Chloe Eckes Funeral 1/7/08

- from Gold Hill Lutheran Church, Pastor Mike Borge.

Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

READ: Ephesians 2:8-10.

Life comes, and life goes. Life has its joys--life has it sorrows. Chloe lived through many sorrows and struggles—she also delighted in the gift of each grandchild & great grandchild. Today, we gather with mixed feelings. We are thankful for the goodness of Chloe's long life—we are thankful that her struggles in recent weeks are over, and that the ending of her earthly life came very peacefully. There is also gratitude that she had the last few days at the Waterford, to once more see many good friends.

But there is also a sadness that comes when one we love dies. And you cannot escape your earthly loss. Chloe has died. You will no longer be able to see her great smile, or hear her wonderful laugh. You her family—and many of the rest of us—have experienced a loss—a loss that we may realize more, as the days go on.

And so we are gathered in this house of worship—this place that Chloe came to Sunday after Sunday, for her church and her God were central to who she was, and how she lived. Many have gathered here to say to you Chloe's family, that we care for you and uphold you in our prayers.

Chloe was an amazing, tough, Christian lady. In talking with several of her family, you used the following words to describe her: strong, faithful, stubborn, resilient, determined, frugal, independent, someone who valued hard work, a person with strong morals which she was not afraid to pass on to others. Something that was mentioned several times was that she was a grateful, thankful person. In her obituary it highlights the fact that in the face of adversity "Chloe was grateful"—it's there at least 3 times @ to my count!

Chloe enjoyed sewing, whether it was LWR quilts that are sent all around the world to help people in need, or sewing for folks at the Waterford. One of Chloe's gifts that she excelled at was hospitality. She made new residents feel welcome where she lived—she was inviting to folks to join us here at Gold Hill, whether it was to help make quilts, or join us for worship.

Chloe enjoyed sunsets, listening to Lawrence Welk, and watching her Lakers win. Speaking of winning, Chloe was very competitive. She loved playing board games & cards, and she was apparently not above cheating a bit.

Oh, and before I forget, something I didn't know is that Chloe was a die-hard Republican. When her granddaughters became old enough to vote, she was very clear that they should vote—and vote Republican.

When I asked what was most important to Chloe, you told me—church, and her family. Her faith in God defined her, and she took very seriously, how she lived out her faith. That's why I chose that passage I read earlier from Ephesians 2:8-10.

Chloe held dear the fact that, as St. Paul says, it is "by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast." And yet, as some in Chloe's family have told me, she also was very fond of the book of James, in the Bible. Let me quote from James: "be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." (1:22)

To some, these 2 words of Scripture are troubling, for they seem to contradict each other—and they are both God's word to us.

Well, the Bible is clear that we are saved through faith, which is God's doing and God's gift. And that is GOOD NEWS. You see, we can doubt our own goodness—we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Thankfully, it is God's goodness that saves. Through Jesus, our sin is wiped out and we are freed to start over, seeking to live as God intends. If it were different, if life with God was dependent upon our goodness, it would be hopeless, for there would always be nagging questions if we had done enough.

So then the question comes, "Then what about good works?—if they don't save us do they matter?" And I can hear Chloe (along with St. Paul) shout out YES! God does his saving work for a purpose. Paul says: "For we are what God has made us, created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." (Eph. 2:10)

"Well" you may be thinking to yourself, "why are you telling us all this?" Quite frankly, because in the life of Chloe I see these basic truths lived out. From what I saw, and from what I have heard from others—both family & folks in this congregation—I have seen a person who sought to live as God's word says—it mattered to Chloe what God had to say to her.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to preach Chloe into heaven. God will take care of that. Chloe, just like the rest of us gathered here today was a sinner—a sinner of God's redeeming.

But I tell you all this because, as Chloe faced many trials and tribulations, the foundation of her life with Christ stood firm. You who knew her best, know of the many difficulties she faced throughout her life. And yet she was sustained by the goodness of God's presence, forgiveness & strength. And she would say, "God has been so good to me."

And so, as you say good-by to this witness to God's goodness, may God keep you in body and soul. May God's promise of the resurrection sustain you in the days that lie ahead. Amen.

May thy peace O God, which is beyond our understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.