Sunday, May 19, 2019 - John 13:1-35 "Glorified"

Last Sunday's sermon over John 13:1-35 focused primarily on the last few verses of the passage.  Through the betrayal by Judas, ultimately Jesus is glorified.  Honestly, the sermon was short because I was a bit worn out from conducting two funerals the day before.

Jesus through the crucifixion glorified God as well as redeemed all of us.  The question is how might we follow the example of Christ and strive to glorify God today... (one clue please avoid the whole cross thing).  Take a listen and see how I link the ministry provided by the women's group for the friends and families of those whose funerals we hosted this past Saturday and the glorification of God.

Remember, to witness is to glorify God.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Glory,
Roy

John 13:1-35 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table,[a] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,[b] but is entirely clean. And you[c] are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants[d] are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread[e] has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.[f] 20 Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”

Jesus Foretells His Betrayal
21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”[g] So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.[h] 27 After he received the piece of bread,[i] Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

The New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him,[j] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Footnotes:
a) John 13:4 Gk from supper
b) John 13:10 Other ancient authorities lack except for the feet
c) John 13:10 The Greek word for you here is plural
d) John 13:16 Gk slaves
e) John 13:18 Other ancient authorities read ate bread with me
f) John 13:19 Gk I am
g) John 13:26 Gk dipped it
h) John 13:26 Other ancient authorities read Judas Iscariot son of Simon; others, Judas son of Simon from Karyot (Kerioth)
i) John 13:27 Gk After the piece of bread

j) John 13:32 Other ancient authorities lack If God has been glorified in him

Easter Sunday, April 1st, 2018

Below please find both the sermon transcript and the video of the sermon.  We had a wonderful day of worship at Woodlawn and I do want to once again thank all of our talented performers.  Nathan & Katie Burley played the piano for us and Eric Holm blessed us with a solo during the service.  Eric and his mother Kathy also sang a duet as part of the sermon and you'll hear them singing in the video below.

We also had the great, great blessing of baptizing three members of the Kuhlers family on Sunday morning.  Jared, Stephanie, and William all took the plunge and died to sin to be reborn in Christ.  Praise God!  It was a great witness to the rest of us especially seeing Jared getting baptized as an adult.  I've included at the very end of this blog post the transcript from their Baptism Ceremony.  Congratulations to you all Jared, Stephanie, and William!  God bless you all!

I posted the transcript to the 'Sunrise Service' yesterday, there was no video taken during the service.  Thank you to all who helped so very much during all the 'going ons' during 'Holy Week'.  A special thank you to Kim Anderson our Worship Chair, Kim does so much for the Church and we all appreciate it greatly!  Thank you, Kim!

I hope that all that wander through this little corner of the internet had a blessed Easter Sunday yesterday, and I hope you all realize just how much your God loves you... God bless you all.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace,
Roy

Easter Sunday Sermon, April 1, 2018
"The Tomb of Remembrance"

Mark 16:1-8  (NRSV)
1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Just as we did a year ago, this year as part of our Easter celebration, we have performed several baptisms.  We just baptized Jared, Stephanie, and William and we are all very excited to count them now among our numbers.  Each of them has symbolically 'died to sin', entered the tomb, and risen again, resurrected just as our Savior was resurrected on that Easter morning so very long ago.

Last year I preached about how baptism is not a finish line, but a starting line. It isn't the point where you conclude your Christian education, your Christian participation, or your relationship with Christ. It's the beginning of something new, a deeper, a more involved relationship.  And just like last year, I want to again compare baptism to marriage. Marriage isn't the end of a relationship... well, at least hopefully not... NO, it's the beginning of a new depth to the relationship between a man and a woman, it is the same thing with baptism, you are committing to a new deeper relationship... between you and Christ.  Sad to say, however, far too often... baptism has become nothing more than a 'rite of passage', something we're expected to do around a certain age and so our parents or grandparents pressure us into going through with the ceremony. But truly, truly, truly... baptism is a NEW beginning, just as the open tomb was a new beginning, a new deeper relationship between God and His creation.

