Sermon for the Funeral of Gwendolyn A. Kneip

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Don, Steve, Jim, Barb, Brenda, other family and friends of Gwen:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Though each of us wishes we did not need to be here, (or at least that it would be for a different reason,) it is fitting that we are here at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper this morning. Though her failing health limited her ability to be with us here the last few years, many of the most important moments of Gwen’s life took place in this church. Gwendolyn Ann Larson was received as a child of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism here at Trinity Lutheran Church on August 19, 1934. Here, on May 16, 1948, she publicly confessed the faith given to her in her baptism in the Rite of Confirmation. Gwen and Don were united in Holy Matrimony here at Trinity on August 29, 1954.

With her departure to be with the Lord, a wife and mother and grandmother and great grandmother is no longer here—a friend and sister in Christ and member of Trinity is not among us now. Were it my duty to paint sadness and sorrow, it would be easy to point to the reality of these mortal remains and let them speak louder than any words. But I am not here to cause tears of sorrow, but rather to give tears of joy. I am not here to show the victory of death; but rather to proclaim the victory of a dear Christian over death—not to show the darkness of the grave, but to show the Light of the world that shines from the empty tomb on Easter morning into the graves of all those who trust in Jesus as their Savior.

Still, the hurt is there, for you have suffered a great loss. Don, yours is the greatest, for you shared more than 63 years of life with Gwen, the one flesh union that began with “I do,” and continued “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health… till death” parted you last Monday, according to God’s holy will. But each of you who shared in Gwen’s life will feel her loss in your own particular way. I would encourage you to look to the Lord for your comfort today and in the days and months ahead. Let His Word enter into your hearts and soothe your sorrow and heal your wounded spirits.

For this purpose, let us go to the Word. This text came to me when it became evident the Gwen was going to soon receive the full measure of the blessings of eternal life. Listen to these words from Acts, chapter 9:36-42:

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

There she was—the woman who had done so much for the community and in the congregation as she served the Lord. She had been known by many as one who was a follower of Christ Jesus, who trusted Him as her Savior. As a response to the faith which the Holy Spirit worked in her heart, she was a woman who was filled with works of charity. She had been active and alive in Christ. She was the kind of person who was willing to work very hard and for long hours in the service of the Lord and His people.

Yet, in the course of time, she became sick, and this was a sickness which was extremely serious. After a while she died as a result of this disease which she had. Then she was prepared for burial and laid in a room until the time came for her to be placed in her grave.

In the meantime, they sent for the pastor—two men went to tell Peter of the news and to ask him to come to where she was. When he arrived, the widows were weeping and showing Peter and one another some of the coats, garments, and things which Tabitha had made.

Perhaps you, like me, thought about some of the things that Gwen had sewn—the more than 2,400 quilts that Gwen and her friends made and gave to charities in the area. Or the beautiful banners that are hanging in our sanctuary this morning, made with some of the material left after making Gwen’s wedding dress.

But there came a day when she could work no more—when her illness had sapped her strength. It was at such a time when all the acts of charity and all the good works must be laid down. Even in the last few weeks, as Gwen and all the rest of you still hoped she might get back to the sewing machine, Gwen also stated that she was ready, should that not be the Lord’s plan for her, that in the Lord’s good and gracious will, He might send His angels to take her to be with Him.

The similarities between Tabitha and Gwen are astonishing. Just as Tabitha was a disciple, so was Gwen. She became one early in her life when the Holy Spirit worked faith in her heart through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Gwen remained faithful to her Lord—trusting in Jesus. She came here often to hear the Word of God and receive Christ’s very body and blood in, with, and under the bread and the wine of Holy Communion. When her health no longer permitted her to come here, those means of grace were brought to Gwen, even in the last hours of her life as she heard the Word of the Lord, including her favorites, Psalm 121, and St. Paul's writing to the Romans, that we just heard today.

Tabitha and Gwen are like so many Christians who have been touched by the Lord’s promise of eternal life. The temptation might be to stop at this point and say no more for it seems the ending is different this time. But to do so would be incomplete. It would be wrong.

Let’s go back to the Scriptures with Tabitha for a moment. She had been prepared for burial, but that was not in accordance with the will of the Lord at the time. God uses Peter to make the command that Tabitha should arise, and that is just what she did. Death could not hold that woman because when Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the tomb, death was defeated and eternal life was guaranteed for God’s people.

As with Tabitha, so also Gwen’s remains have been prepared for burial. But the grave will not be able to hold them either. On the Last Day, God will send His angel and with the sound of the trumpet they shall arise. Take comfort in that and know that those who fall asleep in the Lord will be raised and reunited with loved ones who also remain faithful.

Keep with you, Don, and with you all who are children of the heavenly Father, the assurance and the confidence that Job proclaimed:

I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another (Job 19:25–27a).

 Our church, like many churches, (at least before the electronic age) has a book that is used to keep track of the official acts of the congregation. With Gwen’s death, another entry will be made in that book for 2018. I am quite confident that more names will be written in those blank lines of that book in the days and years ahead. Whose they will be? I cannot say. Only the Lord knows that information. It could be you or me.

Unless the Lord Jesus returns during our lifetime, then you and I will most certainly occupy a place similar to the earthly remains of Gwen. Are you ready for that to happen? I can’t tell you when it will be, but I can inform you most certainly that it will take place. Is your spiritual relationship with the Lord such that when your time arrives, the Lord will have your name written in the Book of Life and will proclaim to you: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter the joy of your Master!”? It was for Gwen and I pray that it may be for you. Or, have you been ignoring the Lord Jesus; doing your own thing and starving yourself spiritually? Have you been drifting away from God? Or have you never really known Him? Each day, each hour, and each minute you are moving closer to a time when a group of people will be gathered around what will be left of you, just as you and I are gathered around the earthly remains of our departed sister in Christ.

If you have questions about these matters, I urge you to speak to your pastor or another mature Christian. If you have no one else with whom to speak, feel free to contact me. I would be happy to visit with you, or help find someone to talk with you. There is no more important conversation you can have!

Gwen has entered her rest—she has been taken from battle to victory, from struggle to triumph, and from sorrow to gladness. After her pilgrimage on this earth, she has been called to the eternal city of the Lord. She is in everlasting joy as she has been taken into the bosom of the Lord, to await the day when her body will be raised to life with no sin, sickness, or sorrow for eternity.

By God’s grace in Jesus Christ, may we all be with her and the Lord on that Great Day and forever. Amen.   

The peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.