Kathryn "Kay" Mary Kerwitz Dyck, January 1, 1931 - March 25, 2023

Welcome & Gathering

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Kathryn “Kay” Mary Kerwitz Dyck. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow….hope, in death….resurrection.

Pray (Ruth Ann gets in place)

Hymn (Stand) Nearer, My God, to Thee (1,2,3)

Old Testament Scripture (Responsive, Wally)

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Pastoral Prayer (Wally)

Hymn: A mighty Fortress is Our God: 1,2,4

New Testament and Scripture

John 14:1–4 NIV

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14:23–27 NIV

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Pray.

Kay Dyck

Kathryn “Kay” Mary Kerwitz Dyck passed away Saturday, March 25, 2023. Kathryn was born in Ottawa, Kansas, January 1, 1931 and was the first baby born in the Kansas City area for 1931. The proud parents were Theresa I. and Carl G. Kerwitz.

They later moved to Chanute, Kansas where she graduated from high school. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from Kansas State University. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and a lifetime member of the Kansas State Alumnae Association.

After graduation Kathryn moved to Peabody, Kansas where she taught Home Economics at the local high school. She met her future husband, Richard, who was attending Wichita University. They were married in Chanute, Kansas July 12, 1953. Richard graduated in 1955 and they moved to St. Louis, MO. to work with IBM and Kathryn worked with the St. Louis School District.

They started their family and Richard graduated from Washington University Dental School and associated with a pediatric dentist in St. Louis. In December 1964 they moved to Beaumont, Texas and established their home and dental practice until 1996.

Richard and Kathryn were very active in the Beaumont community. Our home was the center for charitable groups civic and church organizations. She was President of Trinity Day School, the Beaumont Symphony Society and active in the Spindletop Energy Museum. They were active in the Mental Health Center, Cerebral Palsy Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Two daughters were lost to this disease).

Our home was the center of our family and our children’s lives. When the children were older Kathryn came to work with me in the office.

We moved to Conroe, Texas and enjoyed through the church many new friends and old friends who lived there. First Methodist Church and the Basic Class and many friends have given us the stability and acceptance that we all desire.

Kathryn is survived by her husband Richard Gene Dyck, one brother John Kerwitz in Illinois, Daughter Lynda Dianne Dyck, sons, Richard Gregory Dyck and Michael Carl Dyck. Two deceased daughters, Deborah Kay Dyck and Jennifer Ann Dyck.

Celebration of who she is:

Kay was a wonderful wife, mom, and friend to many. She was extraordinary, tenacious, motivational and strong. Kay fought through difficult seasons as a mom and ensured her family would have every opportunity to flourish.

70 years of marriage is no small endeavor especially through moves and career changes, loss, and adversity.

Kay was also very particular. Once she knew something worked, there was no deviating from the plan. Including this service that was worked out to every detail. The family warned me to not get creative or Kay would be upset with me, haha.

A child of the depression, she knew what it was to work hard and sacrifice for the family.

A strong women of faith, in many ways was the moral compass of the family. She was also very generous in her life with Assistance league, opening up their home to host sunday school parties and all kinds of other gatherings.

She loved swing music, loved her time travelling the world with Richard, and loved her family fiercly.

That is what can make this day difficult. Two things can be true at the same time: We can have joy for Kay, hope for ourselves, and we can also mourn.

Peace I leave with you

The text I read from John 14 would have the disciples feeling the beginning of a similar emotion. Jesus is preparing them for his death, resurrection, and departure. He is trying to teach them and prepare them for the mission that Jesus is now passing on to them. In the next few days they would see their leader die and that would be excruciating. Then Jesus knows they will have difficult days ahead as well and Jesus promises Peace….His peace.

Reminder today that God can be trusted in this space. A few observations, from the text:

1. His peace is unlike peace of this world

a. He has conquered death itself and is the resurrection. He has walked through the darkest valley so that in our dark valleys, we know we are not alone. Jesus has the last word…this is the only way that he can say....peace I give to you and it can mean anything really when our hearts are broken.

b. His peace is comprehensive. Not just a rest…but deeper than that. Biblical peace is about a setting things right that are wrong. Rebuilding and restoring. The world promises allusions of peace…but goodness we know anything resembling peace is fleeting and difficult to grasp. God’s peace, even if hard to grasp right now is comprehensive.

God is not in the business of making life all copasetic for everyone… God is in the business of turning this rotten fallen world around. Rebuilding.

C. One of the images of peace in the bible is of a rebuilding of a wall that has been broken. Pieces missing and the wall has lost its integrity. God promises peace which is the setting right and rebuilding. Family: God can and will rebuild what is broken here.

2. He is sending the advocate, the Holy Spirit, the testify to our hearts.

But God is not just an outside player in this story. He gives of his Spirit on those days when you just can’t. He promises to join them in the darkness.

3. And he is preparing a place for all of us that are in Christ Jesus. Kay is with the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord.

· Earlier in this text there is the guy named Thomas who begins to challenge Jesus… Wait youre leaving? Let us go with you! Jesus speaks words to Thomas so that we might hear them today… I am the way, the truth, and the life. Kay came to that realization, so even today we can hold onto that hope.

So....Jesus offers them peace in their struggle. That peace is comprehensive, it is tied to his presence

Peace conditioned only by God’s presence with his people. Not on circumstances

“Total well being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence among his people.”

· It’s the peace that even when things are not all alright…we still know he is with us.

This is the steady and reliable truth today.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Invitation to Holy Communion

INVITATION

Pastor stands behind the Lord’s table. Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

CONFESSION AND PARDON.

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, that we should always and everywhere give thanks to you, Father Almighty (almighty God), Creator of heaven and earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who rose victorious from the dead and comforts us with the blessed hope of everlasting life.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

The pastor may lower hands.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

The pastor may raise hands.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup.

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

The pastor may raise hands.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

The pastor may raise hands.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in communion with all your saints, especially Name and all those most dear to us, whom we now remember in the silence of our hearts.

A time of silence for remembrance.

Finally, by your grace, bring them and all of us to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God ), now and for ever.

Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Hymn, When we all get to heaven, 701, 1,2,4

Benediction

The peace of God He which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.