Funeral Sermon for Linda Nikiforuk

Funeral Sermon by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, for Linda Louise Nikiforuk, based on selected verses from Proverbs 31; Romans 8:35-39; and John 14:1-6, at Bawlf Lutheran Church, on April 26, 2024, at eleven o’clock. 

Linda Louise Nikiforuk has left this life for her eternal home in heaven. The last days of Linda’s life were not easy, suffering from cancer. Nor was it easy for you loved ones to see her suffer. All of you who loved and knew her most will certainly miss her. 

Our Bible passage from Proverbs 31 could very well refer to Linda. The text describes a strong, gifted, resourceful, hardworking, caring and loving woman. Linda had all of those characteristics and more. Some of the other gifts and skills Linda’s family shared with me were her patience, her positive and accepting attitude towards others, her kindness and friendliness, and her generosity. 

Family was extremely important to Linda. She cared for her husband Larry for as long as she was able. She loved to cook for her family, especially her grandkids. She obviously loved cooking for the community too—Linda ran the Bawlf restaurant alone for about 18 years. Like the busy woman described in our passage from Proverbs, Linda kept herself busy with crafts of various kinds. 

Because Linda was a sociable person, she was involved in the community with the Lions Club, Bawlf School, Bawlf Lutheran Church, and was librarian of Bawlf Library. She also supported Alberta Children’s Hospital and the Cross Cancer Centre. 

All of this reminds me of our passage from Romans 8, where the apostle Paul reassures us of God’s love for us all in Christ Jesus. Paul lists several things that are not easy, circumstances in life that are related to and can cause sufferings of various kinds. In Linda’s life there were challenges and hardships—like, for example, the death of four-year-old daughter Lori Anne, and husband Larry’s illness, as well as her own illness at the end of her life. Such circumstances, challenges and hardships can cause people to doubt or wonder about God’s love for us. The apostle Paul who went through many hardships, challenges and sufferings reassures us all that absolutely nothing, even the worst-case scenarios, will not be able to separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord. That gives all of us hope and comfort. Jesus loves us in all circumstances, just as your beloved Linda loved you, her family members, in all circumstances. 

Speaking of Linda’s passionate love for you family members, that reminds me of Linda’s home. Those who occupy a dwelling determine whether it is merely a house or truly a home. The difference between the two is obvious even to a stranger who crosses the threshold for the first time.

A true home has character. A home with character is a home without pretense. It puts up no false front. A true home is a haven of hospitality. No one in need is ever turned away. No one who seeks a shoulder to cry on need look any farther. The door is always open to the friendly visitor. A true home is the lodging place of love. 

Speaking of a true home which is the lodging place of love, Jesus, in our passage from John 14, gives us a wonderful promise. He tells us that he is going to prepare a dwelling place for us in our eternal home—heaven. One day he will come for us to take us there, just as he has done now for Linda. This is Linda’s permanent home, and it will also be our permanent home. Just as Linda loved and gave of herself by caring for her loved ones—so in her eternal home in heaven she will be loved and cared for by the LORD. 

She is in her home where there are no more tears, pain and suffering. No more cancer to rob her of health. No more death. Only life in all of its fullness. Life with a capital L. Love with a capital L. Peace with a capital P. Perfect life, perfect love, perfect peace. 

One day, hopefully you her family members, and indeed everyone here today will want to go to this permanent home in heaven too. Jesus tells us how that will happen. He tells us that he is the way, the truth and the life. He tells us that no one comes to God the Father except through him. We can follow his way, he will lead us in the right path, where we need to go. We can trust his truthfulness—unlike all the false news, conspiracy theories, identity theft, and deceitful worldly truths today. We can live a meaningful life fully now because he blesses us abundantly, and we also can live now with a hopeful future, looking forward to eternal life in the heavenly home. 

What a beautiful promise this is! As the old saying goes: “There’s no place like home.” Isn’t that true? Especially if we’ve been gone away from home for a long time—it is so good to be home. If you have been away from your spouse and family, isn’t it great to have them welcome you back home? Picture it in your heart and mind: Jesus who is our way, truth and life, has gone ahead of us to heaven to prepare our eternal home. He has organized everything—all that we need for the whole of eternity is looked after. WOW! Isn’t that wonderful! What a gift—that’s why we call it God’s grace. 

