty of Mary Magdalene in our gospel passage. Mary being the first to go to the tomb of Jesus, and Mary’s grief were signs of how much she loved Jesus. Mary’s willingness to listen to Jesus and go and tell the Good News of
Easter joy: “I have seen the Lord” is the ultimate sign of her love for Jesus, being the first ever preacher of Christ’s resurrection. Judy’s loving acts and kind words were signs of her love for others. I felt something of her love too—whenever I shook hands with her after the worship services and hymn sings, Judy would have a friendly smile on her face and then she’d always thank me.

My hope and prayer for each of you here today is that you too believe in the risen Jesus, like Mary of old, and like your loved one Judy. For in him you too shall know a joy and hope, a peace and love that endures through all the troubles of this life.

I do not think that it was by accident that Judy has left this life behind now, during the Easter season. Rather, I believe it was God’s plan to take her home to heaven at this time. For as a person of faith, she shall now be given a new, resurrection body, which shall never grow old, get worn out, or break down. Her dementia is over, and all else that brought pain and suffering is gone. She is at peace with her risen Christ. Easter is the season of joy and hope. Life eternal waits for us if we believe that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour who forgives our sins and promises that we shall be raised from the dead to dwell with him and all the other people of faith who have gone before us.

So we sing our goodbyes to Judy, trusting that, one day we shall see her again. I would not be a bit surprised that she’s now a beautiful singer and dancer along with a multitude of other saints in the heavenly garden. Hallelujah! Amen.

Funeral Sermon for Nick Paprocky, by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, at Grace Lutheran Church, Medicine Hat, March 31, 2009, four o’clock. Texts: Eccles 3:1-8; Jn 11:25-26.

When I asked Leona if there was a favourite Bible passage that she would like read for Nick’s funeral, she told me Ecclesiastes chapter three. She said that it was the passage read at her and Nick’s wedding and now she wished for it to be read today. I couldn’t agree with her more, because Ecclesiastes chapter three reminds us that God has a plan for us in every stage of life, a time and a place for everything—including death. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven—it was true for humans back in ancient times, it is true for all of us here today, it was true for Nick. For Nick there was a time to be born, a time to be a child, and a brother. Eventually, there was a time for Nick to be a husband, and a dad, and a granddad. For Nick there was a time to be young, middle-aged, and old; and there was a time to die. The time to die came for Nick last Saturday. Our time to die shall come one day too. For some of us, it will be sooner than later. Are you ready for that time of death? Are you prepared to meet your Maker? One of the reasons why we are gathered here today is to remind ourselves that one day we too shall die, and that we need to be prepared for that day. Nick would say do not put off your preparation for that day.
How do we prepare for that day? Well we need to get our relationships sorted out with each other—and that may mean you need to offer forgiveness to someone and be reconciled with them. Do your loved ones know that you love them? Tell them today, not tomorrow, because it could be too late. Most important of all, to prepare for death, we need to be in a relationship with God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. How is your relationship with Christ? Do you believe in the words of the Gospel that were read today? Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? If you do, then you shall be prepared for death.
Yes, as the writer of Ecclesiastes tells us, there is a time to die, and there is a time to weep and mourn, a time to lose. And I would encourage you to do that here, if that seems right for you to do—since it does hurt when our loved ones die, and we shall certainly miss them, nothing is the same without them. So there is a loss for us and that loss can and often does cause us to mourn and it brings tears to our eyes.
And yet, this is also a time to heal, a time to build up, a time to gather stones together. It is a time to remember and honour Nick. Each of you has your special memories of Nick; each of you has been touched in some way by his life; each of you will remember those things and celebrate them. Nick loved the company of his small grandchildren. Nick also loved music, especially listening to opera—as well as singing, dancing the polka and fiddle music. When he was able to, he enjoyed attending church on a regular basis and ushered here at Grace together with Leona. And at Easter time, he would bake special bread, and present me with a loaf. Just as Nick gave me the gift of his special Easter bread, Jesus, on Easter gave us the greatest gift of all—the promise of eternal life because he is the resurrection and the life.
For people of faith, death is not the end of the story. Death and resurrection go together. Strangely enough, we believe that we are not here to preside over a death. Rather, as Christians we are here to celebrate resurrection. There is a time to die, yet there is a time to live, listen to these wonderful words of Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” This is a wonderful promise to us all and to Nick, whom we commend to God’s eternal care today.
As we celebrate, and take this time to remember, to heal, to gather stones together, to build up—it is also appropriate that this time be one of giving thanks to God for Nick’s life and commending him into the LORD’s eternal care. We worship a God who has defeated the powers of death, sin, and evil—that’s what Easter is all about. Jesus loved and cared for Nick; Jesus loves and cares for each one of you so much that he is the resurrection and the life. One day we too shall share in a resurrection like his and be reunited with our loved ones, and live with them and our risen Saviour forever. That’s the wonderful Gospel Promise—do you believe it? Nick did. My hope and prayer for all of you is that you do too. Amen.