Thank You from President Teuscher

President Teuscher embraces the expressions of love and comfort from across the Synod

On behalf of my children and grandchildren, I extend my sincerest thanks and heartfelt gratitude to all the members of our Lutheran Church–Canada family – my fellow pastors, deacons, and members of various congregations; as well as to representatives of our auxiliaries and listed service organizations, and to my brothers in the International Lutheran Council for your prayers and words of condolence and hope upon the recent death of my beloved wife Paula.

As I was recently reading in my now empty apartment, I came across these comforting words from Martin Luther in a sermon for all who, like myself, experience the death of a loved one: “Surely, when Christians die, nothing evil happens to them. For when they fall asleep and pass on, just that blessed hour has come for which they have prayed throughout their lives when they said: Deliver us from all evil. This cannot happen unless we depart from this world in the name of Jesus Christ. Then we are really freed from all evil, and with all Christians we shall finally be raised to eternal life through Christ. Then we shall be reunited and shall find those who have been dear to us on earth. Indeed, together with the dear angels and the holy patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, we shall form one household, shall have all joy in God and in our joy thank and praise Him throughout eternity. . . The dead lie in their graves as on soft beds and in a gentle sleep, waiting for our Lord Christ to come, tap on their beds and call them forth to live throughout eternity with all the godly, with God and His dear angels. Who wants to mourn for such when we should rejoice for them? We should sincerely thank God that they have come so close to the realization of their hope, whereas we who remain on earth still have so far to go to attain it and must first endure many dangers.”

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