From her pastor, Craig Mueller: The church keeps company with some pretty strong women during these final days of Advent. Young, teenage, unwed and pregnant Mary. And old, barren-yet-pregnant, Elizabeth. Two amazing, wise, wonderful and outside-the-box kind of women. Tonight we add our own saint—Elvina—to that list. With 94 years of passionate living. With countless people she touched. With the many, many ways she served, volunteered, and made a difference in the world. With the bountiful stories and vignettes that you all carry. With more hugs, smiles and chocolate chip cookies that I can even imagine. It is overwhelming to be the preacher tonight. So I resign. Elvina is tonight’s preacher. After all, her life spoke more than any of us could put into words. You’ve perhaps heard the famous quote from St. Francis: “Preach the gospel always. Use words if necessary.” That was Elvina. By her very life—her very being—she gave witness to God’s unconditional grace, love and mercy for all people. Without condition. Sometimes people wonder if Lutherans have saints. Well, of course. We honor holy men and women throughout history that are models and examples to us of holy living. We have icons around our worship space with such people. Let’s not get hung up with the “holy” part as if there has to be a halo or someone humming hymns 24/7. Elvina was holy because she was a child of God and celebrated it. But also because she believed that everyone deserves that same dignity. Now, since Lutherans don’t need a long canonization process, I kind of want to make her St. Elvina already. After all, she was a person for others. Someone who found joy in welcoming people. Serving them. Hugging them. Caring for them. Being playful with them. Loving them. Making needlepoint ornaments and other items for them. Baking for them. So: Elvina is tonight’s preacher. Our scripture readings speak of justice and hospitality. Two values dear to Elvina’s heart. Two values dear to this congregation. In fact, Elvina could be considered a local saint for Holy Trinity because she gracefully modeled everything that this congregation stands for. No, she wasn’t one to rattle off mission statements or core values. Rather, she lived them. She went right up to people and welcomed them. She hugged you before you knew what came over you. Sometimes she told first-time guests: “look no further. You’ve found your new church home.” That was before they even met Pastor Sevig or me. Back to Isaiah’s word about justice: The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and release to prisoners, and to comfort those who mourn. Sounds like Elvina’s mission statement. And St. Paul’s words about hospitality seem to reflect Elvina’s core values. Let love be genuine. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in suffering. Extend hospitality to strangers. Live in harmony. Do not be haughty. Associate with the lowly. Do not claim to be wiser than you are. Elvina was the kind of church member a pastor would die for. I was doubly blessed. Beginning 25 years ago, I was Elvina’s pastor at Resurrection, a nearby parish, when she in her early seventies. When she was still a rather young woman, we’d have to say! And well, I was really young, right out of seminary. Which using the “Elvina age formula,” makes me, still really young. Don’t forget: Elvina was still walking 10 or so urban blocks to church well into her 80s. Are you picking up some hints for a long, healthy life? After Elvina was no longer in her apartment, I asked her about one of the places she was staying. She had been rather quiet, but at that point she perked up. “It’s wonderful,” she said. Elvina seemed to be able to love wherever she was. To find the good anywhere or in anyone. Let us take notice. Such a positive attitude comes from a lifetime of practicing gratitude. But Elvina was so much more than a church person. She volunteered with a number of organizations including Bonaventure House, a residence facility for persons with AIDS. And the Night Ministry. More on that during remembrances later in the service. We gather tonight not simply to praise Elvina. I’m sure she would me a thumbs down for a sermon that only did that. And would you want to disappoint Elvina? I believe what she would want us to follow in her footsteps. Giving our lives to things that truly matter. Caring for those in need. Volunteering. Getting involved in politics. Taking up important causes. Being thankful in all situations. Counting our blessings. Living with gusto. And giving out hugs like there’s no tomorrow. Tonight Elvina joins strong Mary in the Magnificat. Singing of God raising up the lowly. And feeding the hungry with good things. Elvina joins wise Elizabeth who gave words of hope to young Mary: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Elvina was all about blessing people in her own cheerful way. And in that she is also blessed among women. Never a mother herself, she loved, nurtured and cared for more children than we can begin to name tonight. One of our young members here noted how close Elvina’s death was to the tragedy in Newtown Connecticut. She suggested that amid such sadness, Elvina must now be caring for those children in the heavenly place. Still: Elvina’s leaving this earth leaves an ache in our hearts. The world will not quite be the same without her. Yet her baptism is now complete. On the eve of the longest night of the year, we trust in the new life of Christ’s resurrection, she dwells in everlasting light. How blessed are we for knowing this most amazing and generous woman! So keep sharing your memories and stories. Your laughter and tears. For they are part of the sermon, too! And for that, I can say: Preach it, Elvina!