Let's stop for a moment and go back for just a bit, I mentioned the tomb, let's talk a little more about the tomb; the word for tomb in Greek is Mnémeion, it is derived from the Greek word Mousikós which means to remember, or to keep in memory, a tomb is basically a reservoir of memories. Which to be honest, is a very apt description of a tomb or grave; when we go to visit the final resting place of a friend or loved one, we can't help but stand there and reminisce about that person and our lost relationship with them. All of those memories, all those experiences, that entire relationship is in the past... the tomb at least as a metaphor... is a reservoir for those memories. There are no new experiences and thus no new memories, it is all in the past... all those memories though not forgotten are entombed in the past.

Let's also talk a little bit about what the women found when they showed up at the tomb, the tomb was of course already opened, but there was also someone sitting inside... this mysterious 'young man'. He is sitting there alone in the tomb, now you may not realize... or perhaps you may have forgotten... but this young man has shown up before in Mark's Gospel, in the 14th Chapter of Mark, verses 50-52 we read concerning the story of the arrest of Jesus in the garden:

Mark 14:50-52
50 All of them deserted him and fled. 51 A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

We could be a bit put off by this imagery of nakedness, we could be I suppose... a bit prudish and thus we would miss the message hidden in the metaphor, or we can consider what Mark is trying to convey to us... through this mysterious young man and his nakedness.

This 'young man' just like all of those following Christ has run away when Jesus is arrested, just as foretold in the 13th Chapter of Zechariah, the Shepherd has been struck and the sheep have scattered.  This young man just like all the rest, just like all of us, has run away from Christ. He has fled, naked... and exposed... all of his sin, all of his human failings, all of his human frailties, all of his shortcomings... exposed for all the world to see. His relationship to Christ has been severed, his relationship is now one of betrayal. But here, on this first Easter morning, we find the young man, alone in the tomb, waiting for the women. He is now clothed in finer garments than he had been in the garden, he has returned to Christ and been reconciled even before any of the others. Just as all of the disciples will eventually return to Christ and be reconciled unto Christ... and just like the 'mysterious young man', we too can return and be welcomed home in the fashion of the Prodigal Son.

We all whether we want to admit it or not, have an internal and eternal, longing to be reconciled with our Creator.  I have preached before about the importance of finding and staying in relationship with a congregation of believers. Quite simply, none of us is meant to be an island... we accept an obligation to not only our own relationship with God but to that of our fellow believers. That prayer we all stated in unison after the baptism today... was our commitment to these newly baptized Christians among us. We have an obligation to not only keep the spark and fire of Christ alive within ourselves but also to keep that fire alive within others. Recently, I saw a great short story on Facebook, I believe it was posted by Leon.  Now it's not a new story, in fact, it's one that I first saw many years ago.  But, it is a modern parable if you will, and please allow me to share it with you now;

The Lonely Ember
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going.
After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.
As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail."
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.
Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

Quite frankly, we need each other, we have an obligation to each other... to love, to support, to even push at times... it was an obligation that we accepted when we professed our faith and took that plunge under those waters of baptism.  That baptistery which we associate with the tomb and the rising out of the water, Christ's escape from the tomb.

So we're back to the tomb...

The thing about the tomb is that it's not only empty... it's OPEN.  Remember that a tomb is a reservoir of memories... well, a closed tomb signifies the end of the making of memories... it's all about the past.  This tomb, this tomb is open... He LIVES, new memories are being formed each and every day.

We've been blessed this morning with some truly beautiful special music, and right now we're about to be blessed a little bit more by the sound of Kathy and Eric's voices.  And they both have such wonderful voices, but please listen to the words as they sing them... pay close attention to the message of this magnificent Hymn.

(Duet of "He Lives")

He lives!  Now certainly, we through the teachings of the Holy Scripture have 'memories' of Christ, but each of us also has memories of Christ through our own encounters with Him, and each of us shall forge many more memories of Christ.  For the tomb is open... and remember the words of the 'mysterious young man' 
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.

