06162017 Funeral Sermon for Marilyn Faye Weinaug Martin

June 16, 2017
Funeral for Marilyn Faye Weinaug Martin

Audio

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Heavenly Father, we gather here at Emmanuel knowing that today what we hold in our minds eye, are not just memories, but clear pictures of Marilyn’s earthly life which now is completed with her entrance into eternity.  As we mourn her passing, may Your Word, paint a vibrant picture for us reminding us of Who and what inspired her creativeness and enable us to be comforted with the salve of the Gospel.  For it is clear that the love You showered upon her and she shared with those whom she knew and loved, found its ultimate demonstration for her by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.  May the picture and fulfillment of His love surround us today and enable us to be comforted with the true knowledge that Marilyn was baptized into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection and now rests in her Lord and Savior’s arms, welcomed into her eternal heavenly home, by her beloved Stan as they dance to the music of heaven surrounded by God’s love.  AMEN.

All of us have heard the saying that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’.  When I was discerning the Call to Emmanuel Lutheran almost 7 years ago I received in the packet about the church about 60 pictures.  It included some of the most recent candid pictures of the members of Emmanuel.  As I looked through the stack, one particular picture struck me.  Not only was it a picture of a couple sitting in the last pew at the back of the church, like all good Lutheran’s do, but the picture was of an older couple, the husband was big, bald and built like a linebacker and the wife was petite, prim and proper and had stunning silver hair just like my mother.  As I turned the picture over, I learned their names, but did not realize then the impact they would have upon my life, my family and ministry while here in Goodland.

The picture was of none other than Stan and Marilyn.  My first personal impression when I met both of them was of a loving couple that would do anything for anyone.  Their love not only for each other, but their four kids, Cindy, Sharon, Monte and Marla and their grandkids and great-grandkids knew no bounds and the pride they felt when talking about each and every one of them.  If there was an event occurring across the state or across the country, they were there, come ‘heck or high water’, their attitude was clear, “Get it done” and ‘be there or be square’.  And this willingness to travel even since I came to Goodland, showed their love, commitment and desire to put family first even if it meant a long drive.

Clearly their personal drive was demonstrated by Stan’s always working, whether at the Elk’s, implement dealership or farming, yet behind every man is a great woman who is truly the glue, but behind the scenes.  Marilyn was the glue and demonstrated her commitment to her family in many ways.  In the home by being the homemaker who could bake, cook, clean and ran her house with military precision and meticulous detail, even down to having a special puma stone that travelled when necessary.  Or on Saturday night while Stan was working down at the Elk’s, Marilyn with her girls would watch Green Acres, My Three Sons and of course The Lawrence Welk Show and dance around with them after their hair was made ready for church on Sunday. 

Marilyn was even willing to like a mother hen, nurture not only her own brood of son and daughters, but even the neighborhood children, feeding them if they were hungry, making delicacies like sugar cookies with individual names for special occasions and even by her willingness to be the ‘Blue Bird’ and Campfire Girl leader.  For some being a leader would have been a daunting task, but Marilyn embraced it with her Texas tenacity and can do attitude and enjoyed these times and made the events and the programs special, from handmade and hand sewn items expressing her creativeness given to her by God and her willingness to make the parties fun, from the party favors, the food, games and even with the skits that were the envy of all the other groups.  Everybody wanted Marilyn as their leader, because she was fun, from playing cards, to laughing to planning and executing the best ‘themed parties’. 

Recently one of the young ladies she impacted brought back her campfire vest and shared with Marilyn and her family the lasting impact Marilyn had upon herself as well as many other young ladies.  Once her daughters had ‘flown the nest’ and successfully become independent like her son had become in his own right, even in the face of adversity, Marilyn continued to impact others in the community in the courts and even the girls at the Tech College and especially with her longtime love and dance partner Stan.  And this is the woman I first met when I arrived in Goodland who had many creative friends right here in church who at the time were her kindred and creative spirits that walked with her on the journey of life.

Marilyn sadly though in April 2011, in my first year here, sadly suffered the most traumatic event when she and Stan were vacationing in Texas.  Marilyn fell and it was uncertain what the future would hold.  As a Pastor, I was helpless, because I couldn’t travel to minister to them as I wanted, but when they arrived back here in town, and Marilyn was in the hospital, not only had their world changed, but the next six years brought many mountain top experiences like their 60^th anniversary and sadly even some unexpected twists and turns, but the bright tenacious, prim and proper image of Marilyn shined through.

Yet through all of it, there has been a thread that has been the cornerstone in Marilyn’s life, from New Braunfels, Texas to a chance date to a young strapping Airman in San Antonio, and ultimately moving here to Goodland, KS 64 years ago.  And this thread the relationship Marilyn had with God, epitomized in none other than the greatest Psalm that David wrote and that we heard only a few minutes ago.  The 23^rd Psalm perfectly encapsulates the journey of her lifetime, but especially the last few years.  Stan, Marilyn and all of the family walked through the “valley of the shadow of death”, but God’s promise that “the Lord is my shepherd” was daily fulfilled giving unto Stan and Marilyn the opportunity to live and love one another and their family and continue to demonstrate their love not only for each other, their kids, grandkids and even great grandkids as the couple that continued to be fiercely independent and the clear desire to live life on their terms being independent and creatively staying in their own home.

