Title: God’s abiding love in Christ!
Text: 1 John 4:13-15 (English Standard Version)
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Dear friends, family and loved ones of our beloved Lucille.
God’s love is certainly made know to us in his son Jesus.
It is also made know to us in the lives of Walt and Lucille Richley and their love for Jesus, this congregation, and their love one for another.
So though we grieve and are sad at Lucille’s passing we can also have comfort as well. Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John in Chapter 14 that He has a place for us, and that includes all who trust in him.
Lucille Richley trusted Jesus.
It has been a blessing to know Walt and Lucille over these last 19 years of my life here at Peace. I know this is a service in remembrance for Lucille but I can hardly say her name without adding Walt to the front of it as well.
The Richley’s came to Peace about 10 years before me in 1991 as a transfer from our sister congregation St. Stephen where Lucille was their first teacher of their day school back in 1970-71.
Lucille helped with VBS and also served on the Altar Guild. Walt served as an Elder for a time but both … here it is again … Walt and Lucille served as Financial assistants for the congregation - together, counting the offerings after Sunday worship.
As, Pastor Evanson made clear in his transfer letter to Peace:
“The ‘loss’ of the Richleys is not without grief here. We would like to have them with us still. We wish them the best. They have been a blessing to us!”
The Richleys were a blessing here at Peace and certainly for me over the last 7 years as their pastor.
The Love of God is made known in the person and work of his son our Lord Jesus Christ. God makes this known to us in the sermon text:
[that] we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
Both Walt and Lucille were marked in their baptism’s as redeem by Christ and adopted into God’s family as his beloved children.
They were united in Holy Matrimony on June 12, 1948, Lucille only 20 and Walt the ripe old age of 21 and in the presence of God the two became one.
71 years as husband and wife,
71 years in loving devotion to each other, and
71 years together as God’s servants and ambassadors to a world that needs Christ and his love.
God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Clearly God’s love abided in Lucille, first for Christ as we all know, and for Walt as the two became one united together living in that love.
Blessed with their children Brenda and Brian, those blessings continued with their families as their family increased with 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren
Over the years and visits, I’ve had great joy visiting Walt and Lucille in their home bringing bulletins, Portals or Prayers and the Lord’s Supper.
I visited with Walt in rehab in Ann Arbor after his fall off the ladder at their home in Arcadia. As we sat and talked I asked him:
“Walt how old are you?”
“90,” he replied.”
“Maybe it’s time to stay off the ladders?”
He gave me a grin. Saying both yes it probably is time and no I’ll probably still use the ladders. I had that same talk and smile from my own dad as well.
But the most touching visit I had with them was when Lucille was in need of care and in rehab in Ann Arbor in March of 2018. I traveled there to see Lucille and there was Walter sleeping of a roll away bed next to her hospital bed.
I asked him, “Walt, are you staying here with Lucille?”
“Oh yes.” He replied, “If I wasn’t here Pastor, she wouldn’t eat. I need to be here.”
For better for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health
to love and to cherish,
til death do you part
The Lord has made us new in the waters of Holy Baptism and in his hands Jesus has promised to hold us and never let us fall and that promise was for Lucille as his child made in his image.
My last visit with Lucille was at their home on January 20th. She didn’t look as well as I’ve come to expect. When I walked over to her to say hi and shake her hand she took my hand in hers and gave it a kiss.
What a privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus for Lucille and Walt and so many of our dear loved ones here at Peace. It was a true testament of Lucille not seeing me … but seeing Jesus in his forgiveness brought just for her and her dear soul mate Walter that for 71 years they have been one in Christ together. Together they received the Lord’s forgiveness.
This past weekend we celebrated the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus at the temple.
St. Luke writes in his gospel in Chapter 2 about Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the temple of the Lord to make a sacrifice as the Law required. And while there a man named Simeon, who as we are told was righteous and devout and waiting for the consolation of Israel, or the comfort and peace of God, and that the Holy Spirit was upon him.
28 he took [the child Jesus] up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Lucille knew that same peace!
Death’s sting has been swallowed up in victory by our Lord Jesus Christ and we can have comfort in His blessed work and this blessed Good News that in and through Jesus Christ God and man have been reconciled.
As we together grieve the loss of our dear Lucille and think about this frail existence we all inhabit here in this world, we can still have peace.
The words of the apostle John ring true in Chapter 14 of his gospel:
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. 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, that where I am you may be also.
4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Lucille knew the way of Christ prepared for her.
You too have this home waiting for you. The blessed Good News that Jesus died for your sins is the wonderful Gospel message you can trust.
Jesus has forgiven your sin and by the power of the Holy Spirit, in you, has given you the faith to believe in His saving work. That’s a place prepared for you, forgiven in Christ, and an eternity with our Lord and savior Jesus that you can trust.
