Funeral Sermon for Elfrieda Pagenkopf
Grace,
mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and
from our crucified and risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
"I am Jesus' little lamb, ever glad at heart I am; for my Shepherd
gently guides me, knows my need and well provides me, loves me ev'ry day the same, even calls me by my name."
Here in a few minutes we will join together in singing that song; that hymn that in fact was Elfrieda's
favorite; a hymn that I would suggest, Elfrieda lived
by. After all, as a baptized child of
her heavenly Father, Elfrieda knew she was also a
lamb of her Good Shepherd and that reality - it shaped her, didn't it? It enabled her to serve, even as Jesus had
served. It gave her that peace that
surpasses all human understanding, a peace that sustained her and strengthened
her even as she faced life's trials and tribulations. Ever glad at heart she was, for she knew her
Shepherd gently guided her, knew her needs and well provided for her; she knew
His love was there for her everyday the same; she knew He had called her by
name. And she lived by that
reality. She lived by it.
I think it's for that reason that
ever since shortly after I first got to know Elfrieda,
she is one of those people whom I've considered to be one of my heroes in the
faith. And of course I say that for
myself personally but I imagine a whole lot of you would agree with me on that
one. Elfrieda
was a hero in the faith.
And not that Elfrieda
was perfect. I mean she would be one of
the first to say that she was a sinner in need of Gods' grace. Jesus' death and resurrection was her one and
only source of salvation. She was a
sinner in need of God's grace in Jesus.
But yet, she taught us how to live,
didn't she? She taught us how to live as
a forgiven sinner of our God. She taught
us how to live as a child of our heavenly Father. She taught us how to live as a lamb of our
Good Shepherd. She taught us how to
live.
Serving others.
Service defined much of Elfrieda's life. Service to her God - service
as a faithful wife, mother, or grandmother, service to others. Whether it was working on the farm or the
post office, driving her friends where they needed to go, visiting shut-ins
which she did so regularly until she pretty much became a shut-in herself,
serving funeral dinners, and of course quilting - which became a passion for
her. None of us probably really realize
just how many laps have been kept warm, babies cuddled, beds made more cozy with Elfrieda's
quilts. And not just in this area but
around the country and even around the world as she helped with many a quilt
that was distributed through the Lutheran human care organizations. Service. Yes Elfrieda - a
hero in the faith - she taught us all how to live as a lamb of her Shepherd. …
"Day by day, at home, away, Jesus is my staff and stay. When I hunger, Jesus feeds me, into pleasant
pastures leads me; when I thirst, He bids me go where the quiet waters
flow." That's
a very peaceful image, isn't it? Jesus feeding His lambs, leading them into pleasant pastures,
beside the quiet waters. Very peaceful. Elfrieda knew that peace, didn't she? …. I didn't realize
it but in talking with Deborah the other day she said the benediction is a part
of the service that Elfrieda paid special attention
to and in particular that last phrase that is said as the sign of the cross is
made: "and give you peace." Elfrieda knew that
peace - she knew where her peace came from - her Savior who had gone to the cross
for her, defeating death and the grave; her God who had come to her through the
waters of Baptism declaring her to be His own.
She knew that her peace came only from her Lord who fed her with His
body and blood given and shed for the forgiveness of her sins; she knew that
her peace came from her Good Shepherd who spoke His Word of grace to her.
I best came to know Elfrieda during the many bible studies she attended very
faithfully until her broken hip and her hearing kept her from participating as
she liked to. But during those studies and
anytime I visited with her, she was one who could always be counted on to give
a simple, yet very heartfelt and Christ-centered witness to how her Lord's love
and grace sustained her. And even over
these past couple of years as it seemed it was just one thing after another
with her health, she had that peace; she had that faith that could not be
shaken; that faith that knew she was a lamb in her Shepherd's arms no matter
what. Yes Elfrieda
- a hero in the faith - she taught us all how to live as a lamb of her
Shepherd. …
"Who so happy as I am, even now the
Shepherd's lamb? And when my short life
is ended, by His angel host attended, He shall fold me to His breast, there
within His arms to rest." A life we have come to know and to
love has come to an end - at least here in this world. A hero has fallen. The wages of sin - death - has done it's deed; her body has at last given out, weary from her
labors. And while we that fact mourn
today, we celebrate today. We celebrate
that Elfrieda's Good Shepherd has taken her
into His arms to rest and to await with all of us that
day of the resurrection. Jesus laid down
His life for His sheep, but Jesus lives, having risen on the third day. He lives and because He lives, Elfrieda lives, and she shall live. This body that we lay to rest today will rise
again on the Last Day - Jesus guarantees it.
She shall rise again only this time no longer subject to pain or to
farming accidents; no longer subject to broken bones and to cancer; no longer
subject to death. … Heroes may fall, but heroes in the faith in Jesus shall
rise again. …
"I am Jesus' little
lamb." Yes she was, yes she is, and
yes she shall be forever along with all who trust in Him - our Good Shepherd -
our Lord Jesus. To Him be the thanks for Elfrieda, and to Him be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
And may that peace of God that
surpasses all human understanding - that peace that sustained Elfrieda throughout her life - may that same peace guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Amen.
And now let us sing together that
hymn that Elfrieda loved, that hymn that Elfrieda lived by, "I Am Jesus Little Lamb".