Kyle Irvin Nelson Prayer Service and Funeral

Prayer Service Homily

Job 19:21-27

Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!  ²² Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?

²³ “Oh that my words were written!  Oh that they were inscribed in a book!  ²⁴ Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
²⁵ For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  ²⁶ And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in^[b] my flesh I shall see God, ²⁷ whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.  My heart faints within me!

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵ For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self^[a] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

Dear friends in Christ.  What words can we say on such a day as this?  What can still the tears?  What can stop the weeping?  What could possibly fill the hole that we feel here tonight, when such a terrible tragedy has struck, and we feel so much pain and loss?  For a dear child, friend, and co-worker has been taken from us so suddenly, and we hurt so much because of it. 

He had such a bright future, and was still just a young man.  He had a home ready.  He hoped to begin taking over the family farm next year.  He had a lovely girlfriend, a family who loved him and so much ahead of him. 

We don’t know why he was taken from us so early.  We don’t know why his life was so short.  We don’t know why he was pinned under the truck instead of off to the side.  And dear friends, we’ll never know the answers to these questions or any of the others that swirl around in our minds on this day. 

But there is one thing we know.  And that is the words of our first reading this evening.  We know that Kyle’s redeemer lives – that our redeemer lives.  And that right now Kyle’s spirit rests with Jesus, even as we care for his body.  He sees God, face to face right now. 

We can be certain – absolutely certain – where Kyle is right now because of the work of Jesus Christ.  Who endured the cross, bleeding, suffering, and dying for all sin, and for all sinners.  He died for you, for me, and for Kyle.  And as that car spun out of control, Jesus was there with Kyle, providing for him, and taking him by the hand into peace and comfort everlasting. 

No, in Jesus, death is not our end – it cannot conquer us, no matter how difficult the situation.  Jesus laid in the grave on three days, and still conquered, being raised into life eternal.  And because Jesus rose, so too will Kyle one day.  As St. Paul writes, “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us into his presence.”  That promise is Kyle’s in his baptism, that many years ago in water and the word he already inherited eternal life.  His body will be alive again on the last day of this world, and he shall forever be with Jesus. 

And so we don’t grow fainthearted.  We do not lose heart.  We endure, day by day, moment by moment, knowing that Kyle is in the care of God’s nail scarred hands.  And knowing, that Kyle’s redeemer is our redeemer as well.  And that in Christ, and in Christ alone, we too one day will be in the peace and joy that comes in his grace, mercy and forgiveness alone. 

Dear friends, we will never know why what happened has happened.  But we do not that because Jesus lives, so too will Kyle.  Because Jesus lives, so too will we.  And that promise gives us hope to face each and every day ahead. 

It will not be easy.  It will not be a quickly passing pain.  The hole will always be there in you lives.  The memories – both good and bad will always be there.  But so too is the promise of everlasting life in Jesus, and in Jesus alone. 

For our Redeemer lives, and in the last, we shall seem him with our own eyes, face to face, just as Kyle is now, and shall be forevermore. 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Funeral Service Sermon

Isaiah 25:6-9 - On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
    of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
⁷ And he will swallow up on this mountain
    the covering that is cast over all peoples,
    the veil that is spread over all nations.
⁸     He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
    and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
    for the Lord has spoken.
⁹ It will be said on that day,
    “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
    This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
    let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

I Corinthians 15:35-44, 51-57 - But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶ You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷ And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. ³⁹ For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰ There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

⁴² So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, andthe dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where 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.

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. 

Dear friends in Christ, especially Yvonne, Jerry, Corey, April, friends, and family of Kyle.  I think I maybe met Kyle once or twice at most.  I never knew him as well as many of you here today.  So most of what I know about him I know from those of you with whom I’ve talked in the last few days.  And what I’ve heard is that Kyle was a young man who had a good sense of humor, knew where he wanted to go and what he wanted to do, and who loved farming. 

I’ve seen pictures of Kyle out on a combine bringing in the harvest.  I’ve seen his pictures of him sitting on tractors smiling, and wearing a greasy old Case IH hat.  I’ve heard the stories about how he was a farmer from day 1, and how he was planning to take over the family farm next year.  I imagine there was little that Kyle loved more in this world than running the chisel plow, breaking ground and planting and hoping for a good harvest that fall. 

That’s why its so hard today.  Kyle seemed to have so much going for him, and now he’s gone.  Death has taken a beloved person from us forever.  Now, we break ground to plant and bury the body of a beloved Son, brother, boyfriend, and friend.  And that’s the very imagery that St. Paul uses in our Epistle lesson for today.  He is talking about how we can be sure and certain of the resurrection of the dead because Jesus himself has been raised, and yes lives even to this day, sitting at the right hand of God the Father.  And since Jesus has been raised, so too will all of our loved ones who have died in the faith.  As Jesus himself says, “Whoever believes in me shall not die.” 