May the Lord comfort you with this blessed good news now and forever!
Amen
Dear friends, family and loved ones of our beloved Lucille.
God’s love is certainly made know to us in his son Jesus.
It is also made know to us in the lives of Walt and Lucille Richley and their love for Jesus, this congregation, and their love one for another.
So though we grieve and are sad at Lucille’s passing we can also have comfort as well. Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John in Chapter 14 that He has a place for us, and that includes all who trust in him.
Lucille Richley trusted Jesus.
It has been a blessing to know Walt and Lucille over these last 19 years of my life here at Peace. I know this is a service in remembrance for Lucille but I can hardly say her name without adding Walt to the front of it as well.
The Richley’s came to Peace about 10 years before me in 1991 as a transfer from our sister congregation St. Stephen where Lucille was their first teacher of their day school back in 1970-71.
Lucille helped with VBS and also served on the Altar Guild. Walt served as an Elder for a time but both … here it is again … Walt and Lucille served as Financial assistants for the congregation - together, counting the offerings after Sunday worship.
As, Pastor Evanson made clear in his transfer letter to Peace:
“The ‘loss’ of the Richleys is not without grief here. We would like to have them with us still. We wish them the best. They have been a blessing to us!”
The Richleys were a blessing here at Peace and certainly for me over the last 7 years as their pastor.
The Love of God is made known in the person and work of his son our Lord Jesus Christ. God makes this known to us in the sermon text:
[that] we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
Both Walt and Lucille were marked in their baptism’s as redeem by Christ and adopted into God’s family as his beloved children.
They were united in Holy Matrimony on June 12, 1948, Lucille only 20 and Walt the ripe old age of 21 and in the presence of God the two became one.
Do the math – that’s
71 years as husband and wife,
71 years in loving devotion to each other, and
71 years together as God’s servants and ambassadors to a world that needs Christ and his love.
God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Clearly God’s love abided in Lucille, first for Christ as we all know, and for Walt as the two became one united together living in that love.
Blessed with their children Brenda and Brian, those blessings continued with their families as their family increased with 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren
Over the years and visits, I’ve had great joy visiting Walt and Lucille in their home bringing bulletins, Portals or Prayers and the Lord’s Supper.
I visited with Walt in rehab in Ann Arbor after his fall off the ladder at their home in Arcadia. As we sat and talked I asked him:
“Walt how old are you?”
“90,” he replied.”
“Maybe it’s time to stay off the ladders?”
He gave me a grin. Saying both yes it probably is time and no I’ll probably still use the ladders. I had that same talk and smile from my own dad as well.
But the most touching visit I had with them was when Lucille was in need of care and in rehab in Ann Arbor in March of 2018. I traveled there to see Lucille and there was Walter sleeping of a roll away bed next to her hospital bed.
I asked him, “Walt, are you staying here with Lucille?”
“Oh yes.” He replied, “If I wasn’t here Pastor, she wouldn’t eat. I need to be here.”
For better for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health
to love and to cherish,
til death do you part
The Lord has made us new in the waters of Holy Baptism and in his hands Jesus has promised to hold us and never let us fall and that promise was for Lucille as his child made in his image.
My last visit with Lucille was at their home on January 20th. She didn’t look as well as I’ve come to expect. When I walked over to her to say hi and shake her hand she took my hand in hers and gave it a kiss.
What a privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus for Lucille and Walt and so many of our dear loved ones here at Peace. It was a true testament of Lucille not seeing me … but seeing Jesus in his forgiveness brought just for her and her dear soul mate Walter that for 71 years they have been one in Christ together. Together they received the Lord’s forgiveness.
This past weekend we celebrated the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus at the temple.
St. Luke writes in his gospel in Chapter 2 about Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the temple of the Lord to make a sacrifice as the Law required. And while there a man named Simeon, who as we are told was righteous and devout and waiting for the consolation of Israel, or the comfort and peace of God, and that the Holy Spirit was upon him.
28 he took [the child Jesus] up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Lucille knew that same peace!
Death’s sting has been swallowed up in victory by our Lord Jesus Christ and we can have comfort in His blessed work and this blessed Good News that in and through Jesus Christ God and man have been reconciled.
As we together grieve the loss of our dear Lucille and think about this frail existence we all inhabit here in this world, we can still have peace.
The words of the apostle John ring true in Chapter 14 of his gospel:
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. 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, that where I am you may be also.
4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Lucille knew the way of Christ prepared for her.
You too have this home waiting for you. The blessed Good News that Jesus died for your sins is the wonderful Gospel message you can trust.
Jesus has forgiven your sin and by the power of the Holy Spirit, in you, has given you the faith to believe in His saving work. That’s a place prepared for you, forgiven in Christ, and an eternity with our Lord and savior Jesus that you can trust.
May the Lord comfort you with this blessed good news now and forever!
Amen
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