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'Resurrection man' still lives, of course

The death that occasioned the Easter resurrection has never

been so real to me as this year. Last week, the Evangelical

Lutheran Church in America lost one of its true "Resurrection men," the

Rev. Ronald H. Weinelt. He was my pastor for 8 years and my

friend for 17. He died of a heart attack March 25 at Henry General

Hospital with his wife Pat at his side.

Pastor Weinelt served in Fayetteville for a time,

helping with pastoral counseling at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

He and Pastor Justin Kollmeyer had an affectionate relationship of

mutual respect, Justin for Ronald's incredible intellect and Ronald

for Justin's amazing ability to make anybody feel at home, in

conversation or in the pews at Prince of Peace.

I have called Pastor Ron a "Resurrection man" because his

sermons, his classes, and even his casual conversations reflected

a deep-rooted belief that Jesus died, Jesus rose, Jesus saves. Jesus

was as real to Pastor Ron as Pat, or his two sons, Kurt and Eric.

Maybe more so.

Easter was Pastor Ron's favorite time in the church year.

He believed in the full celebration, starting way back at Ash

Wednesday, preparing for Holy Week, and charging into Palm Sunday

as if the fronds were banners of victory after a battle. I think he

believed they were. Then, we would gather for a Maundy

Thursday dinner and worship, commemorating Jesus's Passover

supper with the disciples.

The Good Friday "Tenebrae" service concentrated on

making us all relive the agony on the Cross as nearly as possible. When

the church was darkened after the last word, "Father, into your hands

I commend my spirit," Pastor Ron could actually scare you

completely with the "loud noise" that symbolized the rending of

the curtain in the Temple.

On Saturday of Holy Week, Pastor Ron would move again

toward the glorious Sunday with an Easter Vigil Service. There is

in the Lutheran tradition a very beautiful Easter Proclamation

which is sung at the vigil, while the congregation assumes a

"waiting" attitude as Jesus is shut in

the tomb.

But oh, what wonders we felt on Easter Sunday morning.

When Pastor Ron planned a festival worship service, there was

joy from beginning to end. Choir anthems, bells, trumpets and

many, many hymns. Maybe we'd be standing for most of a

90-minute service, but who cared? Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Pastor Ron taught us that without the preparation, Easter can

be just another holiday. Die with Jesus, he said, and then

you'll know what Resurrection means.

My former Pastor was a stubborn, opinionated, learned,

compassionate, fragile man. He had to overcome a basic shyness

even to enter the ministry. He was the perfect example of the

"wounded healer," constantly battling

the desire to run himself into the ground caring for people. He

knew I had the same personality, and he tried to teach me better.

"Climb down off that cross, Kay," he would say, "we

already have a perfectly good Savior." Or he would write himself notes

on stickies for his desk or refrigerator: "Dear Ron: I won't be

needing you today. Love, God."

And so when I go to the Service of Shadows on Good Friday,

I will remember Pastor Ron's teaching and preaching. When I

celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, I will picture Pastor

Ron beside the Lord he loved so well. And if he were reading this

right now, Ron would say, "All right, Kay, enough about me. Easter

isn't about dying! It's about living forever!"

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