But there were some who doubted those words.  The loved ones they buried didn’t look alive.  They looked like they had left this world.  They no longer had hearts beating, or lungs breathing.  They no longer had the spark in their eyes.  They had died. 

And so St. Paul says, “Just as you plant the bare and dead looking kernel of corn or wheat, and up sprouts a living plant, that bears much fruit, so too is it with your loved ones.”  We bury them today, knowing that Jesus will raise them.  As St. Paul says “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is planted is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.

And so in just a little while, we will plant the body of a dear friend in a box made of reclaimed barn wood, knowing that one day, it will be raised in power, in an imperishable body, and that Kyle will bodily live again, even as he now spiritually lives with Jesus.  He will be raised, the resurrection is the truth and hope in which we trust and believe today. 

In fact, it is a complete certainty for us, even in the face of loss, and tragedy.  It is a certainty that Kyle will live forever, because the God in whom Kyle trusted lives forever as well.  Yes, Jesus too was planted in a tomb.  His body lay dead for three days, having been brutally killed and tortured on a wooden cross.  He died to pay the price for sin.  For Kyle’s sin.  For your sin.  And having done all that was necessary for sin to be paid for, God the Father resurrected Jesus on that first Easter morning, promising the same for all who believe and are baptized into his holy name. 

So the saying is true, “’Death is swallowed up in victory.’  ‘O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?’  And in fact, we have victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and through him alone. 

So what of us.  We know where Kyle is – with Jesus.  We know he will be bodily raised by Jesus on the last day.  But what of us, day in and day out as we miss the jokes, the tales about how “Times are hard” and the help out on the farm?  For us, Kyle’s confirmation verse has something to say.  Jesus calls to us who are weary in this world of sin, struggle and death, especially this family who has faced so many losses in the past year.  “Come to me, you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” 

Hear the call and word of Christ – a word that brings forgiveness, life and salvation to you.  Hear the word of Jesus that says your sins are forgiven as well.  Hear the word of Jesus that speaks the truth, “There is eternal life for you, just as there is for Kyle, and that you too one day will see God, face to face in the joys of paradise.”  Heed the call of Jesus, who on the cross, has swallowed up death forever. 

Dear friends, Jesus has given Kyle life eternal.  Today we plant his body, just as he planted many a field, knowing that because of Christ he will raise again imperishable.  Christ has promised it in his blood.  It’s a promise for you, for me, and for Kyle. 

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Proper 28 - G - 2014 - Parable of God's Treasure

The 23rd Sunday After Pentecost

November 16, 2014- Pastor Adam Moline

Zephaniah 1:7-16        1 Thessalonians 5:1-11            Matthew 25:14-30

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today comes from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ, we are coming to the end of the church year, and as we get to the end of the church year we focus on the end of this world, and the promised second coming of Jesus.  And that’s what our text today is about as well – the coming of Jesus, and the judgment and reward he brings with him. 

And so today we focus on the parable of the talents.  Don’t think that the word talents here means “things you can do well,” such as “Gee, I can whistle real good.”  No the talents that our text mention are actually a unit of money which totaled approximately 130 lbs.  So if the talent of treasure was in gold, one talent would equal $2.2 million in today's money.  Imagine what you could do with that treasure, especially if you were the one receiving 10 talents.  $20 million!  How many times have you wanted such a glorious treasure in your bank account?  Oh that God would give you such a great treasure!

Well there’s the catch isn’t it?  You have a treasure even more valuable.  You have a gift even more blessed, one that does not rust or mildew, one that cannot be lost in the stock market or wasted away on foolish purchases.  You have the treasure of the kingdom of heaven.  Yes, It is the kingdom of heaven that is the treasure of talents in our parable.  It is more valuable than silver or gold.  It is the promise of forgiveness in the very holy precious blood, innocent suffering and death of Jesus Christ.  And it belongs to you in your baptism. 

The truth is God’s treasures in Jesus grow and grow because of God’s work, unless you neglect and bury it.  They are fed not by your works or prayers, but by the hearing of God’s Word, by the eating of Jesus’ body and blood.  The treasure God has given to you increases all the time through the precious means of grace. 

And that treasure is yours.  And the parable asks, what do you do with the gift God has given to you?  Do you cherish it, and love it, and use it to care for the people around you in a Christian fashion?  Or do you bury it?  Do you hide it away?  Do you complain about it?  Do you act like its not really that important? 

You know what I’m asking.  Do you go to bible study regularly?  Do you volunteer for church boards and activities that need help?  Do you do so without grumbling?  Do you attend church because you are excited about the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation? Or do you do so because your parents told you long ago that you have to.  Are you glad that Jesus has died for your sins, or are you fairly indifferent, because after all, you still have years to go before death looms?  What do you do with your treasure that god has given. 