Our Lord lies not in a cold grave... but is alive... and well... and at work in this world.  He lives... he lives... you ask me how I know he lives... he lives within my heart.  He lives within my heart, he lives within your heart, he lives within the heart of every Christian, every man, woman, and child that has professed faith in Him and who has taken up the cross to do His bidding in this world.

You and I build new memories, and have new encounters with Christ through our interactions and cooperation with one another... as I look across this sanctuary today I see the face of Christ looking back at me and I can't help but have a smile deep within my soul... for HE LIVES!

And all His people cried out... AMEN!

Photo by Christian Begeman

Service of Holy Baptism:

Matthew 3:13-17  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Baptism is one of the two sacraments given by Christ to his followers.  In baptism, through faith, we are made one with Christ.   We are buried with Christ and with him raised from the dead to walk in new life.  The washing of our bodies with water is the outward and visible sign of the cleansing of our inner being through the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ.  We are baptized not only with water but also with the Holy Spirit, and by this same Spirit we are baptized into Christ's body, the church, and made members of the whole people of God.

In obedience to Christ's command let us baptize these who have professed their faith in Him.

William, do you before God and this congregation affirm through this act of baptism your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you promise to follow Christ in word and deed throughout your Life?

(William – I do)

Upon the declaration of your faith and in obedience to Christ's command, on behalf of this congregation I baptize you, William Thomas Schmit, in the name of God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit. (dunk)

Loving God, may your Spirit fall upon William and remain with him all the days of his life.  And may the joy of this moment be his forever.  Amen.

Stephanie, do you before God and this congregation affirm through this act of baptism your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you promise to follow Christ in word and deed throughout your Life?

(Stephanie – I do)

Upon the declaration of your faith and in obedience to Christ's command, on behalf of this congregation I baptize you, Stephanie Nichole Kuhlers, in the name of God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  (dunk)

Loving God, may your Spirit fall upon Stephanie and remain with her all the days of her life.  And may the joy of this moment be hers forever.  Amen.

Jared, do you before God and this congregation affirm through this act of baptism your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you promise to follow Christ in word and deed throughout your Life?

(Jared – I do)

Upon the declaration of your faith and in obedience to Christ's command, on behalf of this congregation I baptize you, Jared Benjamin Kuhlers, in the name of God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  (dunk)

Loving God, may your Spirit fall upon Jared and remain with him all the days of his life.  And may the joy of this moment be his forever.  Amen.

We have done as Christ has commanded.  As those who have been baptized have confessed their faith and committed themselves to discipleship, let us all renew our baptismal vows as we pray together:

Gracious God, baptize us afresh with your Spirit.  May we know once again the newness of life so abundantly shown to these who have been baptized.  Open our hearts to receive them into our midst, that they may know among us the same spirit of love that was in Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us.  Amen.

so... which crowd are you in?

This past Sunday was of course "Palm Sunday" the day when we recall and celebrate Christ's entry into Jerusalem at the time of Passover.  He came riding in upon a donkey, an animal commonly used in that culture by royalty when coming into an area peacefully.  When coming into an area as conquerors, they would come riding upon a horse in a display of warlike intentions.  Clearly, Jesus was sending a message as well as fulfilling scripture.

Zechariah 9:9 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Coming Ruler of God’s People
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
    Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
    triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

In their wonderful book "The Last Week", Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan (The Last Week) talk about the two crowds in the story of Jesus last week on Earth.  The first crowd the crowd that we read about in the Lectionary for this week's service, and the crowd that appears before Pilate and ask for Barabba's release over Jesus. Borg and Crossan maintain that it is not made up of the same demographic in the Jewish population.  After reading their book, I was inclined to agree with them, but lately, I've started to question this perhaps too 'easy' conclusion.  The problem is that it releases the crowd of culpability in the death of Christ.  The crowd isn't fickle, it's a different crowd... But, like I said it's perhaps just a bit too convenient and maybe even too clever by half.  