But, things had changed.  The image of Marilyn who was creative, meticulous and imaginative like the image reflected in the mirror recently was not easily seen because of the fog, like on the mirror from a hot shower.  Marilyn the woman we knew and loved was still there, but as a result of her fall and other factors, was not as clearly seen nor experienced the same every day.  But through these times, God’s Word still rang true, God as David wrote, insured that He would “prepare a table before” Marilyn, God “anointest [my] Marilyn’s head with oil” and God insured that Marilyn’s “cup runneth over”.  For this is what Marilyn learned growing up in Texas, shared with her family every time they would take the long night time ride in the cool of the night before air conditioning.  And when they would arrive at “The Hill” as you can see on the front of your bulletin, Marilyn’s Mom would be standing underneath the arch at the gate with open arms, ready to welcome, love and embrace in true Texas fashion and style her Kansas family.

This picture is exactly what God wants us to firmly and faithfully hold onto and remember this morning.  You see, last week, we experienced the Marilyn we all knew and loved so much.  God gave us one last gift of grace, mercy and especially His love when Marilyn woke up and was laughing, sharing stories and enjoying her grand and great-grandkids.  One last time, our Yellow Rose of Texas shined through.  But on Saturday evening, Marilyn entered the gates of heaven and was welcomed with open arms by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  God clearly welcomed Marilyn and now has given her an eternal rest from the labors of not only her hands, but this world.  David completes his picture for us and we can take great comfort in this truth, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Today we gather here as the family of God celebrating the truth that this woman who loved sweet deserts at every meal, who had a strong sense of right and wrong and a lover of games and a loving mother to everyone.  Our “Yellow Rose of Texas”, Marilyn, now rests from the labors of her hands, not because of her work, but because of the grace and love of Jesus Christ for her demonstrated on the Cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ and which she was baptized into.  For clearly today, the path that has led us to this place has not been without tragedy, turmoil or tumult.  But God has fulfilled His promise and now fulfills in our sight and with our celebration the entrance of Marilyn into eternity.  She is not alone, she was welcomed by her parents, Alvin and Katie, embraced by her grandson Jarett, but is now reunited with her Saturday night dance partner Stan, ready to cut the rug, in a place better than the Crystal Chandelier. 

May this image given to us by David, and fulfilled by God, not only dance in our mind, but firmly cement the truth that God, Marilyn’s Good Shepherd, now holds her dearly and today, no longer encumbered by the inability to dance can with her beloved Stan, Jarett and all of the rest look down upon us.  And may this image be the reminder, not of loss, but of love found in what her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ fulfilled on the Cross of Calvary that finds its fulfillment as she now dances in heaven not only to the music of Lawrence Welk, but the angels singing the praise of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  For now and for all eternity she will be surrounded by the choir of angels and embraced by Jarett, reunited with Stan and gathered together for the greatest feast and party put on by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding comfort us today as we celebrate Marilyn’s entrance into the party that knows no end with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  AMEN.

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04082017 Funeral Sermon for Shirley Maxine Rapier Reed

April 8, 2017
Funeral for Shirley Maxine Rapier Reed

Audio

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Heavenly Father, we gather today bearing witness to the final milestone in Shirley’s earthly life, her entrance into eternity.  As we mourn may Your Word that we heard, not ring with hollowness, but with the fullness of the Gospel and the joy and truth that Shirley heard and believed in of what Your Son Jesus Christ did for her and for all of mankind.  May we be comforted by the salve of the Gospel and especially by Your Son, Jesus Christ.  For this message is offered out of Your great love for us and at the proper time found completion in Shirley’s baptism into Jesus Christ life, death, but especially His resurrection.  For Jesus came in order to die so that Shirley and one day each of us would have eternal life.  May this truth of the Gospel comfort us and enable us to fully trust in Your Son and Shirley’s Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

Have you ever walked into a room and without thinking, flipped the light switch in the room and plunged yourself into complete darkness?  The power that the switch has not only is profound, but ironic that one little switch can either reveal or disguise the obstacles that are in that room.  Clearly, this same power exists when people enter or exit rooms.  The affect we have upon one another can be very profound, either eliciting a smile, or for some a grimace. 

Shirley like both of these examples, could change just as quickly, at times showing a unique nature that one was not expecting, nor desiring, but at other times being the most pleasant and caring person.  Martin Luther would call this as I told her once in her home, this is the ‘simul Justus et peccator’.  Simultaneous saint and sinner all at the same time.  Sometimes we are sinner and sometimes saint.  This is the very nature of our humanity, but also what causes us to gather here today, as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes.

Solomon speaks, in our Old Testament Lesson today, from a depth and breadth that clearly is confronting us today.  There is a ‘time’, whether ‘birth or death’, ‘planting or uprooting’, ‘building or healing’, ‘gathering or throwing away’, ‘war or peace’, each of these realities’ touch each of us differently as we gather here today to say goodbye to Shirley.  Yet, there is something that is more profound that we need to consider.  Each of us, no matter who we are, have seen or experienced Shirley either years ago, or even recently, both in the lowest valley or at the highest peak.  But the truth is, this was the same woman, who gave birth to five God given children, connected with each of her grandkids forming a special bond with each of them.  Shirley was a woman when times were tight made the decision to ‘scrimp and save while working three jobs for a pair of boots’, and even was willing to ‘drop everything to help someone else’, whether family, friend or neighbor.

Clearly, Shirley both as a young woman who was married only 3 months after her confirmation at 14 was unique, but her uniqueness wasn’t only because of the times in which she grew up.  Shirley’s experiences whether on the farm, in California or raising her five children with her beloved Lavern added to the uniqueness of her character.  Shirley’s uniqueness also came from a relationship she had with one Person Who was a constant companion her entire life and with Whom she held constant daily conversation. 