May God’s grace, help you all to believe in and trust that Jesus is your way to your eternal heavenly home, where you will meet Linda and all other loved ones! 

Sermon for 1st Sunday in Advent Yr C

1^st Sunday in Advent Yr C, 28/11/2021

Lk 21:25-36

Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

“A living hope in this troubled world”

Today marks the beginning of a new church calendar year. Advent, which means coming, is a season in which we prepare for and focus on the three different comings of Jesus. Jesus came in the past born as a human being in Bethlehem. Jesus comes to us in the present in many and various ways, including through the word and the sacrament, worship, prayers, and in our relationships with one another. Because Jesus comes in the present in many and various ways, it is not actually proper to refer to his coming in the future as the second coming. However, be that as it may, Jesus will come again in the future—and that is the focus of today’s gospel, although not entirely. 

You may wonder why we have this gospel passage, since Advent is the season we prepare for Christmas and Jesus’s birth, isn’t it more appropriate to focus on hope than the sobering gloom and doom of this passage? Why do we have to focus on cosmic disasters of the sun, moon and stars wearing out, the earth and seas going crazy by terrorizing nations with tornados, earthquakes, and tsunamis? As you know, earlier this month, COP26 tried to address climate change yet again and make commitments to prevent global warming more than 1.5 degrees above what it is now. And, as we watch, read and listen to the news, we learn of unprecedented floods, fires and droughts threatening our planet. Will we be able to reach or exceed the goals of COP26? If so, will they really make any difference? As many environmental critics of the COP meetings have said, this is the 26^th meeting and all they can do is talk way too much, and fail to take the necessary actions that would involve radical changes—especially for us affluent nations in the northern hemisphere. 

Indeed, people today are, as Jesus tells us, fainting from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world. As Jesus says, there are signs, tragedies happening before our very eyes. For far too many, there is a growing lack of food security; a growing number of homeless people because of natural disasters; places in the world that may no longer be inhabited by human beings due to a changing environment. In addition to all of these tragic changes, in the world of politics it seems that there are an alarming and growing number of tyrannical governments and dictatorships, which cause even more suffering, oppression, evil and injustice for way too many people. 

Where do we find a living hope in a world like this? That reminds me of the following Peanuts comic strip: Linus and Lucy are standing at the window looking out at the rain falling. Lucy says to Linus, “Boy, look at it rain ... What if it floods the earth?”

Linus, the resident biblical scholar for Peanuts, answers, “It will never do that ... in the ninth chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that would never happen again, and the sign of the promise is the rainbow.”

With a smile on her face, Lucy replies, “Linus, you've taken a great load off my mind.”

To which Linus responds, “Sound theology has a way of doing that.” 

Linus is correct, sound theology can give us a living hope in a world like this. Why? Well because it is rooted in a careful reading and study of the Bible, and then responding by actions of faith. 

Our gospel is not all gloom and doom. Look at verses 27 and 28 again: “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Here Jesus quotes from Daniel 7:13-14, in which he has a vision of the Son of Man, in which all peoples and nations will serve him in his everlasting dominion. Now that certainly is a message of hope. 

There is more hope in this gospel in the closing verses. Jesus exhorts us to “be on guard.” Being on guard is not something passive, it is as he goes on to say, not allowing our hearts to be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the worries of this life. In case you’re wondering what dissipation means, well one of its meanings is expending or wasting energy without getting anywhere—kind of like spinning your tires when you are stuck in a snowdrift and not getting anywhere. As for drunkenness, well, as you know, some folks drink too much to try and escape their problems, only to discover that the problems only get worse. And, of course, several studies have shown that people who allow the worries of this life to control them can and often do end up with serious health issues, as well as may fail to act in hopeful ways because their worries paralyze them. 

In contrast, being on guard, being alert at all times and praying give us the capacity to act with a living hope in this world. 

Ironically, it is often those who face considerable sufferings who model for us the capacity to act with a living hope in this world. One such person is Bishop Desmond Tutu, who recently celebrated his 90^th birthday. Listen to his following words of wisdom.