The problem was that Jesus wasn't who they wanted, they wanted a conquering King, somebody who would come in and kick the Romans to the curb so to say.  Here comes Jesus, looking so very promising in the incident at the Temple and then he just lets himself be arrested without so much as putting up a struggle. As a conqueror, this guy is a sad disappointment, to say the least.  In the courtyard of Pilate, the crowd wants the man of 'strength' the warlike Barabbas.  Barabbas had to be an insurrectionist; the Romans basically only crucified two classes of people insurrectionists and run-away slaves.  Barabbas likely was the leader of a group and the other two men crucified with Jesus were probably his followers.

The crowd wants the man of violence, they turn from the man of peace to the man who had apparently killed in the insurrection. One could even speculate that Barabbas was another Messianic figure (there were several in Jesus' time). Barabbas would literally mean "the son of the father", so the crowd opted for the "son of the father" that was a man of violence rather than the "son of the Father" that was a man of peace. One can also wonder how long Barabbas lived after being released, I would speculate not long, the Romans weren't big on allowing insurrectionists to just walk around.  That was what caused Rome to want to kill Jesus, a man of peace or not, he was a trouble-maker and Rome wanted nothing to do with him.

All too often in life, we behave like the crowd(s).  We're all excited when asking God for something, but when things don't seem to us to work out the way we'd planned, we turn on God and we too cry 'Crucify Him'...  So, which crowd are you in?

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ's Love & Joy,
Roy

Photo by Christian Begema

John 12:12-16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
    the King of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey’s colt!”


16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.


Mark 11:1-11 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10     Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”


11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.


Matthew 27:15-26  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Barabbas or Jesus?
15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus[a] Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[b] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[c] 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[d] All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood;[e] see to it yourselves.” 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Footnotes:
a) Matthew 27:16 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
b) Matthew 27:17 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
c) Matthew 27:17 Or the Christ
d) Matthew 27:22 Or the Christ

e) Matthew 27:24 Other ancient authorities read this righteous blood, or this righteous man’s blood

Psalm 118:25 King James Version (KJV)

25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.


Zechariah 9:9  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Coming Ruler of God’s People
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
    Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
    triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

John 12:27-35 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Jesus Speaks about His Death
27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people[a] to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34 The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah[b] remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.

Footnotes:
a) John 12:32 Other ancient authorities read all things
b) John 12:34 Or the Christ

Following Christ - Sermon given Jan 21, 2018

This weeks sermon followed along with last weeks sermon about "what do you want" from Christ.  Sunday, I turned the tables and talked about the fact that it doesn't matter what we want, rather it's all about what God 'wants'.  What God wants is for us to follow Him, to do His work and His will here in this world.

I received many compliments on the sermon, though I will apologize for my coughing and voice during the presentation.  It seems that the remnants of the cold that I had over the New Year just won't completely go away.

With this caveat please take a few minutes and listen to the message, the message apparently surpassed the means of the message (as it should always).  Thank you for listening!

Be a blessing to someone today!

Following Him,
Roy

The sermon this week was pretty scripture-laden and please find below the verses that formed the basis of the message.

God Bless!

Luke 18:18-30  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Rich Ruler
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’” 21 He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money[a] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” 
28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

James 2:14-26  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

Luke 6:46-49  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.”

Ephesians 2:4-10  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Matthew 4:18-20
Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Mark 1:16-18
As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Luke 5:11
When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

Mark 1:19-20
Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

Matthew 9:9
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.

Mark 2:14
As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.

Luke 5:27-28
After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me." And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.

John 1:43-45
The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip And Jesus said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Mark 10:21
Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Luke 18:22-23
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

Luke 9:59-60
And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God."

Matthew 19:27-30
Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

Mark 10:28-31
Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You." Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

Luke 18:28-30
Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You." And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life."

John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 12:26
"If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:34-37
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

Luke 9:23-25
And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

Matthew 10:37-39
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

Luke 14:25-33
Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

John 21:19
Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"

Matthew 4:25
Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Matthew 8:1
When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.

Matthew 12:15
But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all,

Mark 3:7
Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea,

Matthew 14:13
Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

Luke 9:11
But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

John 6:2
A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.

Matthew 19:2
and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.

