A brief Sermon for
Elizabeth (Beth) Owen, based on Ps 23 & Jn 14:1-3, by Pastor Garth
Wehrfritz-Hanson, at Burgar Funeral Chapel, May 9, 2015.
As you know, there are many different kinds of death—for some, it
comes too soon, for others, it may come in a tragic, unexpected way, for yet
others, it may come after a long and full life and be a blessing when it comes.
I would say that for Elizabeth—Beth—Mildred Own, death came in the latter way
as a blessing after a long and full life.
After over nine decades of a full and meaningful
life, our LORD, who is like a loving and caring shepherd, called Beth to those
heavenly green pastures and still waters of eternal peace. The twenty-third
Psalm gives us a beautiful, comforting, and hope-filled message of who our God
is and how he is at work in our lives. God, like a loving, caring shepherd is
pictured as our provider, protector, and preserver of life.
From what little I know about Beth’s life, I
believe that the LORD was Beth’s shepherd in that he provided her with the
basic necessities of life and more. God blessed Beth with a spouse, children,
meaningful and rewarding work as a schoolteacher, and later as a librarian at
the University of Alberta, and when the time came, grandchildren. As Beth’s
protector, God most likely guided her through some difficult and challenging
times. In the words of the Psalm: “Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me.” Notice that we do not
stay in death’s valley rather, God our shepherd walks with us through it to the
other side—life beyond this one, eternal life. God also preserved Beth’s life
for over nine decades, and I’m sure showered many blessings upon her and her
loved ones during her life-journey. Now, by God’s grace, Beth’s life will be
preserved as she dwells in the LORD’s house forever.
Beth, on her good days at Bethany Meadows Aspen
Cottage was known by our staff as chatty and a gracious person. She was a
super-mom with awesome children, her son Keith came to visit her pretty much
every day. In her younger years, as was mentioned she was a schoolteacher, and
then later a librarian. In her room at Aspen Cottage, she had a hand-ringing
bell as a reminder of her teaching days. I’m sure as a teacher she was a
positive influence on children. Her children and grandchildren have also
attested to her positive, loving and caring influence on them.
Along with teaching and work as a librarian,
family, children and grandchildren were the priorities, loves and passions of
Beth’s life. When I think of family, I also think of a home. A home is a place
of love. What makes for a loving, caring home? Well, a loving, caring home is a
place where family members are accepted unconditionally. It is a place where
family members feel safe and can share of themselves at a very deep level
without being rejected. A place where family members can be themselves, their
true selves. A home is also a place of joy and celebration, marking the special
landmarks and accomplishments of life.
In our passage from John’s Gospel, Jesus gives
all those who trust in and follow him a wonderful promise of our eternal home.
He promises that he goes ahead of us to prepare a place for us in the heavenly
home. This home is the perfect home. The best of what we experience in our
earthly home shall be even greater in our heavenly home. A heavenly home where
all are perfectly loved, cared for and welcome if we place our life in the
hands of Jesus our loving Saviour and Messiah. As the old adage has it:
“There’s no place like home.” There certainly is no place like our heavenly
home! For that thanks be to God! Amen.
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