Judith Wengert Springer - April 30, 2025 (April 30, 2025) John 14

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 Judith Wengert Springer. 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

Slideshow

Call and Response - Psalm 46, Book of Common Prayer

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;

3 Though its waters rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.

4 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

5 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

6 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown; God shall help her at the break of day.

7 The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.

8 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

9 Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, what awesome things he has done on earth.

10 It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.

11 "Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth."

12 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Pastoral Prayer

O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and of death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you, and that nothing in life or in death will be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Add prayer for family:

Family

Friends

Church family

Amen.

Hymn - Hymn of Promise

Eulogy

Stephen Springer, Son

Benjamin Tollett

New Testament and Scripture

John 14:1–6 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 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? 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. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Pray.

Judy Springer

I think Stephen helped me to understand Judy in a new way as I was talking with him and there is one thing I want to offer in addition to what the family already shared.

Judy walked this tension between traditional values, understood commitments, but also to a sense of God’s calling on her life.

That can be seen in her early pursuit of being a medical missionary in a time when women in ministry or the mission field was difficult to say the least.

Her journey to our church was similar. Firmly planted in the presbyterian church, as a elder of the church, the music program, specifically here, was a calling on her life to come and make this church her home.

But she knew scripture, she knew her general calling and responsibilities as mother, wife.

Primary Call

Definition: The universal call for all Christians to follow Jesus.

Summary: This is the call to someone, not merely to something or somewhere. It is the invitation to relationship and discipleship with Jesus Christ, placing Him at the center of life.

Quote:

“Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by him, to him, and for him... We are not primarily called to do something or go somewhere; we are called to Someone.” — Os Guinness, The Call

Secondary Call

Definition: The particular callings or vocations we undertake in response to the primary call.

Summary: These are the specific roles, careers, and responsibilities God gives to individuals (e.g., as a teacher, parent, artist, leader), shaped by their gifts, circumstances, and opportunities.

Quote:

“Our secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere, and in everything should think, speak, live, and act entirely for him.” — Os Guinness, The Call

Today is difficult….no matter the circumstances but also because of the extent to which Judy lived this way.

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, to 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. Judy 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. Darrell 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.

Hymn - For All The Saints

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.