Mark 2:15
And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.

Mark 5:24
And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.

Luke 7:9
Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith."

Matthew 20:34
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

Mark 10:52
And Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

Luke 18:43
Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

Matthew 9:27
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

Matthew 8:23
When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.

Mark 14:51
A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him.

Mark 15:41
When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

John 18:15
Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,

Matthew 8:19-20
Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

Luke 9:57-58
As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

Luke 9:61-62
Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

John 6:66
As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.

John 13:12-17
So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

Acts 24:14
"But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;

Romans 15:5
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:6
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

1 Peter 2:20-23
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;

Revelation 14:4
These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

Revelation 17:14
"These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

John 13:36
Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later."

Baptism, Obedience, and Witness - Sermon given January 7th, 2018

The sermon this past Sunday was over the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist.  I touched upon why we here at Woodlawn require baptism in order to become a member of the Church.  The sermon is just shy of 20 minutes long but it was one of my better sermons and I received a great number of compliments on it so I encourage everyone to take a listen and see what they think.

Ultimately, the physical act of Baptism has two elements not often considered, these are obedience and witness.  I'll leave it at that and again urge everyone to watch the video.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Mark 1:1-11 (NRSV)

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with[f] water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”


Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve)
Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism.  And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.


Matthew 3:13-17 (NRSV)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”



1st Corinthians 1:11-17 (NRSV)
 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.[e] 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God[f] that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent - "Love" - and it's also "Christmas Eve"

The sermon from last Sunday hit upon the fourth candle of Advent, the 'Love' candle.  The crutch of the sermon was that no matter who you are, no matter what you are, God loves you and wants a relationship with you. I also stressed that we as Christians have taken upon ourselves the responsibility to be agents of God's love to this wanting world.  Let us never shirk this calling and obligation.

The sermon is a short one as we had a lot going on during the worship service, so since it's short please take a few minutes and listen.  Thank you.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Love,
Roy

John 3:16  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

2 John 4-6  NRSV
4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it. 

John 13:35  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Romans 12:9-21  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.[a] 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;[b] do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God;[c] for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[a] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem[b] on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Funeral Service for Doris Hanks - December 27th, 2017

Today we laid to rest one of Woodlawn's longtime Saints, Doris Hanks.  It was a sad day but also a glorious day as we now know that Doris is reunited with her Lord and that Doris no longer suffers from the infirmities that plagued her final days.

Praise God for her life and her witness!

Below please find the manuscript of the service.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Love,
Roy

Order of Service – Funeral for Doris Hanks

Prelude:  

Music:  On Eagle's Wings  – Erin Blair

Procession: 
All please rise.

Call to Worship:
O God, who brought us to birth,
and in whose arms we die,
in our grief and shock
contain and comfort us;
embrace us with your love,
give us hope in our confusion
and grace to let go into new life;
through Jesus Christ.  Amen 

Please be seated.

Greeting:
Holy God, gathered together we praise your blessed name.
We praise you today for your servant Doris Jean Hanks
and for all that you did through her.
Meet us here in our sadness and mourning,
and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,
for the sake of the One who loves us all... Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Opening Prayer:
God who creates and re-creates us, God who laughs with us and weeps with us,
God who walks with us each step of the way, carrying us when our strength fails,
we gather today with hearts breaking with grief, with voices crying out words of lament. And so we ask that you would move in and around us today. As we gather to remember and say goodbye to Doris, be the shoulder we can cry on, the arm we can lean on, help us to see through the veil of tears that there is hope for life continuing. Gracious God, as mysterious and wondrous as you are, you are also a compassionate God, as attentive as a hen with her chicks, as tender as a mother with a newborn child, as watchful as a shepherd with the sheep, as protective as a father’s warm embrace. and so we come into your presence to grieve Doris' death,
asking that your Holy Spirit would be here to ease our pain. As we give thanks for all that she added to the lives of those around her, as we release our tears and sorrow, as we say our goodbyes, remind us that we are not alone, for You are with us...  In Jesus’ all-gracious and all-loving name we pray, Amen. 

