Sermon -- Dorothy Wolfe's Funeral

Sermon – Dorothy Wolfe, March 12, 2010
[John 11:17-27]
(Bradley, Haeberle, and Barth Funeral Home)

Jesus was born to a real human woman. Jesus had brothers and sisters. Jesus had friends, co-workers, and disciples. Some of His best friends were Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. Lazarus became suddenly ill and died, and Jesus went to Mary and Martha.

In the interchange that I read, Martha made five confessions of faith:

First, Martha said that she believed that Jesus could have healed Lazarus if He had been there.

Second, Martha said that she believed that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead right then and there, if He asked God His Father.

Third, Martha said that she believed that there is a resurrection of the body on the last day.

Fourth, Martha said that she believed that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

And fifth, Martha said that she believed that Jesus is the Savior, the God-Man, Who came into the world.

In thinking about the fourteen years I had the privilege of knowing Dorothy – even more closely these past three years after Jim died – I thought of seven words or phrases that were Dorothy’s “Way of Life” as I knew her:

First, love.

Dorothy loved her family and friends and showed that love through her concern, prayers, and asking for prayers for you from others. She told me about many of you family members – about your talents and joys and medical struggles. She told me that her prayer list kept getting longer and longer and that she didn’t understand why the people she loved had to suffer so much. Dorothy showed her love to me in cards, and telling me not to say that Mary was “pregnant,” but rather “with child,” and in sharing shows at the Papermill.

Second, volunteer.

Dorothy not only believed in working to support herself, but she believed in giving back through volunteering. At the Prudential, at AARP, at the Papermill, at the church. There were times that Dorothy would be out working on the church shrubbery or changing the paraments or arranging flowers, and Jim would come over and ask her if she was ever coming home. Dorothy did not believe that anyone owed her anything, but she believed that everyone ought to give back out of the many blessings that we each receive.

Third, don’t get in other peoples’ way.

One thing I quickly learned about Dorothy is that although she did a great deal of volunteer work and enjoyed it, she usually liked to do it alone. And once she had done the work, she didn’t want anyone to mess with it. “I’m willing to do this job, but not if someone else is going to come in and change it. If someone else thinks they can do it better, they can do it themselves,” she told me on numerous occasions. She admitted that she stepped on people’s toes form time to time, but that was because they got in her way. Dorothy liked the peace of working on her own, in her time, in her own way, but she always got the job done and done well.

Fourth, communicate.

One of the biggest problems, Dorothy told me – often – in the church, in the Prudential, in AARP, in the world – is a lack of communication. If you want something done, say so. If you want it done this way, say so. If you don’t want this, say so. Everybody running willy-nilly got no one anywhere.

Fifth, always be learning.

Dorothy loved her trips, and she told me that they were not merely trips, but educational experiences. She had books and bought books that she was going to read when she retired. About four years ago, she asked me if we could just begin with Genesis 1:1 and read through the Bible together in Sunday morning Bible Study, discussing as we went along – we’re in Isaiah now – more than half-way through, reading together. Dorothy was excited and encouraging to me at my plans to begin a doctorate this Fall. Dorothy said that people didn’t use their minds – they didn’t have common sense – you need to sit down, talk things out, think them through, listen to each other, learn from each other.

Sixth, worship.

But work and volunteering and education was not enough for Dorothy. Dorothy understood that there is more to this life than the material realm. There is the spiritual realm. There is a God, and He is worthy of worship. Dorothy not only worshiped at Second Reformed Church on Sundays, but she worshiped at Old First Presbyterian on Thursdays. How many of us value worship that much? Dorothy was terribly troubled about people – especially young people – and the fact that so many do not regularly attend worship any more. We talked often about this, and she always asked why people raised in the church stop going.

And seventh, believe.

But just going and spending an hour or so in a church, singing in the choir, volunteering at the altar, on the grounds, in the Consistory, and on and on, really would not have been worth all that much if she didn’t also believe – if she didn’t have faith. Dorothy told me she loved to hear different ministers preach on the same text so she could understand the text better, because no minister said exactly the same thing. We talked about things I said – and she told me when she thought I was wrong.

And from my talks with Dorothy, I know if she could speak to us right now, I know she would want you to know that as sorrowful and shocked as we are by Dorothy’s death, Dorothy could confess the same beliefs that Jesus’ friend, Martha, confessed:

Dorothy believed that Jesus can heal, and He could have healed her.

Dorothy believed that even after she died on Monday, Jesus could have raised
her from the dead right then and there, if He asked God His Father.

Dorothy believed that there is a resurrection of the body on the last day.

Dorothy believed that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

And Dorothy believed that Jesus is the Savior, the God-Man, Who came into the world.

Love. Volunteer. Don’t get in other peoples’ way. Communicate. Always be learning. Worship. And believe. Believe in Jesus Alone for your salvation, and you will see Dorothy alive again on that final day.

I will miss Dorothy. She won’t be calling me tomorrow morning as I am racing around trying to get those things done that didn’t get done yet for Sunday, saying, “You’re not busy are you?” I rejoice in knowing I will see her again.