Funeral - Allen Leon Coppin 1923-2013

Isaiah 54:10  

For the mountains may depart
    and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Revelation 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place^[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,^[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.^[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷ The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.^[a] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the our Old Testament lesson, Allen’s confirmation verse, “’For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord who has compassion on you.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends, especially Bev, Paul, Mark, and Carol:  It’s not very often that, as a pastor, I’ve walked into a room in a nursing home and been greeted with the words, “Good afternoon Pastor, would you like a beer?”  And yet that is exactly what happened several times with Allen after he had settled in to St. Gerard’s.  That’s the kind of guy that Allen was, very kind, very courteous, and very caring. 

And so today we gather together to mourn the loss of a very beloved member of our congregation, a Father, a grandfather, and above all to many people, a friend.  He’s a man who worked hard, who deeply cared for his children – he told me so – and who was much admired by many.  And today, he’s gone. After celebrating his 90^th birthday just a month ago, our dear friend has gone to be with his Savior.   He now lives in the New Jerusalem, prepared by Christ himself for all who trust in Him to live in forever in peace, comfort and joy.

This is a great blessing from God.  For in this world, we do not experience much peace, comfort and joy.  This world is very hard for us poor sinners who live here.  We feebly struggle with guilt and shame, with vice and error.  We must deal with pain and sorrow, and most of all we must face death. 

None of us are immune to it.  Even Allen faced the loss of loved ones.  He lost his first wife Lucille, to blood disease.  A few years ago, his much loved wife Greta passed away as well.  Throughout his 90 years he lost other friends and family members, he dealt with other pains and difficulties.  And finally, at the last, His Lord and Savior called him out of this vale of tears, along with all who are weary and heavy laden, and into his eternal rest. 

And so now it is us, you and me, who are left to hurt and mourn.  It is us who suffer and deal with pain.  It is us who will feel the sting of death, both today and in the days to come.  We will miss Allen.  We will be reminded of other loved ones who are now gone.  We will drive past the farmstead and remember Christmas and other holidays together, with Mom and Dad, Grandpa and grandma. 

And it is you and me that finally must come face to face with the reality of our own sin.  That one day we too will pass away.  That we are but mortal strangers here on this earth.  And that one day, we too will return to the dust from which God has called us. 

It’s not easy to think about.  It’s not easy to mourn and at the same time realize that our own lives have been infected by our own sin.  And yet we have a promise from God, a promise that we spoke of last night, “Let not your hearts be troubled – Christ has died for sin.”  And it’s a promise that we hear boldly proclaimed in Allen’s confirmation verse, where the God who has compassion on you, and on Allen says, “my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed.” 

This is the promise from a Lord who in his compassion entered our world of sin and death, suffered on the cross himself and even died to rescue you and me, and also our dear friend Allen.  He promised a love that would never depart.  And then he showed that love for us all, by giving up his life for us – his friends.  He promised a peace that would not be removed – a peace that surpasses all human understanding, a peace that this world could not give.  A peace that Allen now experiences in heaven, and that awaits us who are baptized and believe in his holy name. 

Dear friends, today we mourn – but we mourn with hope.  That even though the mountains give way, and the hills be ripped at the seams, that God’s love is with us.  It was with Allen his entire life, and dear friends that love is yours today.  It promises heaven to you, it promises a reunion with Allen, Greta, and all your loved ones.  It is a great gift that we cannot fathom – a God who has compassion on us, who promises us everlasting life.  In the name of Jesus Amen.