+Funeral Sermon for Marcia K.-St. John 3:1-18+

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,+ and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

‘“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”’ (V. 16)

Marcia trusted the promise that Christ makes to us in this verse. She knew that eternal life is to be had trusting in the name of Jesus.

A picture of this trust was her love for her family. It did not matter what the event was. It may have been her grandchildren’s hockey games or big family reunions she enjoyed them all. She enjoyed the big events that allowed for her to interact with her family as well as the small ones. Now, Marcia is enjoying the best of family reunions with the family of Christ, which is the Christian church triumphant in heaven.

Another picture of this reality would have been the many Bible studies that Marcia attended through the years. For so long she desired in her faithful heart nothing more than to study her Savior’s word. Now she enjoys the true Word of God who is pictured for you and me still in the words of holy Scripture.

This was a great comfort for her as life passed for her. As Marcia spent those early years of marriage to her husband John raising their five children, I am sure that those words of promise given to each of us in the Bible gave her great comfort. While she gardened each year, she could truly enjoy what she planted. There was no worry whether the flowers would bloom or whether the vegetable plants would produce their fruit. Even if they did not Marcia knew it was not her worry. Marcia knew as also you and I do, that it is our heavenly Father who causes those plants to grow and bloom and produce fruit. The years that the flowers or produce do not come we can trust as Marcia did that we will still be provided for.

We as the faithful Christians left here to mourn a beloved family member or friend and sister in our Christian faith can still trust on two promises we have been given. First, we are told in God’s word that our needs will always be provided (Small Catechism II: 1st). Second, we are also told by St. Paul that at the end, when Jesus returns, we who are left will rise with those who sleep in Jesus and meet Him in the air that we might always be with Him and those saints in heaven (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Marcia also enjoyed that family of faith at the many church gatherings and potlucks that she attended. We still enjoy such events as another way that our Savior gives us a picture of heaven. Heaven is a festival occasion, it is a feast. Many tables laden with food and the best of all is the ongoing presence of our Savior Christ Jesus.

This faith Marcia lived out through her life. For years she was a Sunday school teacher, passing on the faith of her fathers to those little ones who were given into her charge for the learning of God’s Word and the strengthening of Marcia’s faith and the growing of the faith of those children.

‘“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up”’ (V.14) Our gracious Father used Marcia to spread that message of salvation through Jesus that the Gospel message speaks of. Not only did that happen when she taught the Sunday school children it also happened at other times in her life. Marcia was a baker.

Many here today know that she earned Blue Ribbons for her pies and breads at the State Fair. That was not the only reason that Marcia baked. She primarily baked for her family. I am sure also that those around her in all the places she lived knew of her baked goods. As a strong Christian, hospitality would have come naturally for Marcia. That is, she would have lived out her faith in the caring for her neighbor in the ways that she was able. One of those ways would have been through baking.

Primarily though, Marcia was able to live the life she did for one reason. She knew that she was baptized into Jesus and so His blood covered all her sins. You and I know this too. This is the faith we cling to, knowing that soon we too will see Jesus face to face. When we reach that sight, Marcia will be waiting for us also.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.