When I would visit in her home or peak my head around the door frame at Good Samaritan, we would talk about her conversations.  Sometimes, the topics included the joys of her family and thanking God for them, even when they might not be able to help her do what she wanted.  At other times the pain, whether of her body failing or the reality she lived in that her friends were all gone, whether family, neighbors, friends or coworkers that she had from years ago or fellow church members like Esther.  But through it all, Shirley continued her conversations, because they were with the one Person that remained constant during her entire life.  Her conversations were with none other than her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When I would hear the conversation recounted, these conversations opened up for me the window of her soul and gave me a glimpse of the woman she once was and how her life revolved around the relationship she had with Jesus Christ.  And it was a strong relationship begun in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism when the Water was poured over her head and God made her His redeemed child by the blood of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  Shirley’s relationship grew and she affirmed it and took responsibility for it when she was confirmed at Zion Lutheran in Leoti.  And her relationship with Jesus remained the bedrock of her life that she shared with her children and she emulated Jesus in how she lived and put others first, just as Jesus had when He went to the Cross of Calvary.

No clearer image of this do I have than when I would visit Shirley and as our time would draw to a close, I would pray with her asking God to send His Holy Spirit and the Holy Angels to guide and protect her.  What was so clear was how every time I would either sing or pray with her, even in January when many of us thought her time here on earth was short or only a few days ago, Shirley would pray with us the prayer Jesus taught and though at times unable to move, her lips would mouth the words, whether of songs that we sing today like “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is calling” or “How Great Thou Art”.  But especially when we would pray the prayer Jesus taught His disciples.

So today when Shirley’s time has come to be with her Lord and Savior for all eternity.  It is my prayer as we sing the songs she loved and pray the prayer she clearly knew and loved that we, each of us would be touched by the love God has for her and each of us.  May we remember the loving connections and stories we have, the good times and especially that Shirley was claimed by God through Water and Word in Holy Baptism and now she rests from her labors in the arms of the one Person with Whom she had daily conversations.  For from Jesus Christ we can find the greatest comfort and peace, because it is by His call, and His perfect timing that now Shirley rests in the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, hand in hand with her beloved Lavern and one day each and every one of us.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding comfort us today as we celebrate Shirley’s life and light as a reflection of Christ into our lives!  AMEN.

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02162017 Funeral Sermon for Loren L. Bahe

February 16, 2017
Funeral for Loren L. Bahe

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Heavenly Father, as we gather today seeing that the veil of death has been drawn, we mourn Loren’s passing, but know and have heard the promise You made to him of eternal life.  Not only did you model for him care and concern, but you instilled in him and he and Tam passed down to Mike and Kim lessons of love that have not only formed and shaped who they are not only as his children, but Yours through the most intimate connection.  That connection comes through Loren’s and our baptism into Your Son Jesus Christ, life, death, but especially His resurrection.  And though, because of death it seems the connection is broken, because of our faith in You, we believe it is not and we can be comforted by that knowledge today and every day.  May we who gather to say goodbye be comforted through the Gospel of Your Son, Jesus Christ and through its healing salve, which is the most powerful medicine, may we be enabled to understand Your love for us, but especially for Loren as now he and his betrothed Tam are back together again being held in Your loving arms for all eternity.  AMEN.

As we prepared for today, to remember and celebrate Loren’s life, there were for everyone, from Mike, Kim, Deneyce, Jason and others so many not only good memories, but great memories.  From Loren’s always having the best looking shoes, because he not only was an expert in footwear, because he owned three shoe stores in two states.  Loren had a passion for kids, not only caring for his own kids, but countless others here in town when he ran the ‘Teen Club’.  To the clear connection that Loren had with his wife Tam.  Never a harsh word was spoken or disagreement except behind closed doors.  They were always together sharing the highs and lows of not only rural farm life, but also raising Mike and Kim and in the most intimate way sharing, caring and showing his love and understanding but especially instilling a work ethic that was clear and today is rare in our society.

One catch phrase that epitomized Loren’s ethic was simply stated, but revealed the bedrock of his character instilled both by his parents William and Nannie, but also his time in the United States Army.  It was said, you “gotta work before we play”.  At times the work whether at the lake or on the farm overcame the play, but the memories created, the character formed in Mike and Kim and what they have passed down can be clearly and directly linked to Loren and Tam and their insuring that their family came first and their children would never want for anything.

As we sat around the table yesterday, we were looking at some of the pictures that you can see this morning on the screens on the sun deck and the narthex on the west.  One clear connection that leapt out at me is that Loren was confirmed, married and now will be buried from here in this very sanctuary.  The thread that runs throughout Loren’s life is the importance of church, but especially God in his life.  And this clear connection comes from the Gospel we heard only moments ago.

Jesus said very clearly that “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life…”  Loren believed in God and with his betrothed, Tam, clearly instilled in Mike and Kim and others, a moral compass that has served them well.  But it didn’t stop with a moral compass.  The bedrock of who and Whose they were found its root in the clear belief in God.  Was this clearly visible to all people?  Probably not, because Loren was a very private and quiet man, who only let down his guard with the people he knew, trusted and loved.  This closeness and connection wasn’t just for his two children, but has grown with each addition to the family and the clear bonds shared with one another in celebrating birthdays, 4^th of July, around a fire ring at Trenton or sharing a bowl of churned homemade ice cream or with a piece of chocolate cake with icing an inch thick, the way God intended it.

This intimate connection that was known, loved and cherished by those close to Loren, even including his grandson Jason and his family and great grandchildren, now finds its fulfillment with God’s gift of “eternal life” found in the final promise from John 6, where Jesus says, “everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day”.  For today fulfills the gift of eternal life from Jesus Christ to Loren that he was baptized into when the Pastor made the sign of the Cross over his forehead and heart.  Today the exclamation point is placed at the end of the sentence that Loren laid claim to in his Confirmation at this this very rail.  Today God fulfills the gift of eternal life as we lay him to rest next to Tam.  Today we celebrate the completion of not only the circle of life, but Loren’s entrance into eternity and the fulfillment of eternal life.