We are His (God’s) children, created in His image, made for love and laughter, caring and sharing. I am filled with hope for the future. In spite of much to the contrary, the world is becoming a kinder, safer place. It is God’s world, and He is in charge. His gifts of goodness and kindness, reason and understanding, science and discovery are showered upon us. Revel in these gifts, enjoy them, share them, and this new millennium will become a highway of peace and prosperity for all.¹

Some people who, I think, are doing just that were interviewed on a CBC news program recently. They are engineering students at the University of Calgary. Wanting to live out their hope in this world to make their contribution to slow down climate change, they came up with a wonderful and creative plan. They realise that for many people electric vehicles are still too expensive, moreover they are difficult even to find for those who wish to purchase one. So these engineering students are presently in the process of converting a gasoline car into an electric car. They have removed the gas engine and installed an electric motor. There are other parts of the car that they also have to change in order for it to work. I’m sure they will succeed, and hope that they will inspire others to convert gas vehicles into electric ones too. 

You and I may not be engineers, or someone as famous and gifted as Bishop Tutu—however, I believe that in our small ways we can have a living hope in this world. How? Well, by carefully reading and studying the Bible and responding by even little acts of faith. Acts such as coming to church to worship and encouraging one another. Acts of phoning or visiting those who might be ill or lonely or shut in. Acts such as praying for one another, the larger church, and the world. Acts such as purchasing environmentally-friendly products and cutting down on wastes that pollute the land, water and air. Acts such as supporting the work of Canadian Lutheran World Relief—their various projects around the world do make a difference, and their project to help the BC residents devastated by the recent unprecedented flood. Acts such as supporting local charities and organisations, like, for example, the Women’s Shelter. These all may seem small, yet together, with more and more people acting with a living hope in these ways, we do make a difference, with the help of God and his grace working in and through us. For that, thanks be to God! 

1 Elizabeth Roberts & Elias Amidon, editors, Prayers for a Thousand Years: Blessings And Expressions Of Hope For The New Millennium (HarperSanFrancisco, 1999), p. 6.

Brief Graveside Sermon for Grete Olson

Brief graveside sermon by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, for Grete Olson, based on Isa 66:13; Matt 5:4; Phil 4:13. December 4, 2020, Bawlf cemetery, one o’clock.

Comfort, during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need God’s comfort. All is not well with the world. There is so much discomfort, disorientation, suffering, sorrow and uncertainty. The coronavirus has reminded us of how fragile life is. So we turn to the LORD and his word for comfort. The word comfort, comes from the two Latin words, com-with, together, and fortis-strong—as we gather together in the presence of God and through his word, we are stronger. So as Jesus promises us in the beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” we benefit physically, mentally, emotionally; and we are strengthened spiritually in our faith; because in mourning together we are Christ’s presence for each other, and that brings us comfort.

Moreover, the Greek word for “comforted” in Jesus’ beatitude (paraklethesontai) is related to the Greek word for the Holy Spirit (paraclete) the “Comforter”—and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, so we are comforted. 

That also reminds me of our verse from Isaiah: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” The presence of God is like a mother who comforts; who provides consolation; who contributes to the well-being of her children. Just as the Israelites returning from Babylonian exile found comfort back home in Jerusalem—so as members of Grete’s family, I’m sure you found comfort in Grete’s presence and home. 

Grete Olson, child of God, daughter, sister, wife, mother, neighbour and friend has left this life to join the company of saints in heaven. I am sure that you who loved her will miss her. 

In conversation with Odell, I learned that a most appropriate Bible verse that compliments Grete’s life is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”—which Odell found on the graduation exercise folder for one year when both Grete and her future husband, Palmer attended CLBI. 

As Odell shared with me some of the life-journey of Grete, I’m sure she needed to rely on Christ’s strength to do all that she was able to do. Life was not easy for her. She was very busy raising six children on limited means; as well as meeting the needs and living up to the expectations of being a pastor’s wife which, back in her generation, among other things, often involved playing the organ for worship services and being active in the ladies aid groups. Grete worked hard providing for you family members, sewing, knitting, canning, baking and much more. The life of a pastor, a pastor’s wife and family involves challenges, struggles, disappointments, as well as times when peace and joy, hope and love prevail. 

