Saturday, September 19, 2015

Funeral Sermon for The Rev. Robert J. Wennerstrom


Funeral Sermon for The Rev. Robert J. Wennerstrom
The Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word
Rochester, NY
September 19, 2015
John 10:11

The Rev. Douglas L. Stewart



Care for God’s people, bear their burdens…Witness faithfully in word and deed to all people.  Be of good courage, for God has called you, and your labor in the Lord is not in vain”. 

Words spoken to the newly ordained as they rise from their knees to their feet for the very first time with this newly placed stole draped around the shoulders…

Words spoken to those who have answered the call to care for God’s people; To Shepherd God’s flock…

Words spoken on that “hot and steamy” night at St.  Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Orleans – July 11th, 1954…

That night when the Church of Jesus Christ became abundantly richer and immensely blessed with the ordination to Word and Sacrament of Robert Joseph Wennerstrom…

“Care for God’s people, bear their burdens… Witness faithfully in word and deed to all people.”  
Not simply words for Bob, but a way of life.  One need not look far to see that.  Japan, the Philippines, New Orleans, Rome (NY), Pittsburgh, and Rochester:  All places where this faithful pastor, patient teacher, and wise counselor with the heart of a shepherd, embodied the Truth he proclaimed:  That God’s Word has become flesh and dwells among us.

After 18 years of parish ministry…

18 years of preaching, teaching, baptizing, marrying, burying, visiting the sick, praying for God’s people, nourishing them with the Word and Holy Sacraments, and leading by his own example in faithful service and holy living, I suppose Bob could have begun to coast his way toward an easier, more prestigious position in the church –  But not Bob.

After 18 years of parish ministry, Bob felt the call to expand the role of parish pastor to encompass life beyond the boundaries of a building or a single congregation. 

After just 5 years at St. Matthew’s Church in Rochester, Bob’s proclamation of the gospel extended into the surrounding city neighborhood – a neighborhood still bearing the wounds of poverty, racism, and violence inflicted by race riots just a few years earlier. 

Whether it be the formation of Group 14621, a grassroots community association dedicated to revitalizing one of the poorest neighborhoods in Rochester, or

His helping organize volunteers to go door to door in the community to speak with the elderly about medical issues, landlord problems, lack of funds for heat, electricity, or food or

His initiating JET Enterprises to help the poorest of the poor to develop basic job skills necessary to succeed in the workplace, with the heart of a shepherd, Bob embodied the Truth he proclaimed, That God’s Word has become flesh and dwells among us.

As if that were not enough, Bob found an abandoned bakery on Joseph Avenue where he started Community Lutheran Ministry:  A Christ-centered community offering after-school programs, tutoring, summer day camps, breakfast and lunch programs, emergency food, clothing and furniture for those in need, as well as offering programs of job preparation for neighborhood teens.
There he stayed for another 18 years with the heart of a shepherd, embodying the truth he proclaimed, that God’s Word has become flesh and dwells among us.

Surely after 36 years of ordained ministry, one might imagine counting down the days until retirement.  But not Bob. 

Not only did Bob take on the role of Visitation Pastor here at Incarnate Word,
but he fostered a relationship between this congregation and Joanne Peterson, in which we became partners in providing much needed health care workers to the most impoverished communities in the Dominican Republic…  

A relationship that thrives to this day as evidenced by our youth group who travelled there just a couple of years ago.

Surely this would be enough to do, but not for Bob.

Recognizing the pastoral care needs of an aging congregation, Bob helped train and support a cadre of Christian Caregivers here at Incarnate Word while at the same time providing weekly pastoral care to the seniors of our Wellness Center.  And in all of this, with the heart of a shepherd, Bob embodied the truth he proclaimed:  That God’s Word has become flesh and dwells among us.

