The Rev. Paul J Cain
Hebrews 10:19-25
Faithful
Funeral Sermon for Ray Semingsen
Friday after Epiphany, 11 January 2013, 10 a.m.
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 was Raymond
Semingen’s Confirmation verse. It had to be included today. Ray chose all of
today’s hymns and readings with the exception of Isaiah 60, the Old Testament
reading for last Sunday, selected to anchor in time Ray’s Saturday heavenly
birthday, when he met his Lord Jesus face-to-face and was reunited with his
beloved Alene.
It has been a privilege to serve Ray and Alene and their
family. I am thankful for all of their family and friends gathered here today
and for all of the time you spent visiting him this fall and winter, especially
over the Twelve Days of Christmas. Ray cherished the Christians in his life,
his “brother” Trustees here at Immanuel, and his many friends at the Senior
Center. I am also thankful for my weekly visits with Ray, often with my wife,
because Ray was so hungry for God’s Word.
Ray’s Confirmation verse was part of a Sunday Epistle
reading back in November (10:11-25). The following Tuesday, November 20th,
we heard the Word of the Lord from Hebrews 10 together. It gave Ray great
comfort in Christ.
19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence
to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and
living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his
flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts
sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let
us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised
is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to
love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the
habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day
drawing near.
It gave Ray great comfort to be reminded that our confidence
to enter the holy places of heaven is by the blood of Jesus and not in
ourselves, our own sinful flesh. It comforted him to hear again of our great
High Priest, Jesus, who is always faithful, He who is our Beautiful Savior and
Living Redeemer. How many times did Ray and Alene and their family hear, under
this very roof, verse 22 as invitation from the lips of their pastors? “Beloved
in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God
our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us
forgiveness.”
It has been less than two years (service on 5 March 2011)
since we met together to lay Alene to rest. Her sermon text was from John 15: 3Already
you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am
the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Alene had
those words, “for without Me you can do nothing” underlined. I am amazed how
similar John 15 sounds to Hebrews 10. Their favorite passages had the same
message.
Ray and Alene were a great couple. Theirs was a marriage to
emulate. Ray loved good sausage and to share a beer with his wife. They loved
time in the mountains together. The strength of their union was Christ, their
common confession of faith, He who is the forgiveness of sins, and the “double
cure” of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” He who cleanses us from sin’s guilt and sin’s
power.
Before one of my visits to Ray I asked our school teachers
at MLGS, “How many times did Ray scoop the snow off of our sidewalks?” I quote
the exact answer: “About a billion.” On our visit that day, Ray told me that it
was hard for him to accept help. I find that to be a very common concern to
those who so cherish serving others. We talked about the falling snow and of
all of the repeated effort it took to keep sidewalks, driveways, parking lots,
and streets clear—not to mention rooftops heavy with snow.
I told Ray a story about snow. Imagine that once you had
your steps, sidewalk, and driveway clear of snow that they would always remain
clear. You’d never have to shovel them again. Sounds too good to be true,
doesn’t it? No rock salt, no ice melting chemical, and no heated walkways could
accomplish that. Yet, no matter if our sins pile up in massive drifts, if the
wind of the devil’s taunts howl around us like a blizzard, Jesus removes our
sin, forgives it, takes it away, and remembers it no more. You are white as
snow in Jesus Christ. The Lord preserve you in your baptismal grace. My little
story was comforting to Ray. I pray it comforts you, too.
Ray was no stranger to hard work. He may have retired in
1994, but he didn’t really retire. I would find him up here on the church block
hard at work at least once a week. Every week. One of our congregation’s
cherished possessions is a handwritten guide to Spring Cleaning here at
Immanuel. Ray provided that to us shortly after he received the news that his
cancer had returned. His son told me Ray said, “This is the hardest work I’ve
ever done.” For Ray Semingsen, that’s saying something!
He was a cherished friend, a selfless servant as a Trustee
of Immanuel, and a dedicated husband and father. He was a grandfather,
great-grand-father and recently, a great-great-grandfather. Those of us
gathered here this morning are his legacy. In this service’s hymns, readings,
and especially requested by Ray, the Apostles’ Creed, you have again heard His
confession of faith in Christ Jesus. His Lord was most important to Him. He
missed Alene so! And he loved his family and friends. He wanted for you what
comforted Him in this life. He wanted you to have life eternal with Jesus and
with him and all who fall asleep in death in Jesus’ Name.
He also wanted me to share John 14:6 today: Jesus said to
him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.
Jesus is faithful. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has
had mercy upon us and has given His only Son to die for us and for His sake
forgives us all our sins. To those who believe on His name He gives power to
become the children of God and has promised them His Holy Spirit. He that
believes and is baptized shall be saved. Grant this, Lord, unto us all. Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