As time went on and the family grew up; Grete and Pastor Palmer were able to enjoy some of the good things in retired life, like golfing and cross-country skiing, and visiting friends and relatives. When she lived in Rosealta and Seasons, Grete frequently befriended residents and staff. Over all, Grete lived a very full, long life, relying on Jesus for her strength to do all things. Her faith in Christ gave Grete resilience; her ability to cope with the challenges of life; and her joy through adversity; were, without doubt, an inspiration to you as well as to many parishioners, friends and neighbours. 

So, we give thanks to God for the life of Grete Olson, as we commend her into the eternal care of the LORD. 

Brief Graveside Sermon for Jean Braim

Brief graveside sermon for Jean Velma Braim, by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, based on Isa 40:31 & Jn 14:1-6, on November 3, 2018, Camrose Cemetery.

As I mentioned earlier, one of Jean’s favourite Bible passages was Isaiah 40:31. What a beautiful passage this is too! The prophet who wrote it was living in Babylonian exile along with his people. The people of Judah and Jerusalem living in that strange land were likely rather discouraged and feeling weak, weary and faint. In that situation, God inspired the prophet to speak these words of encouragement and hope.

   Notice that the prophet starts off saying: “Those who wait for the LORD.” Much of life involves waiting. Jean had to do her share of waiting too. She had to wait for all of the blessings that the LORD gave her—blessings such as a loving husband in Bryan, all six of you children, eighteen grandchildren, and forty great grandchildren. Jean had to wait on the LORD throughout her life in various circumstances, good times and more challenging times, times during the last days of her life when she had grown weak, faint and weary. Such times are difficult, yet Jean waited for the LORD then too, because she knew that he would come and bless her. He would come and take her to himself in heaven. Now her waiting is over.

   Throughout Jean’s life she waited on the LORD for compassion to love her husband, and you her family members. She waited on the LORD in order that she could be a person of faith. Jean was faithful to her husband, and you her family members. Her focus in life was on servanthood. She served you and others in the community. She served by putting her gifts of sewing, gardening and crafts to work. She served by being involved in the United Church Women’s group. She served along with Bryan to deliver Meals on Wheels for shut-ins. She served as a volunteer in the hospital. She served as a caregiver for her siblings when they were sick by sitting with them. Jean, by waiting on the LORD found that he renewed her strength, as if she were mounting on eagle’s wings. She waited for the LORD’s strength during times when she was weak, weary and faint. In so doing, she set a fine example of faithfulness and compassion for each of you too. You and I, all of us here today, need to follow that example—to wait on the LORD for strength in all the circumstances that we encounter as we journey through life.

   One of the most beautiful word pictures that the prophet gives us in this passage is that of the wings of eagles. Have you ever seen an eagle with its wings spread out in flight? Recently I was blessed to see a beautiful eagle flying right above me with its outstretched wings. Wow! It took my breath away when I observed how powerful and graceful those wings were as they caught the air currents in flight.

   So the wings of eagles are a beautiful symbol of God’s power, God’s protection, and just as the eagle is free when it flies so gracefully, we too are set free by our God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ—which brings us to the Good News from John’s Gospel.

   The words of Jesus are also wonderful words of life! His words bring us comfort and hope in times of sadness. The comfort and hope that Jesus has gone ahead of us into heaven to prepare a dwelling place for us. He will come again to take us to our eternal dwelling place.

   Jean is now in that dwelling place, my guess is that she may very well be singing there too. One of Jean’s favourite things to do at Bethany Meadows was to participate in my cottage Hymn-Sings. She just loved them! Jean found much joy and comfort in music throughout her life. In her early years, she and her sister made a 45 record. She also played the guitar and sang in choirs. Music is also one of God’s gifts. Now I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she is singing away in the heavenly choir!  

Sermon on Rev 21:1-6

Sermon for East Central Cluster Worship & Meeting, Alberta & the Territories Synod, ELCIC, based on Rev 21:1-6 (5 Easter Yr C), by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, Bethel Lutheran Church, Camrose on April 19, 2016.

Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple tells the story about a man from a village who came to the big city and found that everyone was staring at him. He was certain it was because he was wearing a shabby old suit, so he went to the tailor and bought a smart new set of clothes. But people still stared, so he went back to the tailor and complained.