For though it may seem that death has won today, God, through His Son, Jesus Christ reveals to  we who gather a fuller picture of God’s grace and love for us.  We who gather are empowered and called to believe the offer of grace, not only that was offered and laid claim to by Loren, but that we share with one another of the free gift of grace and eternal life through Jesus Christ.  For this is as Loren would hear Paul Harvey say while driving his brown pickup, is the ‘rest of the story’.  It is a clear demonstration of God’s patience with us and His clearly embracing us, not only in our baptism, but today with the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life, today for Loren and one day for each of us.

May we as we gather to say our final goodbyes, look not with doubt, but with eyes of faith not only believing “that my redeemer lives”.  But that today, God has given us the faith to believe and know the truth found in His Son and Loren’s Savior, of eternal life with Jesus Christ, where now Loren rests in Jesus loving embrace hand in hand with his betrothed, Tam and one day with each and every one of us.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding guard and comfort each of us this morning as we commend Loren back to His Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

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12222016 Funeral Sermon for Jessie Alice Jacobs Owens Enfield

December 22, 2016
Funeral for Jessie Alice Jacobs Owens Enfield

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Heavenly Redeemer, we gather today knowing that the veil of death has been drawn, and that as we mourn Jessie’s entrance into eternity, we believe Your Words of comfort and preparation for her and us today.  For the grace You offered Jessie in Holy Baptism has been fulfilled with her entrance into eternity.  Enable all of us who gather to hear and receive the truth of the Gospel to comfort and keep us and help us to not only hear, but heed the Gospel message You offer through Your Son Jesus Christ.  For this message is offered out of Your great love for us and found completion in Jesus Christ Who came in order to die so that we might have eternal life.  May this truth of the Gospel comfort us and enable us to trust in Your Son and Jessie’s Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

This morning as we gather, I cannot help but think about something that was shared as the family and I gathered to prepare for this morning.  The truth is, we are only two days until one of the biggest family holidays of the year of Christmas.  For Jessie, holiday’s were ‘big’ and no one could say ‘no’ to her, since she was the ‘hub’ that connected her family.  Jessie as a loving and devoted wife, mother of three children, would always be the hostess with an eye at serving her family and friends whether green beans, cookies to send home or always looking how she could serve others, even when others were trying to serve her.

Bud summed up the gift we knew in Jessie very clearly and very well in what he penned and passed to me while visiting at the funeral home.  Bud wrote, “What was Jessie really like?  She was thoughtful, kind and caring to all!”  Truer words could not be written.  Jessie’s love for others endeared her to so many people, family, friends and even those who had the privilege to be taught by her whether in Sunday School or in bible study. 

Martin Luther in his catechism wrote, “we are to teach our children.”  And Jesse exemplified this not only with her own children, but with countless others that she gave bibles to here at Emmanuel and taught the true meaning of the Gospel and what Jesus Christ had done on the Cross of Calvary for all of mankind.

This spirit of service and ‘unconditional love’, Jessie clearly and emphatically lived her entire life, even to the very end.  For Jessie blessed so many people that her path either intersected with locally or when she was serving in many different capacities in the church, that even included missions to the Indians.  Here at Emmanuel Jessie was instrumental in giving bibles to children and teaching them the stories of the Holy Scriptures and the love God had for her she shared with others as she was the hand crafted mirror to reflect God’s love into each and every one of their lives.  Jessie clearly demonstrated a life of love, service and faith instilled and given unto her by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ when she was grafted into the tree of life through her baptism into Jesus Christ life, death, but especially His resurrection.

When the Water connected with the Word of God gave Jessie the gift of faith, this gift of grace was clearly manifest, lived and demonstrated not only in her ‘unconditional love’ of others, but her connection with more people than can be counted.  Yet, Jessie’s connection with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in Holy Baptism was even more clear and present because if the doors of the church were open, she was here worshiping, serving and living out the calling of her faith in Jesus Christ.

It was clear to me as Pastor when I would visit Jessie and Bud in their home, ministry was not me to them, but it was going to be a mutual sharing of God’s unconditional love for each of us found in what Jesus Christ had accomplished on Calvary.  I knew I would be sitting at the feet of not only a person of faith, but a child of God who knew the Shepherd of her life, Jesus Christ.  And Jesus not only walked with Jessie, but guided her in the ‘paths of righteousness’ as David the Psalmist says.  And Jessie didn’t let her age nor her slowing down affect her, she was always giving, for she knew that Jesus was always with her each and every step of the way.  As David the Psalmist continues, “I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” and God never left Jessie’s side.  Even in the “valley of the shadow of death” when Warren entered eternal glory, Jessie insured that her family did not live without working multiple jobs, but still holding onto the Gospel message of Jesus Christ that was not only her comfort, but her passion. 

For God had a plan and God had prepared for what was fulfilled on Sunday.  You see, when John wrote our Gospel passage this morning, “I go to prepare a place for you,” God knew the day and the hour that Jessie would be brought home.  And God had prepared the mansion in heaven for Jessie’s arrival where God would “receive her unto Himself”.  For the truth is, the table was already prepared, Jessie’s head was already anointed by the Cross in her baptism and Jessie’s place at God’s table was ready for her entrance and now her being served.