Music:  How Great Thou Art – Erin Blair

Reading from the Old Testament:
Psalm 23  King James Version (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Reading from the New Testament:
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
4:16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— 3 if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Music:  The Old Rugged Cross – Erin Blair

Message:  Pastor Roy Karlen – Woodlawn Christian Church
Doris Jean Hanks passed quietly from this world and into the Kingdom of our Lord on the afternoon of December 20, 2017.  She was born on August 26, 1926, in Manson, Iowa to Arthur and Blanche Sommerfeld. She first attended 'Country School' but later attended and in 1944 graduated from Lake City High School, here in Lake City, IA.  Doris was Baptized at the “First Baptist Church” in Rockwell City but later while still, a teenager transferred her church membership here to Woodlawn.  On February 2, 1947, Doris married Herbert Keith Hanks before this very altar...  Doris is survived by her sons Bill (wife Sheri) and Duane (wife Linda), by six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

When I asked the family the other day to give me words that described Doris, they told me, determined, religious, hardworking, family oriented, and they told me how much she enjoyed her close friendships.

Doris' religion was always very important to her and she shared with others the importance of having a genuine relationship with God.  Janelle Nesbitt told me how whenever the children from the youth group stopped in to visit Doris at Shady Oaks, that Doris would always emphasize to them how important learning about God was and how they needed to continue to have a close relationship with God.  Often when I would visit her she would tell me how very much she wished she could come up to be at church... today Doris got her wish, she gets to be back in this Sanctuary... this church building... that she loved so much, one last time.  She truly loved her Lord, and she loved this old church building, and she loved her church family.  Doris was long a devoted and dedicated member here at Woodlawn, one of those that Jim Bruce would number among the Saints of Woodlawn.

Doris was a hard-worker, she was a farm wife and mother.  She had a huge garden and shared her produce with many other members of her family and her friends. After the boys were older, Doris started to work in town.  She enjoyed working at the Lake City Library, Farley’s Clothing Store and Ben Franklin.  Doris liked to be around people and she kept working until she was 75 years of age.

Doris was very family-oriented, not just to her close family but to her extended family as well.  Bill and Duane told how for many years they would travel every Christmas morning to go to Rockwell City for the Sommerfeld Family Reunion. Doris loved to have a lot of family around especially on the holidays.

The family talked about how important her and Keith's close friendships were to them.  They talked about how their closest friends were almost like second families and how they all worked together out on their farms.  Doris and Keith were especially close to Dale & Bonnie Stoffregan, Jack & Barb Carich, and Gordon and Jean Dooley.  The family talked about all the wonderful times that the families had together, please ask them to tell you more about these stories later at the luncheon.

Later in life, Doris would regularly go for coffee at Sparky's and it was there that she became close friends with Donna Jenkins.  Doris was responsible for Donna becoming a Christian, for Donna joining Woodlawn Christian Church, and I suspect what made Doris the happiest of all... Doris was responsible for Donna being baptized here at Woodlawn and declaring Christ as her Lord and Savior.  I remember telling Doris that Donna had passed and how sad Doris was to hear of Donna's sudden passing.  Doris wondered then how long it would be before she too would go to see her dearly beloved God.  She was very surprised that Donna had passed before she had, but she was very pleased to know that her dear friend was in Heaven.

When visiting with Doris at Shady Oaks, I would often visit with her about the cats on the calendar that she had beside her chair.  Doris truly enjoyed cats and she liked to hear about my wife's cats.  I often wished our cats were a bit more outgoing and docile, as I would have loved to have brought one of them out to visit Doris.  I think she would have enjoyed that.

The family shared with me some of Doris' writings about her life.  They are a treasure of memories and wonderful stories.  She wrote about childhood memories of seeing Gypsies that camped near their home while passing through the area, about how the women would buy eggs, cream, and other provisions from Doris' mother.  She wondered how much was stolen at night while all the local families slept.  