The truth is, most of us are rather indifferent.  Most of us at work and school bury our faith.  In fact the real truth is, most of us, when we walk out the doors of this room, let alone the building, hide the Kingdom of Heaven within us away, for no one to ever see or to know.  That’s the way our sinful natures work, and its our fault this is the case.  And in that sin, on the last day, when Christ returns in judgment, he will say to us, “You wicked and lazy servant.” And we deserve to be cast into the outer darkness of hell as described in our text. 

Except that we do have the kingdom of heaven within us through our baptism.  God has given us a great treasure, and God feeds it with word and sacrament.  And all of these gifts connect us to Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, and dying for all sin, guilt and shame – even yours.  And being connected to Jesus our great Judge and Lord, we need not fear him.  You have the treasure of heaven, worth more than all the gold and silver this world has to offer. You have the gift of kingdom of God, which lasts forever and ever without end.  You have the promise of forgiveness of Jesus, because you are washed in his blood and death. 

And so when Jesus does return, he will say to you, “Well done good and faithful servant, come and share your master's happiness!”  Not because of anything you’ve done, or not done, but only because in Jesus you’ve been given the treasure of great talents, the forgiveness that comes only through Jesus Christ our Lord.  In his name.  Amen.  

All Saints Day 2014 - 1 - 2014 - The Blessed Dead Are With Jesus

All Saints Day (Observed)

November 2, 2014- Pastor Adam Moline

Revelation 7:2-17        1 John 3:1-3    Matthew 5:1-12

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is from the epistle lesson just read, especially these words, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Today we speak the names of our dead, those of our family and those of this parish who have died since last All Saints’ Day.  We name them here together before the Lord.  For some us there will be the names of people we knew but a little.  Or perhaps we will read the name of a person who was greatly loved and cared for by us.  There are names of people we remember in fondness, and others with dislike.  There are names that leave large holes in our hearts, even to this day.  Yes.  Today we remember the blessed dead, who have come out of the great tribulation of this sinful world. 

And as we read their name and remember them, we don’t do so in glowing and cleverly worded obituaries, or in eulogies that praise the virtue of the deceased.  We have no need to inflate the memories of our dead.  We won’t lie today saying, “So and so was always such a good person,” or “They were always so sweet.”  For the truth is, they weren’t always wonderful or perfect people.  They were in fact, poor miserable sinners, just like you and me.  And it is because of that sin that they are dead and gone from our world.  And be not fooled, dear friends, you have sinned as well, and it is because of your sin that you will one day join them as well. 

And as we read their names today, we don’t do so thinking that they are angels looking down on us now, for nowhere in scripture is that ridiculous idea found.  Our blessed dead members are still human in nature, even in death.  And we don’t read their names to ask them for special blessings, or to look down upon us, or to speak to God on our behalf.  They won’t hear our requests, or suffer to be bothered with them.  Truth be told this world is no longer their concern. 

The souls of the dead don’t hang around in our cemeteries, or in our homes haunting us.  They don’t need our garden lights or our offerings upon their graves.  And they won’t live on forever in our hearts either.  For if that were true, where would they live when our day of death comes? 

And our day is coming – every sinful moment of every sinful day brings our hearts ever closer to stopping, and our lungs closer to being stilled.  Yes, soon, much sooner than we care to imagine, we will die as well.  Our possessions will be passed on to our heirs, whether they will use them well or not.  Our stuff will become someone else’s to be used or thrown away until they too pass away.  Our bodies will decay, and memory of us will fade in this world. 

And yet today, we do read the names of dead.  And the reason we read these names is because they are just what scripture says, the blessed dead.  They have come out of the great tribulation, they have had their robes washed and made white in the blood of the lamb.  They are now before the throne of God, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.  And they await with Christ the last day, when they shall be bodily resurrected to live with Christ forever. 

This promise was made to the people whose names we read today in the waters of holy baptism.  There they were baptized into the death of Christ, so that their death was no longer their own but instead was Christ’s.  That meant their suffering was Christ’s suffering, their dying was Christ’s dying.  For they were connected directly the suffering and dying of Jesus, bloodied and naked upon the cross outside of Jerusalem.  And so now that they’ve died with Jesus, they will rise with Jesus.  Yes, as Christ rose, so too will every person whose name we read here today.  They are triumphant in the glorious resurrection of Jesus. 

And the promise is for you as well.  You wait to die – but when you die, you too will die with Jesus.  Yes, you may suffer for days, or weeks or years before that day comes, but as you wait and suffer, you do so with Jesus.  And when you die, you will die with Jesus.  And because you do so with Jesus in baptism, you will also rise with Jesus on the last day of this world.  And after you die, and leave this world behind, you will be in the heavenly Jerusalem awaiting that day of resurrection.  There will be no more hunger, or thirst, no more crying or pain, only the comfort that comes from being with God and in his love forever. 

This promise is for you, just as it is for those people whose names we read today.  Today we read the names of those who have already passed into life with Christ.  One day our name will be read.  Even so, we know on that one day we will all be in the church triumphant – alive forever because of the death and blood of Jesus.  Just as those are, whose name we read today. 

In the name Jesus.