You see, it was prepared for her by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”.  And this is why Jessie clearly had and shared her personal relationship with Jesus Christ each and every day of her life.  Jessie wanted all people to know how much God loved them.  For Jesus Christ shined so brightly in Jessie’s life it was like the star spoken of that led the wise men to the Baby Jesus.  Jessie reflected the light of Christ into so many lives, because Jessie wanted to share with others the mansion prepared by Jesus Christ for everyone.

The last time I had the pleasure to bring Holy Communion to Jessie, we sat there in her room and I heard the sweetest prayer from her lips.  It was the Lord’s Prayer and how her faith continued to shine even with the darkness of her impending entrance into eternity.  From Jessie’s lips she not only laid claim to the faith given to her in Holy Baptism, but fulfilled for her and for each and every one of us on the Cross of Calvary.  For no truer proclamation could be proclaimed than the song we are about to sing.  You see, Jessie’s greatest friend was none other than Jesus Christ.  Not only has Jesus Christ prepared a mansion for Jessie and now we gather to celebrate her entrance into eternity.  Jessie’s belief in Jesus Christ was of Jesus Christ as not only her Lord and Savior, but her personal friend.

This morning, as we gather to say goodbye, Jesus Christ has fulfilled the final chapter of Jessie’s life and ushered her into eternity in His Holy Arms.  May we feel the comfort of God’s presence and peace and know that today, Jessie now rests from her labors and is now enfolded into and served by Her Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding comfort us today as we celebrate Jessie, but especially Jesus offer of connection with each and every one of us.  AMEN.

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08242016 Funeral Sermon for Stanley Don Martin

August 24, 2016
Funeral for Stanley Don Martin

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Heavenly Redeemer, today we gather knowing that the veil of death has been drawn, and that as we mourn Stan’s passing the truth is we still have a connection with him.  For the connection is through You and Your offer of grace in Holy Baptism to Stan and to each of us.  May we be comforted today through the Gospel of Your Son, Jesus Christ that draws us to You.  For the salve of the Gospel is the most powerful medicine not only of the body but especially of and for the soul.  Enable us to receive this medicine to comfort and keep us and help us to remain connected through Your Son Jesus Christ Who gave Himself so Stan would have eternal life and come home to be with You in Your Kingdom.  Enable us to connect these dots and be empowered to believe in the offer of grace offered for all of mankind, but especially each of us gathered here with Stan’s family to say goodbye.  AMEN.

It is claimed that we are connected to anyone in the world through six degrees of separation.  In essence we are only six steps away from any other person via our connection with the people we know.  With the invention and widespread use of Facebook, though some do not use it or even like their pictures shared, the number of steps is cut nearly in half to about 3 or 3 and a half.  What is interesting is that this connectedness with electronics and friends of friends has become mainstream, or everybody does it today.

Well this morning I’m here to tell you, Stan Martin here in Goodland didn’t invent the internet, and didn’t have a Facebook account but Stan was one of the most connected people I have met here in Goodland.  When I would go and visit Stan in both his home and lately in Good Samaritan, he and I would start sometimes talk about his Air Force days, but most of our talking would be about people and Stan not only could tell you who they were, who their parents and grandparents were, where they farmed, because you know he loved to farm.  But Stan even knew who their implement dealer was, but truth be told if it wasn’t Massey Ferguson, well, that’s another story.

This connectedness that Stan had was uncanny.  On Sunday when I was in Hays, I observed that Stan’s own son, Monte follows in his Dad’s footsteps, because he is connected and knows everybody as well.  Yet, we who gather here today are connected as well, not only with Marilyn, Cindy, Monte, Sharon and Marla, but we are connected with Stan to someone even more important.  We are connected through Water and Word to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Through our baptism with Water intimately connected with the Word of God, we are connected to Jesus Christ.  For Jesus Christ when John the Baptist poured the Water over His Holy Head fulfilled God’s plan of our connection to Him and our being intimately connected to not only Jesus Christ, but also the promise of eternal life and salvation.  When Jesus hung on the Cross and died, He completed the circle of our being connected and with our individual baptism into Jesus Christ, we are connected with Stan to Jesus life, His death, but especially His resurrection.

When we believe this free offer of grace for all of mankind, whether democrat or republican, atheist or agnostic, we then are enabled to as our Gospel this morning states, “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”  The Me is specifically God’s Son Jesus Christ, because the connection made with Stan’s baptism is an intimate connection with His Lord and Savior.  So clear is the connection is why Stan recently had one intent.  He wanted to come to worship here at Emmanuel.  Because Stan knew the importance of his own connection with His Lord and Savior and he would move heaven and earth both for his kids, but also to get back here and worship the same Lord Who died in order that Stan and all of us might have eternal life.

I can see in my own minds eye, Stan and Marilyn sitting in the back pew as good Lutherans, hearing the Word of God and bringing them communion as a couple as husband and wife.  So clear is this image because Jesus Christ offer of eternal life fulfilled Sunday for Stan was what enabled Stan and Marilyn to love one another and their entire family for all of these years.

But what is most poignant is that this love they shared from their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was never extinguished.  Blown by the wind both of Texas that brought them together, but also the never ending wind like Monday of Western Kansas, the love they had was protected, nurtured and endured triumph and even tragedy even to the very end by Jesus Christ.  I say that, because of a simple yet very poignant picture snapped on Saturday.