She wrote about during the War seeing trucks carrying German prisoners of war through the area.  Later she learned that they were being transported to camps near Colorado, Storm Lake, and Algona, IA.  There were stories about the rationing during the war, stories about coming to town for groceries on the weekend.  About how they'd give their lists to the grocer who would make up boxes with their purchases and then line the boxes up for everyone to pick up when they were ready to leave town and head for home.  

Stories about going to Country School without electricity and the kerosene lamps that they used instead.  Stories of her father trying to get them to school with a horse and wagon even though there was a blizzard going on, about how ultimately, the horses wore out in the heavy snow and her Dad proclaiming “this is crazy” and them turning around and going back home. 

She told about being ill a lot as a youth and staying with her grandparents where she seemed to do better.  There was a store about deciding that her grandmother wouldn't mind if she walked the quarter mile down the road to visit a friend of hers, without of course first telling her grandmother... she told about how she realized just how wrong she was about that “grandma not caring” part once her grandmother found her.  

So many great old stories that you all should read for yourselves, they were wonderful to read and I confess that as I read them I could hear Doris' voice in my mind.

As I said earlier, church was very important to Doris, but I must confide in you all that only a few times did she attend my monthly worship services out at Shady Oaks.  You see, I go out to Shady Oaks on Monday mornings, and that just so happened to be the time when Doris would go and get her hair done.  Her hair was also very important to her... I suspect the few times when Doris did make it to my Monday services was when her appointment had been canceled or moved for one reason or another.

Yesterday, Sheri brought one of Doris' Bibles to me to look through.  Doris had noted several scripture verses and I'd like to consider a couple of them with you now.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Doris had no fear of death, for she knew with all her heart and soul that it isn't an end at all, rather a beginning.  The taking on of the imperishable, the changing that comes with the twinkle of an eye... the step into eternity and into the very presence of God Himself.  God bless Doris for her unshakable faith in her God.

Doris was always a tireless servant of her Lord, it is a small wonder that the following was a verse that she contemplated:

Ephesians 4:25-32  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

As self-proclaimed Christians, Doris knew that we all... each of us... has an obligation to God and to one another.  The Kingdom of God is not furthered if we allow conflict to divide us, we are called by Christ to forgive as he has forgiven us... we are called to love just as he has loved us.

Just this past Sunday, I used Doris... her devotion, and her great love of her God as an illustration for my sermon.  Love is undoubtedly the most important thing that we need to remember when serving our Lord, for he himself told us that “Loving God, and loving one another” are paramount in our relationship to God and each other.  Upon our love for our God and our love for one another hang everything else in our Lord's creation.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
13 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly,[b] but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Doris lived a life of love, love of her friends, love of her family, and love of her Lord Jesus Christ.

Losing a loved one just before Christmas... at this most joyful time of the Christian year, is always difficult, but let me share with you all now a poem that I first saw nearly seven years ago:

My First Christmas in Heaven: by Wanda Bencke
I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,
With tiny lights, like heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear.
For I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs, that people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can’t compare, with the Christmas choir up here.
For I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring.
For it is beyond description, to hear an angel sing.
I can’t tell you of the splendor, or the peace here in this place.
Can you just imagine Christmas, with our Savior, face to face?
I’ll ask Him to light your spirit, as I tell Him of your love;
So then pray for one another, as you lift your eyes above.
Please let your heart be joyful, and let your spirit sing.
For I’m spending Christmas in Heaven, and I’m walking with the King!
I know how much you miss me; I see the pain inside your heart.
But I’m not so far away, we really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear,
And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I send you each a special gift from my heavenly home above.
I send you each a memory of my undying love.
After all “love” is the gift, more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other as my Father said to do,
For I can’t count the blessings or the love He has for you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year!

Today we gather to celebrate the life of and mourn the passing of Doris Hanks.  Though each of her family, friends and loved ones here today feel the heavy weight of sorrow in their hearts... each of us is at the same time filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and celebration for Doris' entry into Heaven.  On December 20th, Doris passed from this world but was born anew in the Kingdom of the Lord she loved and served so tirelessly.  Praise be to God!

Eulogies: 
Poem by Sheri Hanks - "To My Mother-In-Law & Friend"
When I married your son,
I didn't know we would have fun.

