Minister's Message

Hi Craig,
Here's the message for your Dad's memorial service on January 12, 2008. Let me know if there's anything else I or the church can do to help your family.
Rev. Susan

Scripture verses: Psalm 121; Isaiah 40: 3-8, 28-31; and John 14:1-6.

We gather in this place today for a service of memory and anticipation. We remember the life of Duane Sanford Edmonds and the promises of God. We have today a heartfelt sense of great loss. Duane's family has lost a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law and uncle. The community has lost a leader whose competence and willingness could always be depended upon in every good enterprise. A vast circle of friends has lost a true and unselfish friend whose personality was joyful with understanding and sympathy. First United Methodist Church, Powell, has lost not only a loyal member but also a talented and faithful worker who gave himself wholeheartedly to Christian service. Many of us are better because he was with us. We thank God for Duane and we bless his memory. God has spoken to us through his life and character. Today we wish to listen to what God speaks to us through Duane's death.

The first verse of John 14 tells us, "Let not your hearts be troubled...." And that's difficult advice to follow on a day like this. Behind it is the same kind of faith that lets us take comfort from praying, "Our Father," for if we have a heavenly father, we don't need to have a troubled heart. Loving fathers mend broken hearts.

Behind the advice of Jesus' words as recorded by John are other words of advice. Christ has invited us, for example, with the words, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." More importantly, however, are two messages that appear to contradict each other. Often, when we gather on occasions like this, we pray to God asking that strength be given not to grieve like those who have no hope. On the other hand, Jesus taught us in his sermon on the mount: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

You feel the tension, don't you? This very sad day is also a very glad day! The only way to get through it is to grieve and to sing. The only way to get through as a Christian is to grieve as a Christian.....a hope-filled, life-expecting Christian.

Let me pause for a moment here to mention the effects Duane may have had on our lives. Any of us who were a part of Duane's life were well aware of Duane's attitude for life. He put it on all his e-mail correspondence: "Anyone can make a difference, everyone should try." We knew his deepest values were his love of his family, his honesty, his integrity, and his service to others. We knew he tried to make every day a good day. We knew he was a powerhouse of energy, enthusiasm, and optimism. We knew we could depend on him. We seldom hesitated to ask for his help, because of his willingness to say, "Yes." We knew that in any conversation with him.....he would be genuinely interested and concerned about you. And Duane's willingness to help others, I believe, stemmed from his love of God and the basic tenets of the Christian faith.

This very sad day IS a very glad day. I say it by faith, but Duane can say it now, from experience...direct experience with the Heavenly Father who makes this time untroubled.

It is, of course, the death of Jesus that makes the death of Duane bearable. We know what happened for God's own Son. We know that the funeral for Jesus was not the last event. Even as we call that Friday "Good" on which Jesus was buried, we call today a "glad day" for Duane. Glad, because it's not his last day. Glad, because Easter is God's answer to our sadness. Glad, because God has promised to do for Duane, and for all who believe, what he did for his only Son, Jesus.

This is why we do not mourn like those who have no hpe. We've been told a few things about what's next. We've been told that we, like Jesus, get a brand new body, fit to live eternally; a vigorous, healthy, painless, eternally young spiritual body.

The prophet Isaiah reminds us how temporary our earthly bodies are...."they're like grass and flowers...but God's word, God's promises are forever. God doesn't become weak or tired....God gives power and strength....and those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary."

Jesus tells us in John's gospel that there are many rooms in his Father's house. There's a place for everyone who believes. We know, too, that Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life" because he tells us so. We also know that without Jesus no one can go to the Father. I believe Duane knew these truths as well. I believe Duane loved God and God loved him. Duane is God's child, and now he returns to God.

The psalmist perhaps says it best: "The Lord is your protector, and he won't go to sleep or let you stumble....the Lord will protect you now and always....wherever you go."

Let me close with one long question, filled with sadness, filled with joy, linking us all together as family:

If God could make Duane; if God could let him be safely born here in Powell; if God could make him a brother; if God could bring into his life a woman, Jo Ann, to love him for almost 52 years; if God could make him a father of the two sons gathered here today, and grandfather of more; if God used Duane's time to inspire us and instruct us in the church and community in so many ways; if God could do all that, and much more, then don't we have reason to believe that God will accomplish even more?

This is a sad day because Duane's work is done, the memories are beautiful, and we will all miss him. This is also a glad day, because we'll miss him only for a while. Then, we who believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, will join him in that eternal home in heaven, join him in peace and joy.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

From: Susan
To: Edmonds, Craig
Subject: Re: Your Message

Hi Craig,
Yes, I'll be glad to get a copy of the message to you. Would you like it e-mailed and/or snail-mailed? Let me know. I won't be able to get around to it until after Monday, but I will get it to you.
Susan A-T