In complete tenderness, Stan and Marilyn’s compassion, togetherness and especially their love modelled by their Savior, Jesus Christ was captured when they were caught with their hands clasped while in Hays.  This same picture is on the televisions in the West Narthex and the East Sun Deck.  It simply captures clearly how God’s love for them that they have shared for 63 years was manifest in Christ binding them together as husband and wife and keeping them connected to each other, but especially their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  This one picture perfectly encapsulates their love that they had modelled for them by their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and will connect them across time, space and into eternity.  For this is the belief in Jesus Christ they shared and how Jesus own words, “No Man cometh unto the Father, but by me” were fulfilled Sunday with Stan’s entrance into the eternal physical connection with Jesus Christ.

May we not only celebrate Stan and Marilyn’s connection to one another, the creation of their family unit that did everything together, the many grands, great grands and extended family that always could count on them to be there for any celebration.  But may we especially remember our connection through the offer of grace God offers each and every one of us today.  For the Gospel Stan wanted to come and hear right here at Emmanuel is the same offer of grace and connection with Jesus Christ that Stan has so intimately today as he rests in His Lord and Saviors arms.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding comfort us today as we celebrate our connection with Stan, but especially Jesus offer of connection with each and every one of us.  AMEN.

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08202016 Funeral Sermon for Aletha and Kendall Morris

August 20, 2016
Funeral for Aletha and Kendall Morris

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight O Lord, our rock and our redeemer!!  AMEN!!

Let us pray!  Heavenly Father, You promise that nothing shall separate us from Your love, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  I pray you would comfort the members of Aletha and Kendalls family and all who mourn their entrance into eternity.  Heavenly Father, grant that each of us gathered here today to say goodbye may ever be prepared for Your final summons when we depart and come home like Aletha and Kendall did to be with You and Your Son Jesus Christ in Your Kingdom.  May the salve of the Gospel message heard clearly today not only surround us, but enable us to be comforted by the promise found in it.  For the salvation Your Son, Jesus Christ offers all of us today overcomes all things because of the grace You offer so freely for all of mankind including all of us who gather here this morning to say goodbye.  AMEN.

The Apostle Paul wrote the following:  “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?”  If you were to ask individuals on the street, whether Denver, Kansas City, Wichita or Chicago, they would say, our culture is at war.  Some would say our culture is at war with one another, hence why tragic events like Texas, Minnesota or Louisiana.  But the Apostle Paul’s words for us today not only speak to the headlines we read, hear or see on the television station.  Paul’s words speak to us today because before us today we have gathered with two caskets holding the remains of our loved ones, Aletha and Kendall.

Paul’s biblical question is asked, not because of tragedy, but to enable each and every one of us to look at tragedy and still have hope.  The hope Paul speaks about and points to is the hope built upon a single Man he encountered on the road to Damascus.  Paul’s hope and our hope today as we gather is built upon the Man, Jesus Christ.

Paul clearly and emphatically points to and gives us the tools to answer all questions of tragedy with the words found in Romans 8:34.  Paul said, “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes rather was raised, Who is at the right hand of God, Who intercedes for us.”  It is Jesus Christ upon Whom we can trust, rely and truly believe that He intercedes for us even today.  For Jesus Christ sent by the Father, willingly carried His own cross to Golgatha.  Jesus Christ endured being nailed and hanging between two criminals and is the same Man Who not only offers, but showers us with comfort and grace today that enables us to not only say His Name, Jesus Christ, but believe the offer of grace and eternal life is for mankind, but especially each of us today.

For we gather here today in spite of the wars that rage around our world and specifically because of the hope found in the gift of grace offered to Aletha and Kendall and to each of us.  We gather here today because we believe in Jesus Christ and the free gift and offer of eternal life.  Jesus Christ offer from the Cross of Calvary of life and salvation is a powerful expression that enables us to firmly lay claim to Jesus Christ offer of grace for all of mankind, but especially for each and every one of us gathered here this morning.

Yet, Paul continues and asks an important question, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”  In our world we encounter each of these on a daily basis, whether being looked down upon or seen as second class.  But Paul points clearly to the answer we need.  “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him Who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That is the answer we need to hang onto today.  Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd as we heard from Psalm 23 is the person we need to seek and find our solace in today.  Jesus Christ conquered sin, death and the devil and has through His life, death and resurrection set us free from sin and death.  Jesus Christ offered eternal life to Aletha and Kendall and makes this same offer to each of us today.  For when we believe and lay claim to this, we then will not be separated from the love of God that is specifically found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This same love is what Aletha and Kendall shared with countless numbers of people here in Goodland.  I personally witnessed this sharing of love by them last year.  As they came to the funeral home paying their final respects to someone they knew, I witnessed the love of God that flowed through them.  It was so powerful and so manifest that it made a lasting impression upon me.  It was a love that was not only a gift showered upon them, but they shared it from their very being with countless others in our community.

For this is the same love they channeled from their Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  For in the Gospel of John, Jesus says very clearly, “I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and My own know me…I lay down My life for the sheep.”  Aletha and Kendall were Jesus Christ sheep.  Jesus Christ laid down His life for them and for all of us.  Today we gather mourning their loss.  However, we gather still clinging to the sure hope found in Jesus Christ.  For Jesus Christ comforts us with these words for not only His disciples, but for Aletha and Kendall, but especially for each of us gathered here this morning.  Hear Jesus acclamation and promise, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand”.