   The tailor said, “There’s nothing wrong with your new suit, but the problem is that you’re wearing it on top of the old one. No wonder people think you look strange!”1

   The old and the new. One of our deepest longings is for the new. I think that’s why we often ask one another: “What’s new with you?” Yet, at times—even though we may not like to admit it— are we a bit like the man wearing the old suit under the new one, when we feel threatened by the new or do not like the new? Sometimes we are reluctant to give up the old. Unlike the man wearing his new suit on top of the old one, the writer of Revelation describes a newness wherein the first heaven and first earth had passed away and the sea—the ancient symbol of chaos and foreboding—was no more. He claims to have seen a vision of a new heaven and a new earth, and a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. A vision that looks a lot like what we find in the Book of Isaiah. In verse five, he quotes the one sitting on the throne, speaking these words of promise: “See, I am making all things new.” So, count them, four times in the course of these six verses he speaks of a new reality, a new type of existence, a new creation.

   Yet, according to the Greek word—kaina, not nea—employed here for new, it has the connotation of newness based on some kind of continuity with the old; newness by improving upon what existed before. That got me thinking about how we see and experience the new in our lives.

   Starting at the beginning, we were all born into this world, thanks to two human beings—a mom and a dad. I remember the day that our daughter, Anna was born. I witnessed her birth, cut the umbilical cord, and held her in my arms for the first time. For me it was a holy moment as she stared at me with her lovely blue eyes. I was filled with awe and wonder at the gift of life. The newness of her life changed both Julianna and yours truly forever—giving both of us a newfound hope for the future. 

   There is, for us Christians, another kind of new-birth, as we are brought to the baptismal font. God names and claims us as his children; we become a new creation by being baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus.

   When we observe God’s creation, the natural world, it seems that new life is also born out of the old; coming from what existed before.  New plants, animals, reptiles, etc., come from what existed before. The same is true regarding new creations and inventions of human beings. For example, the cars and computers of today were improved upon from earlier, more primitive forms of these things; even the first cars and computers had to be made with some existing materials.

   So in this vision of Revelation is there a complete newness in the new heaven and new earth and new Jerusalem, similar to the origins of creation when God created out of nothing; or are the new heaven and new earth and new Jerusalem somehow a renewed, restored heaven, earth and Jerusalem? From other Jewish apocalyptic literature and from other New Testament texts such as Rom 8:18-21 and 1 Cor 15; the apostle Paul seems to see some sort of new existence coming from what existed before. Even in the gospel resurrection narratives, the risen Christ comes to life from the crucified, dead Jesus. 

   So I find it rather instructive then that the writer of our Revelation pericope describes his vision of the new heaven and the new earth and the new Jerusalem as a new form of existence wherein God’s people will have their tears wiped from their eyes, death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.  

   In my context as a chaplain, I think that these words of promise are very comforting—just as they likely were for the early Christians in the Roman empire facing suffering and persecution. Our residents will not have to continue to shed tears and cry over all of the personal losses and the losses of their loved ones and friends who are no longer with them. Our residents who suffer from so many different forms of disease; as well as everything breaking down and shutting down from the aging process can find meaningful hope in a future without pain; a future without drugs and their nasty side-effects to relieve them of their pain. A perfect state of existence without sin, death and evil. Such newness is what we too deeply long for. An existence of complete and perfect relationships filled with love and peace—which we already have an inkling of when: we hold a new-born child in our arms for the first time; when we say our final good-bye to a dying loved one; when the poor are fed; the naked are clothed; the homeless refugees find a new home; the prisoner and the shut-in, and the sick are visited, healed and made whole; when we are not oppressed by or preoccupied with the past; when we live fully in the present by learning from the past and look forward with hope to the future; when we gather round God’s word and sacraments and invite all sinners to join us and become members along with us of the family of God living in perfect community with one another and with our God.

   So, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what do you see? The Good News is both gift and promise from the one who loves and graces us unconditionally, saying: “See, I am making all things new.” And let the people say: “Amen.”  

       

1 Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple, “Two suits at once – Ekev,” July 21, 2013, at: www.oztorah.com/. 

Funeral Sermon for Elizabeth (Beth) Owen

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.