Funeral of Thelma Semmens (October 20, 2017)

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Zephaniah 3:17
Theme: The Victory Song

Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Thelma, and especially you, Pauline, James, Marcia, Grant, and Robert, her children,

The descriptions of heaven in the Book of Revelations include singing. Music expresses the deepest emotions of the heart. Even more importantly, music seems to be an inescapable way of expressing ultimate truth. When St. John has his privileged view into heaven he describes it in this way, “I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!’”1 Thelma loved to sing. She was part of the choir here at St. Peter’s for a number of years. Now she is part of the celestial throng.

When the life a believer on earth falls silent, the angelic spirits in heaven raise their voices in celebration. With song and chant and rejoicing a believer is received into the heavenly realms with revelry beyond comprehension. One of their own has come home. Death is a transition from life to life. It is a transition from a decaying, corrupted, weakening life; to a restored, perfected, and strengthened life. Death is a transition from doubt to certainty, from fear to security, from hope to attainment, from the temporal to the eternal. These truths are so because Jesus Christ was not given to speculation or philosophy or mere theoretical propositions. He is “the resurrection and the Life.”2 He has faced death and overcome it. He has now done this for Thelma Semmens. Thelma has transitioned from a fragile life here, to a glorified life there.

We cannot live forever in this life, nor would we want to. The occasion of a death must always be seized as an opportunity to reflect on our own mortality. No one can say honestly, “That will never happen to me.” “I will never get ill.’ “I will never be in an accident.” “I will never get cancer.” “I will never be suddenly faced with the end of my life.” It does happen. It will happen because of sin. To understand this is to see the priorities of life from different perspective. Those who remain slaves to sin in this life are owned by sin and Satan for eternity. All of our efforts and energies to excuse ourselves from the guilt of sin are useless.

The price of sin is covered by the only One who was worthy to make the sacrifice. Only the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ spares one from eternal condemnation. Our righteousness is not our own. We have it by faith in Christ. The Scripture says, “By grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”3 Jesus Christ left nothing undone. On the cross He said, “It is finished,”4 and everything was accomplished. He rose victoriously on Easter securing immortal life.

Several weeks back I had the privilege of offering Holy Communion to Thelma in, what turned out to be the final time. I could tell she was struggling. Her eyes focused on me for a long time and though there was resignation, there was also contentment. She was being prepared to be with her Lord. She had lived a full life. Thelma’s contentment was evidence of her faith. St. Paul says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”5 And so too Thelma. The only true contentment in this life and the life to come is to rest securely in the care of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the world, the Living Water, the resurrection and the Life!”

How desperately the world needs such contentment! The curse of living in this fallen world, the reality of lives ruled by sin, the condemnation of souls in bondage to unbelief and self-reliance is that one can never be content. Apart from Christ, all human beings face eternal death and no one can really believe they are facing the judgment of hell and still be content. People can be defiant or in denial or ignorant, but that in no way changes the outcome. When sin is left unaddressed and unresolved there can be no contentment and Thelma would have wanted people to know that.

I first met Thelma when she came along with Clem to communion services at the hospital. Her friendly demeaner was immediately endearing. She was a faithful companion and support for Clem for many years during his declining health. Thelma now inhabits the place that Christ prepared for her. It is a place that was under preparation for a long time. It was nearly 60 years ago that Thelma was promised a place in heaven through Holy Baptism. Her and Clem were baptized together as adults. Christ has prepared a much better life to come for all who believe in His saving name. For Thelma, as for every Christian, death is not a defeat. It is a victory. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”6
Christ is risen. He is living and death no longer holds any power over Him. Life and death, sin and grace, heaven and hell are in His control and He commands them for the good of all who believe.

Thelma enjoyed singing. The words of the prophet have now come true for her, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”7 The Lord now rejoices over Thelma with singing. She has been received into His eternal care. All praise and honor be to our gracious and powerful God who has given Thelma the victory, having received her into the eternal joys of heaven. Thanks be to God! Amen.





+ In nomine Jesu +

Christian Burial of Thelma Doreen Semmens
20 October 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Revelation 5:11-12 2 John 11:25
3 Ephesians 2:8-9 4 John 19:30
5 Philippians 4:12 6 John 11:25-26
7 Zephaniah 3:17