Funeral Service for Irene Meyer

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Isaiah 40:31 & John 10:1-20

Grace and mercy to you Don and to Rebecca, Diane, Michael, Jeff, and Tom; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, friends, and to Our Savior Lutheran Church.  Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

It is written, “I AM the Good Shepherd.  The good shepherd lay down His life for the sheep.” Thus far the text.

Let us pray: Creator Father, You love Jesus because He laid down His life to save unbelievers.  We love Him for the same reason. Work in us faith in Jesus Christ. Keep Your promises to our sister in Christ, that though she die yet she will rise again with all who also believe in Jesus; we pray in the name of Jesus, Your Son, our Lord.  Amen.

Truly, Truly I say to you, before the heavenly Father created anything, He had two things in mind.

He had in mind to create with His own hands and life giving breath all that is created and crowning His creation with man and woman with the strength and elegance of an eagle in flight.  

Also, before the creation of the world, the heavenly Father had determined to save this race of men through His Word and Sacrament desiring none to be lost.  The Lord God determined this.

And so it was, the Lord God knit together a baby in her mother’s womb and named her Irene.  The Lord God had borne her from her mother’s whom on April 29, 1939 and already seeing her need for a Savior, a good and shepherding Savior, Irene was born anew by baptism into Jesus Christ on October 1, 1939.

Before she could stand, before she could walk, Irene had been blessed with eternal life in and with a good and shepherding Savior.

The Good Shepherd called Irene to listen to His life-nurturing Word and Irene recognized His voice.  The Good Shepherd knows Irene by name and led her to a confirmation of faith in Christ on April 6, 1952.  The Good Shepherd gifted her with marriage to Don on March 24, 1956 from which were born Rebecca, Diane, Jeff, Michael, and Tom.  So many blessings and she received you as blessings.

Irene waited on the Shepherd, the Good One, Jesus Christ.  Jesus renewed her strength. Even last week, Irene rallied and we thought she was going to be ok. Irene waited on the Lord and He gave her the strength to run and not be weary; to walk and not grow faint.  She was the strong one which is all the more shocking that she passed so quickly Sunday morning.

Jesus Christ, knows Irene and knows what He is doing.  Jesus Christ is her Shepherd and even though Irene, like all of us will one day, walked through the valley of the shadow of death, she has not fallen.  The Shepherd keeps His promise and no one will take Irene from the palm of His hand. Irene fell asleep in her Savior’s arms. That’s what the Good Shepherd says.  Irene is not dead. She will rise in this body. In the meantime, good angels came to the Simpson Nursing Home in West Liberty and gently carried Irene’s soul to her heavenly Father where there is no tears or sorrow and where she yet must patiently wait a little longer with all the saints for the day of resurrection from the dead.  On the other hand, good men are here to gently carry Irene’s body to Moscow and we too must patiently wait a little longer with all the saints for the day of resurrection from the dead.

Today is a day of sweet sorrow for us.  We miss her already. We may have had something to say to her and now time has run out, but it hasn’t.  Today is the day the Lord has made. Today is the day to confess the hurts, confess the sins to one another and to the same Shepherd, the Good One, and listen to His voice.  He will forgive you and lead you to a congregation where He speaks the truth in love. Wait upon the Lord. He will Shepherd you to a renewed life in Him.

Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you…my sheep know my voice and they listen to Me.  I am the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, enter the sheep gate by my voice even by my baptism and my body and blood.  I will save you and you will go in and find good pasture.”

Let us enter the sheep gate by faith in Jesus Christ the good shepherd.  Finally, let us give thanks that He continues to shepherd Irene and will shepherd all who listen to His voice.  Amen.

The Peace of God, which passes understanding, keep you in Christ, Our Savior.