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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