My first encounter with Bob took place just over a decade ago, not long after Pastor Joanne and I began our ministry here.   When I first met Bob he was getting together every week with a couple who wanted to learn more about Jesus.  And so week after week, Bob took the time to read and study the gospel of Mark with them, fashioning good and faithful disciples.

There are folks in our pews today who are actively involved in the outreach missions of our congregation because Bob invited them to join him on an incredible journey of faith and discipleship.  With the heart of a shepherd, Bob embodied the truth he proclaimed:  That God’s Word has become flesh and dwells among us.

But Pastor Bob was not just ‘pastor’.  Pastor Bob was also “devoted husband”, “loving father”, “doting grandfather”, and “faithful friend” impacting lives in profound ways.  We already heard a bit of that this morning from two of his grandchildren, Catherine and Matthew, as well as from his long-time friend, Joanne Peterson, as they shared with us the depth of his inspiration in their lives.

Right about now, having reflected upon so many of Bob’s accomplishments, it would be easy to wrap up this sermon with the words “well done, good and faithful servant”;  Words that I am certain God has spoken and continues to speak to Bob now. 

But we all know that if Bob was sitting in a pew right here, right now, he would be waiting with bated breath to hear something more from this pulpit:

He would be anxiously waiting to hear about the Cross of Christ:  That place where Christ took on our death in exchange for His life: 

That grace event, described by Dietrich Bonhoeffer as the time in which “God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us.”

Or as Jesus himself once put it, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.

“Care for God’s people, bear their burdens… Witness faithfully in word and deed to all people.”  
Bob did not need a bishop’s admonition to do this.  This was Bob’s life.  A life lived in response to an event that happened to him on April 13th, 1930 at Faith Lutheran Church in Los Angeles, California. 

On that day the God of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Word made flesh, named and claimed Bob as His own in the waters of Baptism.

There in the splashing wetness of that day, promises came cascading down upon a 3 year old boy that he would always live in the light of God’s forgiveness equipped with the promise of eternal life.
There in those swirling waters of baptismal grace came God’s first directive for Bob:  “Because I have delivered you through the cross and empty tomb of my son, Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven”.  And Bob did.  He let that baptismal light shine.  From Japan to the Dominican Republic and all points in-between.

For the past couple of years, we have seen Bob’s health steadily decline: Slowly at first, and more rapidly toward the end.  In that time we experienced great sadness as his recognition of us continued to diminish.  But at his bedside right up until the very last moment of his life, hung that beautiful banner reminding all who would see it of God’s great news:  Of God’s final sentence in the book of Bob’s life and ours:  “I have called you by name – you are mine”.

These were not simply words on a banner to Bob.  They were his life. 
In these words, Bob knew a God whose love for him was poured out on a cross.
In these words, Bob knew a God, who in the best and the worst of times, would always be with him.
So I guess I should not be terribly surprised that at the conclusion of our playing a recording for Bob in which a dear organist friend of his was playing the hymn, “Abide With Me”; Bob breathed his lastas the final chord of the hymn was played, 

In the final moments of Bob’s life on earth here are the words he heard: The words that, given the timing of things, clearly became his prayer.  His prayer to the God who loved him – His prayer to the God he loved.

 “Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes, shine through the gloom and point me to the skies; heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”

I close this morning with one more prayer:  Not just any prayer, but a prayer, a gift offered by Bob for his family, (Always the pastor).  A prayer he shared with Joel 6 years ago in an e-mail:
“God, I thank you for Doris, for her faith, her love, her wisdom.  I pray for Ann, Catherine, Matthew, Elizabeth, Carol, Curt, Sarah, Adam, Joel.  Ground them in faith that they are redeemed, not with silver or gold, but with your holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death, that they may be your own, live under you in your kingdom and serve you in righteousness and blessedness and resurrection certainty.  Sustain their health, guide them in their work, and bless their friendships.
 
With many, many prayers and much love, Dad”.


Robert Joseph Wennerstrom, child of God – I have called you by name – you are mine: well done good and faithful servant.

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