May this truth comfort us as we mourn, but enable us to believe Jesus promise, but also channel Jesus love for one another.  And may this legacy that Aletha and Kendall shared with others inspire us to share it with one another of what Jesus Christ offers all of mankind of the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ especially for Aletha and Kendall’s family and all of us saints who gather here to say goodbye.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding guard and comfort our hearts, minds and spirits as we are inspired to share Jesus Christ love with one another so we may never be separated from the love of God that has now enfolded Aletha and Kendall for all eternity in Jesus Christ precious and Holy arms.  AMEN

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02272016 Daniel Jacob Dorn Sr Funeral

Let us pray!  Gracious Heavenly Father, this afternoon we gather to mourn, but also celebrate Your gathering into Your Holy Arms Your redeemed child Daniel Jacob Dorn, Sr..  As we gather, we ask You to comfort us and give us a special measure of Your Holy Spirit in order that Your Gospel message he heard and believed may be the salve for our hearts.  For Your Gospel of salvation offered him in the font of Holy Baptism is the same faith he used to pray the prayer that Your Son taught us.  Enable us to lay claim to the promises offered, and remember how You offered him forgiveness, life and salvation, not by his merit, but because of Your love shown through Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

The passages we have heard today from Holy Scripture not only make promises to us, but remind us that with Solomon, David, Jude and Mark, God not only inspired them, but used them and their words to minister unto the needs of the people of God for centuries.  These passages speak of time, a shepherd, a promise of mercy and not knowing the day nor the hour of Jesus return, but their message is rooted in the bed rock of a faith that not only points to Jesus Christ, but clearly and emphatically finds its roots in the offer of grace from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  So clear and profound is this connection it hits pay dirt not in dirt but in water.

We know here on the high plains, whether in Colorado where Dan first lived as a married man with his betrothed Laura or in Western Kansas, without the water we pump from the ground we would not have a crop or feed our cattle.  But water in and of itself can give life to plants.  Yet when water is connected to God’s Word in Holy Baptism, the promise of eternity and eternal life is made.  And this is the promise that we lay claim to today.  A promise of mercy, a promise of eternal life, a promise that is laid claim to in a prayer taught to Jesus disciples that I prayed with Dan every time I would visit Dan at Good Samaritan.

Yes it is the Lord’s Prayer.  That simple prayer that Jesus taught His disciples speaks volumes to us today of the faith of Dan.  But it wasn’t that Dan was perfect, because we know different.  He felt trapped with his condition.  Dan wasn’t able to do what he thought he should be able to for many years.  He could be heard down the hall at Good Sam with his booming voice, his television blaring or what was just a man trapped by circumstance and inability to move or do what he wanted.  But the resolve he felt that was clear was he was here for his kids to take care of them.  Daily he would go visit Danny and sit with him.  Sometimes talking, sometimes watching television, but ever vigilant of being there.  A ministry of presence that spoke volumes.  This same presence he beamed of as he proudly showed the pictures in his room of the apple of his eye, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Yet, no matter what happened, through it all, including the loss of his wife and daughter one thing remained true.  Dan believed in the power of God and that God loved him unconditionally and this is why he wanted to pray with me the Lord’s Prayer with every visit.  The Lord’s Prayer was a salve and a personal confession of his heart.

For the Lord’s Prayer that I would pray with every visit with Dan, is a prayer of love, trust and seeking for God’s Will to be done.  It is a prayer of thanks and praise for God’s gifts.  It is a prayer asking for those who pray it to be forgiven and to forgive others.  For us to not be led into temptation, but to be delivered from evil.  And today Dan is being delivered from the physical bondage that has held him for so many years.  Today God in fulfillment of God’s promise in Holy Baptism sets free Dan and fulfills the promise of eternal life made to him in his Holy Baptism.  It is this promise that we hold onto, lay claim to and believe with a faith given to us by our Lord and Savior in simple water connected with God’s Word.

You see the Lord’s Prayer looked to the fulfillment that we find today as we gather.  Yes, we gather with our hearts broken with loss.  But today we gather, some would believe in a valley with the shadow of death looming over us.  But we are not in a shadow, because death no longer has dominion.  Death has been overcome.  Death was overcome by Dan’s Savior, His Lord, His God, none other than Jesus Christ.

You see the same Man Who taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer is the same Lord Who in, with, through and by the Water of Holy Baptism washed Dan clean and spotless in the font.  Jesus Christ promised Dan on that faithful day he would be with Him in paradise and today that day has come.  Our grief that the devil wants us to hold onto should be joy, for the devil has not won.  The victory is God’s because on the Cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ bled and died in order that Dan would be set free and have eternal life.  Jesus Christ offered Himself, took on the sins of the entire world including Dan and each and every one of us and fulfills in our hearing and sight God’s promise of grace and mercy for Dan today.

Oswald Chambers once said, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the one who is leading”.  Today we celebrate Dan’s being led home and his entrance into eternity where he was led by none other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  For the Great Shepherd visits us today not only to lead Dan home, but welcome him into His Kingdom.  The Great Shepherd comes to pray with us as He taught us in the Lord’s Prayer, but also enable us to lay claim to the grace and mercy we find in the Water and Word of God that promised Dan eternal life.  Today, we gather to join together as a family of God and partake of Jesus gift of His precious Body and Blood, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sin, life and salvation.  Today we bridge the gap with eternity through Holy Communion with Dan, Laura and Diana and all the Saints who have gone before us.  Today we lay claim to the promises of God not only in the Lord’s Prayer, but especially in the gift of God’s grace and mercy offered to Dan with his baptism into Jesus Christ life, death, but especially His resurrection on the third day.

