Jürgen Philipps – Memorial Sermon

Dear friends of Martin!
Dear companions!

Welcome to the memorial service with prayer for Martin Urdze.

While we think of Martin today, the funeral service is taking place in Latvia on the very same day.

God, who introduced Himself to us as “I am here for you”, His Son Jesus Christ, our brother, and the Holy Spirit, full of love and mercy, will accompany us in our memory.

We pause in the silence of prayer.

God, with a heavy heart we say goodbye to Mārtiņš Urdze and now commit him into Your hands.
God, You know our thoughts, You know what moves our hearts, You feel our grief in our hearts.

So many memories go through our minds in these hours and weeks. Memories of many beautiful, happy, and exciting hours we spent together, but also memories of difficult times we endured together, and You, God, were by our side.

Despite all the sadness, there is above all a feeling of great gratitude for the life of a dear person with whom we experienced so much and who gave us so much.

God, You have set a sign of life for us in Your Son Jesus Christ, in His life, cross, and resurrection, and You have given us a hope, a hope that Your love will withstand evil and unite us in a community where we are there for one another. God, You have given us a hope that Your love is stronger than death. To Your love, O God, we entrust our departed, and please, God, be with us with Your comfort.

Words from Psalm 36

Lord, Your steadfast love extends as far as
the heavens,
and Your faithfulness
reaches to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God,
Your judgments are like the great deep.
Lord, You preserve both man and beast.

For with You, O God, is the fountain of life,
and in Your light we see light.

Memory of Mārtiņš

Dear companions.

I would now like to set a picture frame for Mārtiņš’s life. Give an overview for those of us who were connected to Mārtiņš from very different walks of life. Following that, together with Olaf Kreitsmann, I hope for many memories and stories in short contributions that you might like to share with us all.

“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Gospel of Matthew 11:28)

This word of Jesus is at the center of Mārtiņš’s life and beyond. It accompanies him, it drives him. This word of Jesus gives Mārtiņš unshakable hope, confidence, and strength to bring the good news of God to those who are not on the sunny side of life - to be close to them, to show respect, to give them self-confidence, and the certainty that God is on your side.

It became his life’s dream and life’s reality to found a diaconal congregation.

His parents’ home had a strong influence on him. His father was pastor for the Latvian congregation in the Rennplatz district. He founded workshops for people with disabilities, which today employ more than 300 people. He fought tirelessly for people, a blessed stress factor for the social affairs director in the city of Oldenburg.

In a small apartment in the middle of the community, Mārtiņš grew up with his brother Peter who died early, his sister Tabita, and his brother Toms.

His mother, a faithful, modest, and admirable pastor’s wife, would herself lead a congregation in England as a pastor after her husband’s death.

A deep, natural, and unobtrusive piety characterized the family, and Mārtiņš was a loyal fan of VFB Oldenburg all his life. Mārtiņš fought his way through his youth, rebelled, and yet took on responsibility for the Latvian congregation while still a student.

After studying theology, he trained as a nurse and worked in this profession for several years. In the early to mid-1990s, Mārtiņš set off for Latvia with the goal of founding a social center in Latvia together with his siblings, in the midst of a country experiencing upheaval after hard-won independence.

After one setback or another, Mārtiņš founded a center for Diakonie in Liepāja. He became pastor in the depressed Church of the Cross congregation.

The dream of a diaconal congregation became reality.

Tirelessly, he gathered people around him, brought people together, and utilized his international contacts.

Many diaconal services took place in the premises of the Church of the Cross congregation. Work with the homeless and the soup kitchen were used by many people. The clothing store, free medical care, many self-help groups, and the meeting point for people with disabilities provided help and support.

During Mārtiņš’s Bible studies and services, those affected spoke for themselves. He listened to people, valuing their opinions on life and faith in God.

During a visit to the Oncology Hospital, Mārtiņš met Aija, an art lecturer at the Pedagogical College in Liepāja. She brought color into his life, not only into his spartan apartment, and brought her son Ivars into his life.

Aija, the love of his life, was a wonderful conversation and life partner. Intensive and happy years followed.

After a good 15 years, Aija died of cancer, with Mārtiņš by her side.

Mārtiņš continued to fight tirelessly for improvements for the socially disadvantaged. He made the Diaconal Center a respected source of ideas, advice, and a partner for the city of Liepāja.

The Latvian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare came to know him well.

He fought a lonely battle against a national church and bishops who persisted in a fundamentalist understanding of the Christian faith and life.

Yet many people appreciated him as an upright and courageous man who fought for his convictions and spared no effort.

Held up in the love and care of his family and congregation, and held up in God’s love as he wrote in one of his last emails, he passed away a few days ago.

And Mārtiņš died in confidence: My Redeemer lives.

A poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson at the end of my thoughts and memories.

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

God protect Mārtiņš.

Prayer

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,
we await with confidence whatever may come.
God is with us at evening and at morning,
and most certainly on each new day.

Amen

Jürgen, Oldenburg, May 1, 2021