Service for Peggy

Scripture Reading(s)

New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition Revelation 21

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them and be their God;,*

4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.”

5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition John 14

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.”

Introduction

Very unfortunately for me, I only got to meet Peggy Pankratz once toward the end of her earthly journey.

In fact, when I happened to stop by to pray with Peggy, I had inadvertently interrupted game time at The Grand Residence.

So Peggy was a bit suspicious of me right from the gate...

I had a quick conversation with Peggy, but she kept insisting that we pray together.

Maybe it was to get back to the game...

But I think after speaking with the family a little bit in the months since, it’s because of how absolutely essential faith was to Peggy’s life.

She just wanted to talk to the Lord with me.

When I’m trying to get to know someone, I want to hear what they love.

And in speaking with the family these past few months, I think there are three big things that Peggy loved dearly.

Three Loves

Peggy loved music

Peggy was a pianist by training.

In fact, all of the music that was selected for this afternoon’s service was vital and meaningful in Peggy’s life, which is a beautiful thing.

Music has an ability to stir in our souls something that mere words or ideas simply cannot.

Music has the ability to bring us back to our memories, stories from long ago spring to life as we remember the music of our lives.

Music has the ability to calm us, to sooth us, to bring us to a place of peace.

Music has the ability to inspire us, to lift us up out of the ordinary and everyday and in to the realm of the holy and the sacred.

Music, I believe firmly is a gift from God.

Psalm 101:1 “I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing.”

Ephesians 5:19 “as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,”

In Revelation, a promise of the heavenly joy that we’re all promised, the saints celebrate their new home: Revelation 5:13 “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!””

In Peggy’s life, there are countless examples of how music brought her closer to God, and I’m quite sure, brought God closer to Peggy.

Peggy loved her family

In speaking with Karla, I know that Peggy had an unending and unyielding love for her family.

It even went as far as Peggy making clothing for her three daughters!

Peggy made sure that they kids always missed Saturday morning cartoons, because they religiously went to Saturday School each and every week!

Peggy was also deeply commited to her extended family, her four siblings.

In fact, we’re honored that Janice is able to provide music for us here today!

Life wasn’t always easy for Peggy.

She struggled with pain, with loss, with grief, and with conflict.

And yet through it all, it is rather clear that she kept family front of mind.

Peggy loved Jesus

This runs like a thread through the tapestry of Peggy’s life.

Peggy’s parents Grant and Ruth were instrumental in starting up Faith Lutheran Church in White Oak.

Peggy, of course with her love of music, frequently sang in the choir.

Peggy also made sure that the faith was passed on from one generation to the next by teaching Sunday school and making sure that everyone made it to church on time.

Peggy also kept a picture of Jesus next to her bedside table.

Some times when I’m planning for a memorial service, we are reaching and digging for scriptures to be read.

Not this one!

The daughters shared with me the scriptures that they read to Peggy at the time of her passing, and it’s a pretty exhaustive list, including the two that we read this morning.

I think they both serve as reminders for us.

In Revelation 21:4 “he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.””

Whatever pain Peggy was carrying with her, my dear friends, it has ended.

Whatever struggles of life Peggy was working through, they are done.

Whatever tears this turbulent life has brought, they have been wiped away by the love of Jesus Christ for Peggy this very day, this very moment.

This scripture is beautiful not just because it’s true for Peggy, but because it’s true for us as well!

This is a sad and sorrowful time, yes.

But our God will wipe away every tear from every eye in this place.

We will receive the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.

In John 14:1 ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” and John 14:4 “And you know the way to the place where I am going.””

Brothers and sisters, do not let your hearts be troubled.

Peggy knew the way to the place where Jesus was going.

Peggy knew the way to the house that Jesus has prepared for her since the beginning of time.

Peggy knew the way to the song of life, the endless chorus or praise and adoration of our God.

In this celebration of life, we can rest assured that Peggy’s was a life well lived.

A life full of music.

A life full of love.

A life full of faith.

And yet, we’re still here, and we’re still wrestling with our own grief.

Still, I think Christ meets us here.

And in my experience, in moments like this, there are three primary gifts that Christ offers us on days like today:

Three Gifts

The gift of each other

Take a look around this room right now.

Everyone who is here I imagine is someone who has been touched by Peggy’s life.

Everyone who is here has been blessed by her smile.

Or her caring

Or her compassion.

Or her faith.

This is a room full of people that have been blessed by our dear Peggy.

And in that way, we don’t walk this journey of grief alone, do we?

We’ll never walk it alone.

We have each other.

And I think each of us here are carrying the second gift Christ gives us here.

The gift of our stories

We are here to celebrate a life very well lived by Peggy.

And a life this well lived comes with stories, I’m quite sure!

In a moment we’re going to have some time for folks to share the stories that Peggy has left with us.

Stories that will make us laugh.

Stories that will make us cry.

Stories of love.

Stories of fear.

Stories of struggle.

And stories of triumph.

This gift, like any good gift, is one that is meant to be shared.

In the days and weeks that follow, I hope that you’ll reach out to someone who knew and loved Peggy, and I hope you’ll share your stories.

Even if it’s a story you’ve hear a thousand times before, share in these stories together.

Because when we share our stories, we keep our beloved Peggy close to our hearts.

The gift of our faith

Faith was so very important to Peggy, and she knew that it was important for the rest of us too.

She was desperate to have me pray with and for her that day I visited. And those prayers are with each of us today.

She was committed to making sure that little ones knew the scriptures, because the scriptures gave us so many reminders.

A reminder that God will wipe away every tear from every eye.

A reminder that Christ has prepared a place not just for Peggy, but for each and every one of us here.

A reminder that nothing can separate us from the love of God, not life or death or anything else in all creation.

A reminder that one day we too will rest from our labors in the arms of our God.

A reminder that our good shepherd walks with us, even through the valley of the shadow of death.

And yes, a reminder that just like Peggy, we know the way to the place where Christ is going.

Hold on to that faith my dear friends, or at the very least let it hold on to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Peggy rests with the savior this day.