We married and away we did go,
Then settled back home on a farm we had to mow.

I felt like we lived out in the sticks,
I had to learn that farmers weren't hicks.

I learned to garden (by the acre it seemed at the time),
I still make your pickles - the ones that use lime.

I had cooked a little, but not for the farm,
I learned lots from you - how to come to no harm.

Don't plug in the mixer before putting on the beaters.
Cook eggs on low - add a little water - for the eaters.

I remember a time when Keith said "men coming at noon",
It was 9:00 - what to do?  I was ready to swoon.

You grabbed the pressure cooker, and I peeled potatoes.
We had a full meal, dessert, and even tomatoes.

We had lots of laughter with the work over the years.
We also had sorrow and even some tears.

Your life changed, but you kept moving.
There were lots of friends for grooving.

With each new friend you met other friends,
And you had dancing at the end.

Then you went to Shady Oaks.
You lived with other older folks.

You said when you came - never fear,
You planned to stay another seven years.

We'll miss you - you loved family best,
And now may you in peace get rest.

Music:  In The Garden – Erin Blair

Closing Prayer:
Following the interment at Lake City Cemetery, the family invites you all to join them in further celebration of Doris' life and a time of shared remembrances and closure, by gathering with them for lunch in the Church's fellowship hall. Due to the brutally cold weather, for all those who do not wish to travel to the cemetery or for whom health concerns demand they remain behind, please feel free to wait for us in the Church's Fellowship Hall until we return from the graveside service.  The family very much wishes to continue to visit and reminisce with you all.  Also, due to the extreme weather, we will take the unusual measure of conducting a portion of the graveside readings here in the Sanctuary before departing.  Please do not feel that you must go to the graveside service to hear the final prayer as the weather is really quite severe.  Thank you.

Let us pray:
O God, our Strength and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we open our hearts to you just as we are.  We celebrate your gift of life freely given but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death.  The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken.  Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead.

We trust you.  We love you.  We know in Christ that your love is everlasting.  Nothing can separate any of us from your abiding care.  With you is eternal life.

With confidence, we now entrust Doris to your unfailing love and overflowing goodness.  Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with you, lift up this, your servant, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining.  We give you but your own, enfold her in your everlasting arms, hold her for she is your child.

Now strengthen us, through the gift of your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that you stand with us.  Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life.
Reassured of your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another.  Renewed by your love, help us to love in ever larger circles so as to embrace your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction:

Exit Hymn:  

Committal Service
(this first portion shall be read in the Sanctuary before departure)
And now we shall conduct a portion of our committal service prior to traveling to the cemetery.  

We have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Doris Hanks.  We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.  May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.

O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray.  You know our needs before we ask, and our desires in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity.  Help us to live as those who are prepared to die.  And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you.  AMEN

14th Chapter of the Gospel of John
Hear these words from Jesus:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
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 will take you to myself,
So that where I am, there you may be also.
And you know the way to the place where I am going.
I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.
In a little while the world will no longer see me,
But you will see me;
Because I live, you also will live.
I have said these things to you while I am still with you.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
Whom the Father will send in my name,
Will teach you everything,
And remind you of all that I have said to you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”  
(John 14:1 – 4, 18 – 19, 25 – 27)

(the reading below shall be done at the graveside)

Believing in the Resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we now entrust Doris to the care of Almighty God and we ask Our Father to open the doors to his mansion and lead Doris to the room made ready just for her. As we now commit her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we commend her spirit to its new home. Rest eternal grant her, and let light perpetual shine upon her.

God has blessed and enriched our lives in giving us Doris to know and love here on this earth. In committing her body to the earth, we give over to God the care of her spirit, and we acknowledge that we will one day reunite with her in God's Kingdom. The Lord bless her and keep her; the Lord make his face shine upon her and be gracious to her; the Lord look upon her with favor and give her peace.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His strong arms encircle you and uphold you in your hour of grief.  God's peace and strength to you all.
Amen

This concludes our graveside service.