Funeral Sermon for Mildred Joan Stensrud, by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; 1 Corinthians 13; and John 14:1-6, July 13, 2026, at Ryley Community Centre.God’s ways are not our ways. God’s time is not always the same as our time. No one in this room today could have predicted that it was time for Mildred to get into a motor vehicle accident, which for her would result in death. And yet, and yet, our Bible passage from Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a right time for everything—a time to be born, a time to die, and a time for every stage of life, and a time for every experience of life between birth and death.
For Mildred, after birth, there was a time for childhood, then a time for adolescence, a time for young adulthood, which involved a time to get married to her husband Walter, and time to give birth and raise her children, and times to watch them grow into adulthood, get married and raise Mildred’s grandchildren. There was a time to work on the farm, and times to enjoy the seasons of the natural world, times to plant seeds and watch them grow, and times to harvest gardens and crops. For Mildred, there were times to spend with family members—including her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren! Mildred’s family were very important to her, and she loved spending time with them.
For Mildred, there were times through the stages of life, to experience failures and successes, downs and ups, sorrows and joys.
Throughout Mildred’s life, her faith in God was very important to her. Mildred devoted her time to living out her faith, and was an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church here in Ryley. She often, among other things, served as a communion assistant. The congregation shall certainly miss Mildred.
Mildred was a friendly, kind, loving person. She enjoyed socializing with her many friends, neighbours and members of the church. As she lived her faith and life journey, she reflected many of the qualities of love that the apostle Paul speaks of, in his what is often referred to as “the love chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13. I like the way pastor and professor Eugene Peterson inThe Message paraphrases this passage. He puts it like this: “Love never gives up. Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best.” Paul goes on to say that the 3 greatest gifts of God are faith, hope and love, “and the greatest of these is love.” Mildred expressed these gifts of God—faith, hope and love in her actions, her relationships with her family, her fellow church members, her friends, and neighbours. She was able to do that because of her Christian faith in Jesus, who lived and died on the cross because he loves Mildred, and each one of us. Because he loves us, Mildred was, and we are able to love God and love others.
For Mildred there were times to enjoy living to an old age, even though, of course, there were challenges that also came with growing older. As many in their 90s often feel that they have done everything in life that they needed to do, so they pray that God would take them home—so too, Mildred hoped and prayed that the Lord would take her to her eternal home.
That brings us to our gospel passage from John. There are a couple of very important messages for us. Jesus gives those who trust in him, who believe in him, this promise: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” So the image of God’s eternal home is a very comforting one. God’s home with many dwelling places means that it is an inclusive home—there’s enough room for you, for me, for everyone! And, of course, God’s home is a place of unconditional love, for you, for me, for everyone. When our temporary home here on earth is a loving home, we feel accepted, safe, secure and loved—how much more we will be accepted, safe, secure and loved, and at peace in our heavenly home!
Jesus goes on to speak further about our heavenly home with this promise: “If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” I’m sure that Mildred is filled with joy now as she meets up with her Lord and Saviour Jesus, whom she will be with eternally, along with those loved ones who have gone before her!
The promise you and I share here today which Jesus gave us is this: when we mourn, when we grieve, we are comforted by Jesus and by our fellow Christians. We find out the strength and love that can come from our God. And we learn again that those who die in the Christian faith, the baptized believers, are provided for beyond the grave.
Mildred, I’m sure, would want each one of you to have faith in God, to be involved in the life of the church, and to live out your faith in acts of loving-kindness. Trusting in God’s all-inclusive love, so that one day, you will be with your beloved Mildred again.
Remember: God hath not promised/Skies always blue,/Flower-strewn pathways/All our lives through./God hath not promised/Sun without rain,/Joy without sorrow,/Peace without pain./But God hath promised/Strength for the day,/Rest for the labour,/Light for the way,/Grace for the trials/Help from above/Unfailing sympathy/Undying love. (Poem by Annie Flint) For that thanks be to God!