May this promise of grace and every blessing not only enable us to embrace God’s gift of Grace and mercy, but may we know that today Dan has been reunited with his wife Laura, daughter Diana and entered into eternity to be with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  For this reunion is a celebration, a fulfillment of what Dan was certainly waiting for, but a clear reminder that when we prayed the Lord’s Prayer the ending was the exclamation point.  “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.”  And Jesus makes this true for Dan today and one day for each of us.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding guard, protect and comfort our hearts, minds and spirits as we celebrate Dan’s entrance into eternity because of the love of God through His Son, and Dan’s and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

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02202016 Jarvis Eugene Young Funeral

Let us pray!  Gracious Heavenly Father, this afternoon we gather to mourn the passing of one of your redeemed Children, Jarvis Eugene Young.  We ask that as we gather to remember the stories, the journeys, his love of working with his hands that our mourning be turned into joy.  For this final journey we take today down the tracks of life for Jarvis has as his final destination heaven.  Thank You for allowing us to hear his wisdom as told in stories and to know and to love him and for the legacy that he has left for each of us, whether in memories, houses or even and especially his love of trains.  Enable us to understand that the grace you offered him is the same offer You make to each of us of Your Son and Jarvis Savior, Jesus Christ.  May Your Gospel be a salve for our hearts and enable us to truly forgive and comfort one another as we celebrate Jarvis Going home.  AMEN.

If you were to try and distill and encapsulate the life of Jarvis Young in two words, they would be “Going Home!”  As a conductor on the Rock Island, Jarvis love of trains was clear and unmistakable.  Whether spinning the true to life yarns as a conductor on the train tracks of life that connected towns, cities and especially lives in a special and profound way.  Or Jarvis clear pride for having worked on the Rock Island when it was not only a family, but where he trusted his children to be taken care of when traveling to see the grandparents.  So much did Jarvis love trains that there are pictures of him in front of one of his favorite trains the Union Pacific 844 in the back.  If you stop and look at the monitors in the narthex on the West and the sun deck on the East, there are pictures of the 844.  Jarvis loved trains, not just the nostalgia, but the pride and power found in their being powered by steam.

Sleek and majestic, full of vigor for the route that the Rock Island or Union Pacific ran, these ‘steamies’ were not only a unique breed of trains, but encapsulated the nostalgia of travelling by train that made our country great.  No matter if it was short trips between Phillipsburg and Limon or even longer routes that connected the East Coast to the West Coast.  Travel by train, especially steam engines was a part of Americana.  Yet, no matter the train, one aspect of travel by train that every crew and especially the conductor looked forward to was the end of the journey when the crew would be going home.

Today we gather for Jarvis last run.  We gather for Jarvis ‘Going Home’, his last ride to the station on the railroad into his heavenly home, where he goes to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for all eternity.  We heard read earlier, the 14^th Chapter of John that reminds us that Jesus goes to prepare a place for us.  Jesus goes to make sure that we are welcomed into our heavenly home so we can feel the comfort of home that only He can give.  Though our earthly home may be nice and neat, entrance into paradise comes because of God’s promise of grace made to each and every one of us with a simple connection of something that Steam engines require in large quantities.  You would be right to say coal back in the day or diesel today, but more importantly for ‘steamies’, without water, a steam engine would not move.

So to for Christians, without Water intimately connected to the Word of God, poured over Jarvis head in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the eternal destination of heaven would not be fulfilled.  But Jarvis in, through and by his baptism with Water and Word in a font similar to this one, was promised eternal life by His Father in heaven.  You see Jarvis heard the call of God in and on his life and today we gather to not only mourn, but celebrate how God called and made Jarvis His own through the Cross of Calvary.

For in Jarvis baptism, he was clothed with the garments of salvation pointing to the Cross of Jesus Christ.  We remember that with the pall and today we lay claim to and hold onto the promise of eternal life offered to and for him by Jesus Christ.  For when the water, the clear, pure and healing waters of Holy Baptism were connected with the Word of God, Jarvis was promised that one day he would enter into His Lord and Savior’s Kingdom.  No longer would sin have dominion over his earthly life, no longer should he fear his earthly death.  For in, through and by the Water of Baptism connected with God’s Word, the promise of eternal life was made to Jarvis.  No longer would satan have the power to snatch Jarvis from God’s Holy Hands.  For in, with, through and by Jarvis washing in Holy Baptism, God would not only lay claim to Jarvis, but fulfill for Jarvis the promise of eternal life.

Today we are witnesses of God’s fulfilling His promise.  Today we witness the celebration of Jarvis entrance into his heavenly home.  Today we lay claim to God’s promise made in the last millennia and today, we thank God for His fulfillment of the promise of eternal life and Jarvis entrance into heaven.

But it is not just a fulfillment of eternal life, we gather today to celebrate the home God made in heaven with many rooms that Dago “Daygo” enters into for all eternity.  You all know Jarvis liked to work with his hands, whether building or remodeling, deconstructing or reconstructing homes, when he wasn’t working on the railroad.  But the home God has made in heaven that we celebrate Jarvis entrance into and that he goes home to today is beyond compare.

For Jesus says, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  You see, Jesus has already walked this path.  Jesus you could say already has ridden the rails and entered into His Kingdom.  For Jesus has not only prepared a perfecty place.  Jesus came last week and received Jarvis unto Himself.  And Jesus fulfills His promise to Jarvis from his baptism and comforts us today with the promise not only of eternal life, but the sure promise, “that where Jesus is, there Jarvis will be also.”  May we be comforted by God’s promise and look forward to our going home one day as well.  For we celebrate this today because of God’s love for all of mankind through His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  This is the promise God fulfills today.  May we take comfort in this truth and celebrate God’s victory over death through Jarvis Savior, Jesus Christ.  For today, Jarvis comes to the end of his earthly line.  Today we celebrate Jarvis “Going Home” to be with his Father, his Lord, his Savior in Jesus Kingdom prepared for him and one day for each of us.  AMEN.

Now may the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding guard and comfort our hearts, minds and spirits as we celebrate Jarvis ‘going home’ as God’s child in God’s home prepared for him.  AMEN

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